Fast draws support
Organizers cite desire to experience situation faced by Iraqi citizens
By Sherman Patrick
Flat Hat Staff Writer
Last Thursday and Friday the William and Mary Community for Peace Action sponsored a fast to oppose the then-proposed war in Iraq and show solidarity with the Iraqi people. Fast organizers declared it successful for raising awareness of the issues.
Freshman Lisa Snead organized the fast and scheduled it for the same time as a similar event at Kent State University. She was inspired by last year's fast for peace shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
"Several students organized a fast then," Snead said. "Given the world situation it just seemed like the time for another fast for peace."
According to Snead, there were approximately 70 fasters. She said that many others showed support by wearing white bands around their arms or attached to their backpacks or hair.
Sophomore Leslie Butterfield participated in the fast for what she described as personal reasons.
"I really wanted to reconcile my feelings about the events going on," Butterfield said. "Part of me understands what is going on, but part of me thinks it's wrong. I wanted to do this to make it more real to me. It worked."
Sophomore Sarah Tolbert also participated in the fast for different reasons.
"The fast was a two-part thing," Tolbert said. "The first was anti-war, which I'm not, but the second was to sympathize with the people of Iraq. And I thought it would be good to feel the hunger and understand what it's like."
Tolbert was informed of the fast by her roommates who oppose the war.
"It sounded like a good idea and it was also a way to support them," she said. "We're all concerned about the Iraqi people and we're doing something together even though we disagree about the war."
Snead was willing to listen to other opinions on the subject.
"I really appreciate those students on campus who disagreed with us, but remained polite about it," Snead said. "Regardless of how we feel about war, we are students at this college and it's important that we are able to work together."
Sophomore Matt Lancaster, the organizer of the WMCPA, believed the fast to be extremely successful.
"We had reporters there from so many different news outlets," Lancaster said, referring to reporters from the Virginia Gazette, the Daily Press and the Richmond Times-Dispatch in addition to cameras form Channels 10 and 3 News.
Asked about the beginning of the bombing, Lancaster remained adamant.
"We're going to keep doing this," he said. "We wholeheartedly support the troops and we're all patriots, but this is an unjust war and we're going to keep bringing up the issue."
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