Miami group presents current situation in Iraq
by Bryan Okun
4/3/07 - from the Miami Student Newspaper Online
Combat boots symbolizing Ohio military members killed or wounded in the Iraq war surround the Hub during the Eyes Wide Open event Monday.
Miami University's College Democrats brought the realities of the Iraq war to Oxford Monday when they staged an event, Eyes Wide Open, as part of their annual Progressive Week.
College Democrats vice president and senior Alison Downs said the event was meant to increase the awareness of the human economic costs and effects of Ohio soldiers' occupation during the war in Iraq. The event is meant to be a one-day traveling show.
"We were handed over a trailer containing the exhibit by an employee working for the American Friends Service Committee on Monday that we took and set up," Downs said. "At the end of the day, we simply pack it back up and hand it back over to the one who is in charge of touring Ohio."
The event took place at the Hub, where many students walked by and witnessed props showing how many soldiers have been killed and injured during the war.
"There is a soldier's boot, one to commemorate every Ohio soldier that has died in Iraq," Downs said. "In addition, there is a poppy seed plant, one for every soldier who has been injured in Iraq."
According to the exhibit, the data comes from multiple sources such as the Iraqi Body Count Web site and the National Priorities Project, which both give information about facts of the Iraq war. Information from the event said 152 Ohio troops have been killed thus far.
Downs explained that the College Democrat's Progressive Week - a week held every year by the College Democrats to raise awareness of certain political issues - is structured a bit differently this year, in that it is not solely one week of events. Downs said it was more advantageous and beneficial for the Democrats to spread events out over the remainder of the semester.
"(We thought an) extended presence on campus might serve us better than one week," Downs said. She explained that the organization is aiming to hold one event a week, in hopes to increase participation at each event.
Senior Drew Romig said Eyes Wide Open - which Downs said was the College Democrat's main event for Progressive Week - was a powerful way for students to become more aware of the events unfolding in Iraq.
"It is outstanding to see how many soldiers have given their lives to serve for their country," Romig said. "I think it is great that College Democrats are giving students something to look at to make them aware what the costs of war is, especially in Iraq."
There were also slides and literature at the event explaining in greater detail about the events currently occurring in Iraq.
Even though the event is during Progressive Week, Downs made it clear this was not an event that took a politically left or right side.
"This event was held to raise awareness about the cost of war on human lives," Downs said. "(It) was to advocate peace without our team taking a political stance."
Other activities for Progressive Week include a national democratic political convention, which the democrats will speak of environmental issues. This will hopefully be scheduled for Earth Day, Downs said. The event will also take place at the Hub. In addition, Downs said that the College Democrats and Republicans are working to hold a bipartisan fund-raiser for families who have lost members in Iraq. She said the event is tentatively scheduled for Friday, April 13 at the Phi Delt gates.
