Students pitch tents to promote peace

Kabul it was not, though many passing by thought the College Green scene was oddly reminiscent of pictures from the Afghan capital, with multi-colored tents dotting the grass.

A group of 30 students, loosely referring to themselves as Penn for Peace, set up camp yesterday on College Green to raise awareness of both the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and the plight of American workers laid off in the recent economic downturn. The students plan to spend the next several days camping in tents in the heart of campus.

Although this and past efforts of the group have focused on the U.S.-led bombing campaign in Afghanistan, organizers want the tent city, the most recent in a string of protest marches and teach-ins, to also address the suffering of the American work force since Sept. 11. Many have lost their jobs as the economy heads into recession, and thousands of workers in New York have found themselves jobless following the terrorist attacks.

"I am upset that 600,000 American workers have lost their jobs while the president and Congress have passed an economic stimulus package that benefits companies and fails to ensure that our working class heroes are fed, clothed and sheltered," College junior Melissa Byrne said.

Yomaira Tamayo, a freshman from New York City who once interned at the World Trade Center, will spend tonight camping in the central campus gathering spot. He asserts that the destruction of his hometown only makes him more committed to his fight for peace.

"Working for the well-being of others, both here and abroad, is the most important type of action today," Tamayo said. "The bombs are making it difficult for humanitarian aid to reach the needy. But we are determined to stop the bombing before winter so that no more innocent victims are lost to war."

Students leaving nearby Van Pelt Library and walking to class seemed intrigued and confused by the presence of tents on the grass usually reserved for frisbee games.

According to Tamayo, it was the attention that setting up a campground on College Green would bring that prompted Penn for Peace to chose this method over more traditional form of protest. The tents created an obvious eyesore on the center of campus, and the group hopes this will force people to think about the issues that the members are trying to bring to the fore.

Group members welcomed the stares and the debate from other students and say they will gladly allow anyone into their tent city.

"When people come along that disagree with us, it is good," said Jamese Wells, a College junior who plans to leave his tent only for classes. He will sleep on College Green for the next several nights despite forecasts of very cold weather.

"One of our goals was to spark dialogue, to get people talking about this war, to ask what justice means," Wells said. "We want people to feel like they can come here anytime and talk and listen and learn."

Over the next few days, the group will collect food for laid-off workers in New York as well as blankets for Afghan citizens, which they plan to send overseas in the coming winter months.

Penn for Peace began as an informal safe space for student discussion following the terrorist attacks, and has since taken a stance on humanitarian concerns, both domestic and foreign. The group's membership includes undergraduate and graduate students as well as faculty and staff.

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