I applaud the students who lay in the cold last week protesting the war in Iraq. I am dismayed, however, at the secondary cold they received. I am referring to the shop owners who complained, called police, ridiculed, and otherwise demeaned what these students were trying to do. These same shop owners depend on Wesleyan students for a good bulk of their livelihoods. Students shop there, eat there, and work there. How many students use Cingular service for their cell phones? A comment from Cingular, referring to the Wes students, characterized them all as rich and bored. Not true! Way to generalize and demean the very good reason they were there. First and Last Tavern was omnipresent at the Homecoming game at Wesleyan on Saturday hawking their pizzas and other foodstuffs, shamelessly taking the rich students’ and their parents’ monies. They had demanded that the students get back on the cold sidewalk and clean off the chalk writings. Must be a chalk-free zone!
I have driven in town and I am positive it is a two-way street. We will respect the town, and they need to respect our students. This was a peaceful (whole idea!) protest, complying with all the rules set forth, and requests made by the town and town police. This was a good protest, and as indicator of local and not- so- local newspapers, one of many on that day requesting PEACE!
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