Student activism has become almost a requisite part of one's modern-day higher education.\nThe college campus of 2003 is a veritable grocery store of issues to demonstrate for or against: abortion, smoking, drug use, Israelis vs. Palestinians, etc.\nWednesday's walk-out had good intentions -- a showing of student solidarity against possible war in Iraq. The message was good, but the method could have been better.\nWalking out of a class you paid to take doesn't seem like good economic policy on the part of students. Also, walking out of class, only to have to walk back into class later, takes away time both for learning and for evoking real change. Using free time to promote anti-war efforts takes a lot more sacrifice on everyone's part; using free time ensures that you can devote all your time to your mission instead of having to worry about what important things you were missing when you walked out of class or place of vocation. \nAlso, why walk out and away from an institution that you aren't protesting? Most times, people walk out or away from institutions or ideas they disagree with. No one here was protesting IU.\nInstead of walking out, write in. Send your appeals en masse to government representatives, or, if possible, go to where they are and make them face the issue. There is strength in numbers, but where and how the numbers send their message is just as important.
-- George Lyle IV and Mike Eisenstadt
