A teach-in regarding the issues of war, peace, foreign policy, terrorism and hate crimes was held Oct. 2 for students and faculty concerned about events stemming from the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington.

The seminar, titled “War and Peace in the Middle East – Sept 11th: roots and aftermath,” comprised of two panels which looked at international and domestic issues, respectively. The program was designed to give students information from academic resources.

The audience was encouraged to ask speakers questions throughout the event. Students asked many questions about Osama bin Laden, past history with the Middle East and the definition of terrorism. Most questions revolved around what the United States? next step should be.

Government professor Bill Dorman said he was going to try to “make sense of what appears to be senseless.” Due to the emotional aspect of the events, Dorman suggested that people should step back, think clearly about how this could have occurred, and about a reasonable course of action to the events.

He said a situation as complex as the attacks does not have only two options. Dorman urges people to double check information that comes from the media and government, as well as friends and family.

Peace in the Middle East and at home was also discussed at the forum. Speakers associated with the peace movement discussed alternatives to war, and voiced strong disapproval of hate crimes toward Islamic or Arab people.

Jeanie Keltner, editor of the local publication Because People Matter, spoke against U.S. military action. She spoke of the government?s involvement in several international dealings, from the selling of arms to military horror stories.

Keltner said that speaking out against the government is not unpatriotic, and that people should be able to question U.S. policy and decisions.

“(Asking why the attacks occurred) is a tragic question, because it reveals the death of our ignorance, and our country?s dark history,” Keltner said.

Maggie Coulter, of the local group Peace Action, said students need to educate themselves on U.S. foreign policy.

“They need to know what our government does in other countries,” Coulter said.

Hate crimes toward Arabs or members of the Islamic faith have become a serious issue following the attack.

Elizabeth Guillen, a member of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, spoke on hate crimes. She said there are reports of many hate crimes being committed torward Arabs and Islamic people, or even people who look like Arabs.

Dorman said intellectual minds should come together and come up with an alternative solution. He said the brightest minds in science were assembled during World War II, adding that something like that could happen again.

“We need a Manhattan Project of the mind,” he said.

Buzz Fozouni, government professor, also spoke at the teach in. He believes the attack could have been the result of political strategy.

Fozouni said hijackers today are much more aggressive than past hijackers. He said they are willing to sacrifice their lives for their religious duty.