A teach-in on campus designed to offer several perspectives on the war in Iraq focused on historical U.S. occupation in different countries.
Sponsored by the UNM American Studies Department, the "Teach-in on the war in Iraq and its consequences" featured a panel of six UNM professors representing five different departments.
History professor Patricia Risso spoke first about Iraq's history, drawing parallels between British military control of the region after World War I and the current, U.S.-sponsored war.
"I'm hoping if you think creatively, you might see some similarities between the situation in Iraq in the 1920s and the current situation," Risso said.
The relevance of international law and U.S. violations of the U.N. charter and Geneva Conventions were among other topics discussed by Moore.
"Under my interpretation of the U.N. Charter, the United States' justification of self-defense does not apply in this case," she said.
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She added that laws laid out by the fourth Geneva Convention state that the U.S. is responsible for paying the cost of feeding Iraqi refugees and rebuilding the nation's infrastructure.
Panelist Russell Goodman, chairman of the Philosophy Department, added to Risso's historical context, citing manifest destiny and prolonged slavery as reasons for worldwide anti-American sentiment.
"When you think about running a state and controlling other people, it's important to think not only about your army, but other societies," Goodman said.
Transition from a family-based regime to a democracy will be Iraq's biggest challenge in the aftermath of war, said presenter Mark Peceny, a UNM political science professor.
Wiggins said the teach-in was informative, but added that it presented many of the same ideas he had heard from the political left before.
"It was a good reality check," UNM student Sterling Wiggins said. "I think it was a good presentation of American self-realization and a good examination of what we've gotten ourselves into as Americans."
At the teach-in's outset, more than 300 students, faculty and staff filled every seat, aisle and space against the wall of Dane Smith Hall.
After Risso's presentation, about 35 students left the teach-in, a trend that would continue throughout the afternoon.
"How many of you are not here for extra credit?" asked Rebecca Schreiber, a professor in the American Studies Department and one of the event's organizers.
Less than half the audience members raised their hands. By the time Jennifer Moore, a professor at the UNM School of Law and the final presenter, had finished speaking about the human rights dimensions of the recent Iraq war, fewer than 100 remained in the room.
"I'd say about half the students were there for extra credit and the other half actually wanted to learn," said Wiggins.
