Students look beyond politics to the universal effects of war
By Katie Dooling
"Beyond Human Politics: The Human Experience of War" brought a diverse set of campus organizations together in the Sobrato Commons to offer a look at war through the eyes of Vietnam soldiers who had experienced it firsthand.
"Our goal in pursuing this project was to give a non-biased approach to the after affects of war," said Alphi Psi President Sarah Grojean.
The May 15 student-run event was sponsored by Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), the Peace Action Committee, the Vietnamese Student Association, and Alpha Psi Omega.
Although the focus of the event was the Vietnam War, Vietnamese culture was also explored through dance and food served to those in attendance.
Santa Clara students retold firsthand experiences of the war through readings from "Dear America: Letters Home from the Vietnam War." The readings gave names and personalities to American soldiers who fought in Vietnam.
The letters that students read displayed feelings of pride, regret and personal anguish felt by women and men in the conflict. While many soldiers described the violence they had either participated in or witnessed occur, some of the strongest emotions conveyed in the readings were those of soldiers that felt unsupported by other Americans at home.
Grojean said former soldiers are still afflicted by the many of the social and personal issues brought about by experiences in the conflict.
"[The feelings that soldiers experience during the war] don't end when the war is over. It's never really over," said Grojean.
Two Vietnam veterans shared some of their experience in Vietnam and how the transition back into American culture was difficult.
Ed Patton, one of the former soldiers that spoke at the event, suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) when he returned to the United States. He explained that the hardest part was being reconditioned into a society he had been away from for so long.
"I needed to ask for help in the process of getting myself back to normalcy," said Patton.
One of the goals that the committee members wished to accomplish through the event was to discuss war and the affects it has on people without a political bias.
"I was really pleased with the diversity of people that came," said Grojean.
Senior accounting and combined sciences major Tasce Simon said that the event was a success because people were able to consider war from the human point of view.
"I think [this event] went really well. I think everyone was really engaged," said Simon.
Sophomore theater major Claire Larsen, another committee member who organized the presentation, said that although the event was powerful, a larger audience would have made the message more powerful.
"I would've liked more of a turnout, but I think it fulfilled its purpose," said Larsen.
Political science professor Eric Hanson said that an event such as "Beyond Politics" is an important venue for the audience, but also for the organizers themselves.
"I was impressed that the Peace Action Committee, ROTC and the Vietnam Student Association would sponsor an event like this together because world peace needs all three groups," said Hanson.