Teach-In and petition at Fairfield University among responses to war | Press Releases

A Teach-In, titled, "At War with Iraq," will take place on Tuesday, April 1, at Fairfield University in the John A. Barone Campus Center. Three sessions, scheduled for 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. will address the moral, humanitarian, Catholic/Jesuit, international law, geo-political, media, activism and economic perspectives of the war. Each session will have three presenters and time for questions and dialogue with students.

The presenters include: Rev. Jim Bowler, S.J. Ph.D., university facilitator for Catholic and Jesuit Mission and Identity; Ralph Coury, Ph.D., associate professor of history; Robbin Crabtree, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Communication; C. Joy Gordon, Ph.D., J.D., associate professor of philosophy; Paul Lakeland, Ph.D., professor of religious studies; David McFadden, Ph.D., professor of history; Melissa Reardon, assistant university chaplain; Rev. Thomas Regan, S.J., Ph.D., associate professor of philosophy; and journalist Bruce Shapiro.

The Teach-In is being sponsored by several university departments, including Campus Ministry, Black Studies, Counseling Services, the Fairfield University Student Association, Fairfield Students for Peace, Ignatian Residential College, Legal Studies, Media Center, Peace and Justice Studies, Residence Life, Jesuit Mission and Identity, and the History, Politics, Religious Studies, Women's Studies and International Studies Departments.

In addition, a "Petition Against Bush's War on Iraq" that began circulating on campus on March 17, two days before war broke out, has been signed by more than 140 faculty and staff. The petition embraces the statement of the Jesuit order that reads in part, "The doctrine of a pre-emptive war is neither in accordance with UN doctrine and law, nor morally defensible."

The statement goes on to say, "Rather than bringing a stable peace in the region (Middle East), a war against Iraq would heighten the tensions between Muslims and Christians. The seeds of dialogue between them so patiently sown would be trampled in a spiral of violence and intolerance."

The statement also reads, "The willingness to incur massive military expenditure that destroys life seems to stand in sharp contrast with the unwillingness to promote, with the same determination, the sustainable development of all."

Faculty and staff who signed the petition come from 30 areas within the university, including the sciences, engineering, business, nursing and liberal arts.

Also on the Fairfield University campus, the Fairfield Students for Peace, who began organizing in late October, have been joined by several Fairfield residents at their weekly demonstrations against the war that take place on the Post Road in Fairfield every Tuesday, from 4 to 6 p.m. The group is also helping to sponsor the Teach-In.

For more information, please call Nancy Habetz, director of media relations, (203) 254-4000, ext. 2647.