Untitled Document
Kent State Administration Threatens Iraq Veteran with Expulsion for
Counter-Recruitment Protest
Iraq war veteran and Kent State student, Dave Airhart, is under attack
for opposing the war he considers "unjust" and for attempting to stop
any more students from being used as "cannon fodder."
On October 19, the Kent State Anti-War Committee (KSAWC) stood around the Army
recruiters, who had brought a rock-climbing wall to entice students over to
talk with them. A member of KSAWC and former Afghanistan and Iraq War veteran,
David Airhart decided to show his opposition against the war by exercising his
rights of free speech. After filling out liability forms Airhart climbed the
rock wall. Once he reached the top he took out a banner, which he held under
his jacket, and draped it over the wall. The banner read: Kent, Ohio for Peace.
Airhart was forced to climb down the back of the wall because a recruiter was
coming up the front, yelling at him.
As he was climbing down another recruiter came up the back and proceeded
to assault Airhart both verbally and physically by pulling his shirt, forcing
him off the wall. Airhart was fined $105 by city police for disorderly conduct
and told that he will have to go to judicial affairs at the university where
he will face probation or expulsion.
When asked why he wanted to counter-recruit against the military Airhart responded,
"I do not feel that the administration should allow the military to recruit
their students for an unjust war that is taking the lives of innocent people.
They should be protecting their students, not using them for cannon fodder."
The recruiter who assaulted Airhart was never charged with disorderly conduct;
nor was the bigot who came by screaming profanities and spitting at KSAWC members
fined for being disorderly.
Somehow an Iraq War veteran hanging a banner, which called for peace, was disorderly
and the others were not. Even after the atrocities of the May 4, 1970 massacre
at Kent State University the military has the audacity to come to campus and
attempt to recruit students for their illegal war. However, KSAWC, which is
a member of the national grassroots organization, Campus Antiwar Network (CAN),
counter-recruits against the military every time they are on campus. We stand
around the table of the military, hold signs, chant and pass out literature
exposing the lies of recruiters.
The administration's blatant attack against the antiwar movement will not be
tolerated. We can clearly see that the administration does not want its students
and veterans practicing free speech on this campus, especially if we are taking
a stand against the war in Iraq. However, we will continue to fight.
We believe in getting troops out of Iraq now, as well as assuring that they
have a voice to stand in opposition to the war when they return. It is obvious
that the Kent State administration does not care about Iraq Veterans who attend
their school. After everything Airhart had to go through and see as a soldier,
after viewing thousands of innocent Iraqi lives being taken, he has every right
to exercise his opposition to this war. The administration may have the audacity
to punish an Iraq Veteran for speaking out against the war, but the Kent State
Anti-War Committee will continue to fight back for all Veterans and students
right to exercise free speech against the war. We will continue to challenge
our administration's role in recruiting for the war and demand our right to
a 'recruiter-free' school. Call and e-mail the Kent State University
administration and let them know how you feel.
Carol Cartwright
University President: 330.672.2210
Carol.cartwright@kent.edu
Greg Jarvie
Dean of Undergraduate Students: 330.672.9494
Gjarvie@kent.edu
William Ross
Executive Director of the Undergraduate Student Senate:
wross@kent.edu