Antioch College to host teach-in on Iraqi war
While some classes at Antioch College will go on as usual tomorrow, Friday, many more will be canceled or reformatted to include guest speakers or workshops discussing a possible war between the United States and Iraq.
Local residents are encouraged to participate in discussions, listen to speakers and talk with students about future war-related actions.
The “teach-in,” as one organizer called it, will consist of a series of workshops with topics ranging from “Intellectual freedom in a time of crisis” to “The effects of war on children.” Workshop presenters will include Antioch faculty, staff and students, as well as many local residents. A panel discussion will be held from 8 to 10 p.m. and will feature faculty members of the college’s Social and Global Studies program. Other antiwar events scheduled for Friday include the showing of documentaries, dance performances and meditations.
Antioch fourth-year student Robert Neiffert, who is helping to organize the workshops, said that much of the inspiration for the event came from a community forum held on the war last month. “After the forum, [students] were inspired and motivated. It seemed like we could offer a good space to share information,” he said.
Neiffert said that he hoped discussions at Antioch’s teach-in would build on the discussions started at the community forum. “That is really what started it for us. Hopefully we can continue the momentum and deliberative spirit we found that started there,” he said.
Friday’s actions are related to an international day of student solidarity, which was recognized by educational institutions, including Yellow Springs High School, across the country on March 5. Due to Antioch’s spring break, students and faculty were not able to organize and establish broad support for actions like student walkouts and a campuswide moment of silence.
Kya Kim, a third-year student and a Campus Antiwar Network Midwest Regional Coordinating Committee member, said that as a courtesy to faculty the day of demonstrations was moved to tomorrow. “It gave everybody involved more time to prepare, and it gave us a chance to get more people involved,” Kim said.

—Brian Loudon

Antioch teach-in schedule
Friday, March 14, on the Antioch campus
• 9–10 a.m., Dharma Center, Robert Pryor, director of Buddhist Studies: “Tonglen and Meta Meditation”
• 9:30–11 a.m., College library, Amy Killoran, librarian, and Scott Sanders, university archivist: “Intellectual Freedom in times of crisis: A look at historical perspectives, current threats and available resources for further research”
• 10:30–11:30 a.m., South Hall, Room 311, Don Wallis and Kristin Famula, Antioch faculty: “Peace Journalism and creating a spontaneous ’zine”
• 10:20 a.m.–noon, Science Building, Jill Yager, science professor, and class: “Ecological and environmental impact of war”
•1–2 p.m., South Hall, Room 311, Robert Pryor: “Socially engaged Buddhism: being peace”
• 1:15–2:30 p.m., Library, video documentary, “Jerusalem, an occupation set in stone”
• 2:30–3:30 p.m., Library, video documentary, “Occupation Journal”
•3–4 p.m., Student Union, student Helen Harris: “Art as a form of resistance”
K•4–5 p.m.. McGreNgor Hall, Room 113, Cheryl Keen, professor and director of community learning: “The impact of war on children”
•6–8 p.m., McGregor Hall, Room 113, Mary Kalyna, activist: “Women say no to war: invest in caring not killing”
•8–10 p.m., McGregor Hall, Room 113, Panel discussion with Hassan Rahmanian, Pat Mische and Maurice Mueller, Social and Global Studies faculty
›• 10 p.m.–midnight, Antioch Coffee Shop, open mike poetry readings
Workshops with times and locations TBA:
Peace activist, Hazel Tulecke: “Civil disobedience as a response to war preparation: the consequence of going to prison for one’s convictions”
Peace activist Bill Houston: “Conscientious objection: are you ready for a draft?”
Bhuto Japanese modern dance performance