“Eyes Wide Open” exhibition on Iraq War comes to Vassar

Ilyse Kramer Staff Writer

“Eyes Wide Open: Beyond Fear—Towards Hope, an exhibition on the human cost of the Iraq War, will be displayed on the Alumnae House Lawn Nov. 15 and 16. “Eyes Wide Open” consists of arranged columns of boots belonging to American soldiers who died during the Iraq War. Names of the deceased soldiers are attached to their boots, and shoes representing dead Iraqi civilians stand beside them.

Assistant to the “Eyes Wide Open” Project Erin Polley commented on the decision to bring “Eyes Wide Open” to Vassar.
“We have found that this exhibit makes a very profound impact on college campuses,” said Polley. “For one thing, students are well-organized and eager to get involved in a project like this. Secondly, campuses provide an open, non-threatening space in which to view the memorial.”

The American Friends Service Committee will run “Eyes Wide Open.” Members of the Poughkeepsie community are also involved in putting together the exhibit. The rain space for “Eyes Wide Open” will be in the Vassar Chapel. The American Friends Service Committee will run “Eyes Wide Open.”

The Vassar College Office of Religious and Spiritual Life is the primary local sponsor. Many additional local and campus groups are providing support as well, including the Friends Meetings of Poughkeepsie, the faculty of the College departments/programs of psychology, sociology, English, American Culture, Women's Studies, Environmental Studies, the Dutchess Peace Coalition, Dutchess Greens, Hudson Valley Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Blegen House, Rabbi Daniel Polish, and others.

In addition to “Eyes Wide Open,” “Artists Responding to the War in Iraq” will take place on the Alumnae House Lawn Nov. 15. People will be performing from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. An overnight peace vigil will occur afterwards.

Adjunct Associate English Professor Judith Nichols said, “The exhibit reminds us in a tangible way of the realities of war. Grieving people come to...look for a particular pair of shoes, while people against the Iraq War come to the exhibit in protest.”

Coordinator Jen Cormano ’05 added, “I have friends serving in Iraq and many of the dead American soldiers are the same age as my friends. ‘Eyes Wide Open’ gives us a way to understand what is happening in the world and lets us examine the human cost of war regardless of political view.”

Director of Religious and Spiritual Life Sam Speers said in an e-mailed statement, “Both pacifists and those who believe that sometimes, and regrettably, war is necessary, are in agreement that one must ask: What are the situations in which war cannot or can no longer be justified, given the loss of life involved? My office is a sponsor of this program not to take a side on this question, but out of the conviction that responsible citizens must ask it.”

“Eyes Wide Open” student contact and webmaster Christopher Joslyn ’06 noted, “‘Eyes Wide Open’ will be a place and a time in which we can account for what we have lost: soldiers, civilians, men, women, children, and persons now dead as a result of military action. I hope it gives us a better understanding of the consequences.”