Most Popular
Job Board
Feith Speech Draws Protest
Students from Georgetown Peace Action gathered Wednesday in front of the Mortara Center for International Studies at 36 and N Streets to protest a lecture by School of Foreign Service professor Douglas Feith, due to his alleged support for interrogation techniques that some have deemed to be torture.
About a dozen students carried signs, shouted anti-war chants and spoke to passersby as Feith, who served as under secretary of defense for policy from 2001 to 2005, discussed his new book “War and Decision,” which details the information and conversations leading up to the war.
Protesters from GPA, which was formed five years ago in opposition to the war in Iraq, criticized Georgetown for employing Feith. The organization claims that he has supported policy that allows for torture, asserting that he tried to reinterpret the Geneva Convention’s statements against torture.
One sign read, “If torture is a war crime, then Doug Feith is a war criminal.”
“Ideally, we’d have him not be at Georgetown,” GPA member Sarah David Heydemann (COL ’09) said.
“We’d like for Georgetown not to employ people like him... Faculty are an expression of [Georgetown’s] values. … Just because Georgetown is in D.C. doesn’t mean we have to pay lip service to this administration,” she added.
“If Georgetown wants to give Feith a platform to justify pre-emptive war and torture, then we have a right to come out here for humanitarianism and life,” GPA member Zach Pesavento (SFS ’08) said.
With four Department of Public Safety officers present, one inside the center and three others outside watching the protesters, the demonstration remained peaceful yet vocal.
The reactions of passersby were varied, with one man calling the protesters “a bunch of obnoxious kids,” while a group of women called Feith’s employment by the university “a great sadness.”
Feith said in an interview yesterday that he would have liked to see those in opposition to his views engage him at the lecture rather than protest.
“I am very a big believer in civil dialogue and debate and I would have been happy to discuss things and answer questions,” he said. “[In my book, I said that] there’s no country in the world that has a stronger interest in promoting the Geneva Convention than the United States.”
Dara Gold (COL ’10), treasurer of the Lecture Fund, which co-hosted the lecture along with the Mortara Center, defended the decision to have Feith speak. She called it an opportunity for Feith, one of her professors, to promote his book and face the criticism that would presumably follow its release.
“A lot of people disagree with what [Feith] says,” she said. “What I would say is, ‘Read the book, ask pointed questions.’”
Gold also said she is displeased that university officials have not asked Feith to return to teach next year.
“Georgetown is playing politics at the expense of their students,” she said.
The protesters did not, however, enter the Mortara Center to participate in the question-and-answer session following Feith’s lecture.
“At this time, I don’t think we’d be allowed in,” Heydemann said. “That’s not the plan. I think it’s more important to be out here for the students walking by.”
Toward the end of his speech, the protesters, still waiting outside, began to shout directly toward the windows. With just a thin piece of glass between himself and the shouting protesters, Feith simply said, “That's what makes America great.”
Latest Issue
Poll
Login
Doug Feith says: "...there’s no country in the world that has a stronger interest in promoting the Geneva Convention than the United States.”
Which is nothing new. Feith made the same point in a recent interview with Vanity Fair, where he argues that he promoted the Geneva Conventions by interpreting them in such a way as to not apply them to detainees in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay. Basically, he upholds them by restricting their scope. Into this legal void created by Feith's crew fell all sorts of extra legal measures, like Abu Ghraib. He helped to open the door. He is responsible.
Let's just disregard the fact that the UN Convention Against Torture and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights prohibits the use of torture on anyone. Let's get to the heart of the matter. Feith would argue that these torture techniques were necessary to defend the United States. What he fails to realize is that he wants to protect us by gutting the very Constitutional principles upon which our nation was founded. Just read the Eighth Amendment which states that "cruel and unusual punishments [shall not be] inflicted." Feith's behavior is, frankly, un-American.
It's also immoral. Those who advocate for torture do not represent our Jesuit values about cura personalis, inter-religious understanding, or faith in action. These actions go beyond his right to hold controversial views as a "Distinguished" professor in the School of Foreign Service. He has violated international law and internationally-recognized human rights standards. He has no right to teach at this school.
In his "defense," I'll let Doug have the last word:
“The problem with moral authority [is] people who should know better, like yourself, siding with the assholes, to put it crudely.”
Doug Feith's class was absolutely top-notch. While I did not agree with everything he said, I was impressed by Feith's candor and logical arguments as well as his effort put forth for the students (which included a luncheon and West Wing visit). No other professor at Georgetown has matched Feith's efforts concerning enriching the students' overall educational experience. It's funny how those who claim to profess an undying love for free speech and/or a well-rounded education would seek Feith's removal. If you have a problem with him, engage him in civil debate, not name calling or firings. Read Feith's student critiques; even Dean Galucci will tell you that they are magnificent. It will be a sad day for academic integrity should Georgetown decide to not invite Feith back, and I will let the school know with my checkbook (or lack thereof).
A university would not tolerate a scientist who fabricated data on its faculty. Intellectually, Feith is guilty of precisely that during his tenure in government -- and presumably, Georgetown hired him based in part on his high government position rather than any brilliance as an educator.
How did Feith fabricate data? He cherry picked intelligence in the run up to war, promoted the at first dubious and now completely discredited idea of 9/11 ringleader Atta's meeting with Iraqi intelligence in Prague, and the list goes on.
Since I learned of his appointment, my (admittedly meager) checkbook was closed to Georgetown. Once he departs, who knows.
On the bright side, I suppose we can be grateful that at least Georgetown doesn't have John Yoo, the author of torture memo, on its faculty.
Universities are supposed to be a haven for polarizing figures in both ideological directions, not just liberal ones. I think it's good that students here are exposed to a wide variety of points of view outside of the mainstream and are then allowed to decide for themselves what to think.
I'm not surprised in the least. BS like this is happening more and more at the school. The sad thing is that most people on the left are too thick-headed to see the terrible irony in their being the so intolerant of others' views, coming from the party of 'acceptance' and 'tolerance'. (Which, btw, is a fiction and propaganda of democrats in particular and 'modern' liberals in general - the truth of the matter is that ideologically pure conservatives - though not GOP members - are MORE tolerant of opposing view points and positions)
Anyway, yeah. Way to go student body. Whenever you hear something that goes against the prevailing political grain on campus, call for its removal! That's what university is about: monolithic doctrines, established consensus viewpoints, and agreement, in every class, lecture hall, and presentation.
Who would want to have their ideas challenged? Who would want to confront the reality that their world-view isn't necessarily the only world view? Bah! Who needs such bunk. That's for the lesser mortals at lower tier schools. This is Georgetown!
;) keep up the poor work of advocating for an intelligent dissenting viewpoint to be removed. You make me so proud
Hoya Alum 2
I find it laughable that so many people keep pressing the argument that "...it's good that students here are exposed to a wide variety of points of view outside of the mainstream..." when our demonstration had little to do with Feith's right to have a point of view as a professor. In fact, we publicly stated during the protest that we were proud, as Americans, to be able to stand on a public street corner and offer our perspective. Apparently, our argument seems to have carried a greater force than those who support Feith. Tough cookies.
This is not about "points of view," but actions. Feith has been quoted, on record, saying that he deliberately reinterpreted the Geneva Conventions (a treaty that the United States is bound by) to not apply them to detainees in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay. The only reason that he did that was to ensure that the detainees would not be protected by the Geneva Conventions' explicit stance against torture. He knew exactly what he was doing, and he has admitted it. He allowed war crimes to take place, which makes him an accomplice -- a war criminal. This is not a figure of speech or a political statement. It is a fact.
Those who make these 'we need a wide variety of viewpoints' arguments do not even realize how flawed their argument is. Let's (hypothetically) say that Georgetown decided to hire a known terrorist as a professor. Would you still support his right to espouse controversial points of view as a "Distinguished" professor in the SFS? Of course not! Criminals on "all sides" of this illegal war should be placed in prison, where their rights must be protected UNDER THE LAW.
Post new comment