News Briefs

Students protest Military Recruitment Center

On Feb. 25, approximately ten Vassar students affiliated with the Vassar Anti-War group joined the Dutchess Peace Coalition, Dutchess Greens members, and one SUNY New Paltz student to protest the current war in Iraq. The protest, held on Route 9 in front of the Poughkeepsie Recruiting Station, was composed of about 20 people.

“We knew it would be small,” said Landon Jefferies ’07. Jefferies said that the group was just “trying to be visible” and wanted to remind the Poughkeepsie community of the many direct and indirect effects of war. He also added that the Vassar Anti-War Group regularly attends Dutchess Peace Coalition meetings and wanted to show “solidarity” with the group in this protest.

Although the posted hours indicated otherwise, the recruiting center did not appear to be open during the protest, according to Jefferies.

There was also a small counter-protest, organized by the New Paltz Republicans. Both groups stood with signs and banners on the side of Route 9, attracting the attention of passing cars.

The Vassar Anti-War Group—in existence since around the time of the invasion of Afghanistan in October of 2001—is currently planning to organize an event with other campus groups to commemorate the third anniversary of the Iraqi invasion, and hopes to host this event after spring break.
—Hayley Tsukayama, Staff Writer

Sculpture set ablaze at SoCo

At 2:56 a.m. on Feb. 20, Security discovered the charred remains of a large art sculpture in the South Commons. When Security arrived, it was not burning, but interviews with students confirmed that the sculpture had once been engulfed in large flames.

The fire is still under investigation, and students with any information are asked to contact Associate Director of Security Kim Squillace.

—Lauren Sutherland, Assistant News Editor