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Peace Camp isn't attracting converts

Protest of U.S. policy unpopular view at OSU

Wednesday, October 31, 2001

Alice Thomas

Dispatch Higher Education Reporter

Tom Dodge / Dispatch

With patriotism and presidential popularity riding high these days, life's been a little rough at the Peace Camp. A collection of tents, protest literature and left-leaning 20-somethings on Ohio State University's Oval, the 2-week-old camp has suffered from indifference and sabotage.

"In the current political situation, we can't expect even 10 percent of the student body to even stop by,'' said Dan Heck, a 21-year-old OSU senior studying German and natural resources, who has been spat upon by passers- by.

"There's a general unwillingness to listen.''

Last week, the camp was hit by water balloons. Then, several days ago, someone dropped off a leftover side of beef with a note attached that began: "To the terrorist loving Hippies camping on the Oval . . .''

It said the campers should "get a job'' and suggested they "join Osama bin Ladin's militia.''

It was signed "Geedubayews.''

"It had been smoked and eaten. It still had meat on it,'' said Chad Gilbert, a 27-year-old Texas native who isn't an OSU student but joined the camp after hearing about it from friends.

To make matters worse for the campers, rules governing the Oval necessitate the camp move its tents and other belongings every three days so the grass doesn't die. The tents have to be secured to the ground with rocks because stakes aren't allowed on the Oval.

Dozens of students walked past the camp yesterday without glancing at it. Mike Crosby, a book-repair technician who works in the main library, ate his lunch on a bench close to the camp, even though he hadn't visited.

"I'm glad to see they are expressing their side, although I don't know what that is,'' Crosby said. "It's not a very popular view right now.''

While no student group on OSU's campus has been formed specifically to oppose the U.S. retaliation in Afghanistan, the camp is a coalition of groups, some led by students and some not.

"We're opposed to terrorism of all forms -- including U.S.-sponsored terrorism,'' Heck said, referring to U.S. military action in Afghanistan.

Despite the setbacks, the group has no plans to uproot.

"The Gandhi movement had 10 percent of the population actively supporting it. It doesn't take large numbers of people to raise awareness,'' Heck said.

The tenters say they don't know who dropped off the beef. But they caught up with the balloon launchers shortly after the soggy attack. "We ran after them and talked to them and tried to de-escalate the situation and invited them to eat with us,'' Heck said. "But they didn't come back.''

Copyright © 2001, The Columbus Dispatch

((The unfortunate part as that this "Peace Camp" will make the news in some quarters and people will again think that a majority of OSU students support their efforts. --Meemur))

-- Anonymous, October 31, 2001

Answers

What a change! In 1968, the Peace Camp would've been well-populated.

-- Anonymous, October 31, 2001

Ohio State again? Isn't that where the anti Viet Nam "peaceniks" got shot down by our own national guard troops? I seem to remember a lot of initial backlash to the peaceniks. As it turns out, looking back, they were right. We shouldn't have gone to Viet Nam, unless we are willing to accept that war as just another way for the military/industrial complex to make a ton of money. Anyway, there seems to always be some hidden motive behind what our government decides to get involved in, to support. Maybe as history unfolds we will all figure out just how we got co-opted into the Islamic chaos.

-- Anonymous, October 31, 2001

No, that was Kent State, 3.5 miles to the north, Gordon.

-- Anonymous, October 31, 2001

I'm sorry. 3.5 hours

-- Anonymous, October 31, 2001

Meemur,

I was gonna say, didn't think Kent State had relocated to Clintonville quite yet. There's still that parking issue they'd have to solve... ;-)

-- Anonymous, October 31, 2001

LOL, Deb!

-- Anonymous, October 31, 2001