‘Eyes Wide Open’
exhibit hopes to create dialogue on war, peace
Thursday, February 23, 2006
By Melissa Griffy Seeton
REPOSITORY EDUCATION WRITER
NORTH CANTON - The combat boots and tennis shoes lining a conference
room at Walsh University served as a reminder that U.S. troops and
Iraqi civilians are dying every day.
Maybe even today.
Walsh student Cody Combs gingerly turned over each of the 114 tags
attached to the boots, so the name, age, and hometown of every Ohio
soldier could be easily viewed.
Combs said he got the idea to bring the exhibit to Walsh after he
visited a similar one this summer. The memorial to troops and civilian
victims, dubbed “Eyes Wide Open,” is sponsored by the
American Friends Service Committee. It has made its way across the
country and was displayed at Mount Union College last year.
“It is a very solemn display,” said Combs, a former Alliance
City councilman and member of the Walsh University Democratic Club,
which is hosting the display. “It’s about the human cost,
and we, as a society, should take that into consideration.”
The exhibit — on display through Friday at the college’s
Barrette Business and Community Center conference room — fits
the university’s mission, said Dr. Peter Yacobucci, professor
and Democratic Club adviser.
“It’s not anti-war; it’s not pro-war,” Yacobucci
said. “We hope this display informs and engages both our students
and the local community in an active dialogue about war and peace.”
Though the Vatican has released statements against the war, Combs
said Walsh — a private, Catholic college — is not taking
sides.
“We are not piggybacking on what the Vatican has said, and when
people come, they will realize it,” Combs said.
Kevin Prarat, a Walsh freshman and Democratic Club member, agreed
it’s about generating awareness. The display consists of not
only military and civilian shoes, but a breakdown about how much the
war costs — $3,331 per Ohio household — and how many U.S.
troops have been killed to date — 2,276.
The exhibit hit home for Walsh junior Meghan Patton. Her cousin recently
returned home from Iraq, but her friend’s brother was killed
during his tour.
“It’s upsetting to see how many soldiers we have lost,”
said the 20-year-old Cleveland native.
Fellow Walsh junior Ashley Miller and Nicole Rogers, a senior, agreed
the display made an impact.
“It hits so close to home,” Miller said. “No matter
who you are.”
Reach Repository writer Melissa Griffy Seeton at (330) 580-8318 or
e-mail: melissa.griffy@cantonrep.com
THE COST OF WAR
The Walsh University Democratic Club will host the exhibit “Eyes
Wide Open Ohio: The Human Cost of the Iraq War” from 9 a.m.
to 8 p.m. through Friday at Walsh University’s Barrette Business
and Community Center.
The exhibit is sponsored by the Democratic Club and the American Friends
Service Committee.
For more information, visit: www.afsc.net/ewoohio.html
