Peace demonstration a call to contribute to peace
Human toll of armed conflict depicted in symbolic die-in
BY CHRISTINE VARNO
Staff Writer

WEST LONG BRANCH - - Against a backdrop of the war in Iraq and random acts of violence in communities throughout the nation, members of the Monmouth University community made a statement for peace this week.

Sponsored by Peace @ Monmouth, a group comprised of representatives of the university student body, faculty, staff and student organizations, "Demonstration to Promote Peace" was held on the West Long Branch campus on April 17.

"This is an intervention to wake people up," said Mary Lou Killian, an instructor in the Department of Social Work.

"I want people to take away momentum. I am looking for our university community to take from this an ongoing commitment to contribute to peace."

The demonstration was held outside the Student Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and included statements by Monmouth University President Paul G. Gaffney II, Coalition for Peace Action executive director the Rev. Bob Moore as well as singing and readings by students.

PHOTOSBYJEFFGRANIT staff Members of the Monmouth University community staged a peace demonstration on the West Long Branch campus Tuesday.

One of the most powerful moments at the event was a "Die-In," according to Killian, who said the intent of the dying-in demonstration was to offer a respectful visual representation of the human costs associated with armed conflict.

The 15-minute demonstration consisted of people dropping to the ground, and remaining motionless while music and readings of news reports played in the background, Killian said.

"It is intended to give a human representation that there is a human cost to the absence of peace," she said. "This visually shows that."

The demonstration was organized by a diverse group of volunteers representing undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty, staff and employees at the university.

Killian, who acted as chairwoman of the demonstration's volunteer committee, said the idea for the event came from a number of different sources, including an event commemorating the 50th anniversary of a speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on campus.

"I listened to the audio tape of the speech," Killian said. "He was very much campaigning for peace."

She added, "In addition to King's legacy, there is a need for these events on campus. There is this big social justice issue we are ignoring."

The idea for the event was launched several months ago as the first 21st century peace demonstration.

"I wanted to see if the university would be interested in something like this," she said. "And I received two dozen initial responses and then another dozen responses.

"It sounds small in numbers, but we are a small university so I was very encouraged by the size of the responses," she said.

Even the committee members who pulled the event together played a part in the demonstration's message, Killian said.

"It is truly a diverse group involved," she said. "It reinforces our message, our common humanity. The role you have or your title is way less important than the part you are playing."

The demonstration was aimed strictly at promoting peace, according to Killian, who said the event was not about political parties, the current administration or anti-war influenced.

For example, Killian explained, Gaffney, who kicked-off the event with an opening speech, is a retired admiral.

"That just shows you can be pro-military and pro-peace," Killian said.

And to be pro-peace, she said, can be as simple as speaking up for something you believe in or as complex as participating in a protest in Washington, D.C.

Just last week, Killian said, the university hosted "A Day of Protest" on campus, which included an open mike for students.

"One student went up and said, 'I remember being called a n- - - when I was in the sixth grade'," Killian said. "That's it. Just speaking up if you feel someone is being disrespectful.

"Or," she continued, "not telling an ethnic joke can make the difference."