A professor from the American Studies Department has helped organize a series of presentations about the aftermath of the war in Iraq on Tuesday because she says it is precisely what students want to know about.
"We did it in part because of an interest expressed among our students regarding the war," said Rebecca Schreiber, assistant professor of history.
She said the point of the teach-in is it came from students - it is not a political event but really an educational one.
About a half-dozen UNM professors will present "Teach-in on the War in Iraq and its Consequences," a series of discussions and presentations sponsored by the American Studies Department beginning at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in Dane Smith Hall, Room 123.
The teach-in will feature a variety of topics concerning postwar Iraq, the nation's history as well as future and current political issues.
Schreiber said that about a month ago, shortly after the war began, students in the department were asking about the conflict - even when class discussions did not concern it. So, she decided to help organize a teach-in where students could learn from campus experts about various components of the war.
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However, now that victory is very much at hand for the United States, Schreiber shifted the focus of the teach-in to the consequences of war as opposed to the war itself.
The six presentations will be given by Russell Goodman, chairman and professor in the Philosophy Department; Richard Wood, a professor of sociology and investigator of the UNM Institute for Social Research; Mark Peceny, a professor of political science; Tim Canova, a professor of law; Jennifer Moore, a professor of law; and Patricia Risso, a history professor.
Risso will deliver a presentation addressing the League of Nations' 1920 mandate for Iraq to operate under the administration of the British government. The mandate eventually led to a violent October revolt that was unsuccessful for the Iraqis.
"It was a very bloody, very costly revolt," Risso said.
Although she has not completely determined the specifics of her presentation, Risso said she will speak because it is important for the public to know some of the history behind the more commonly perceived Gulf War history of Iraq.
"I feel an obligation to share what little knowledge I know," Risso said. "And I think a historic perspective is important."
In organizing the teach-in, Schreiber said it was important to draw on UNM's faculty resources to examine the war from those professors' area of expertise.
"We are trying to draw from the knowledge here on campus," she said.
Also, Schreiber added, the focus of the teach-in will be education, not activism.
"This is an academic event, not a rally," she said. "That is not at all what we are interested in."
The teach-in is open to the public and after each professor has presented, there will be a period for questions and comment, Schreiber said.
