Several organizations join anti-war effort in AUB

Students at the American University of Beirut launched a campaign in support of the Iraqi people while expressing their anti-war sentiments.

Their effort was organized into the Coalition of Students in Solidarity with the Iraqi People which was later renamed to become Students United in Support of the Iraqi People (SUSIP).

The new establishment aimed at incorporating all student representative committees in AUB including the University Student Faculty Committee (USFC) and the Student Representative Committee (SRC).

The group heavily relied on other student clubs, societies and organizations that formed the back bone of SUSIP.

The initiative also led to cooperation with several highschools throughout Beirut.

While the US-led war on Iraq loomed in the Gulf, only random student activities for the support of Iraq appeared on AUB campus.

The breakthrough, however, came when the Arab Heritage Club (AHC) called for a meeting inviting several student organizations that in turn adopted the AHC initiative. After discussions and debates, a caesarean birth finally delivered SUSIP. The purpose of SUSIP was defined as "the mobilization of the AUB community coupled with fundraising and promoting volunteerism," a SUSIP official told Alternative.

April 2 marked the launch of SUSIP when the group organized a long day of pro-Iraq activities.

The day included fundraising activities such as the cake, t-shirts, juice, bagels, muffins, manakish and traditional Iraqi food sale.

SUSIP also distributed a six-page leaflet which included the results of their research on the current situation of Iraq and potential war consequences.

Brief information and straight to the point statements, supported by statistics were the presentation's main core.

Also during the long day, several activities were held. First came a Speakers' Corner which attracted only a few students.

Second, a poetry recital succeeded in attracting a few participants and a small audience but was negatively affected by its late timing.

Finally, an open forum was held between Lebanese and international students particularly from the US, UK and other foreign nationals.