Thick grey smoke poured from a metal bin labeled "Oil Can" in front of the Student Union.
According to Shira Kochman, it was a symbol of American rights being burned in flames. On the burning pieces of paper were rights such as "the right to a safe legal abortion" or "the right to gay marriage."
The can burned amid a cluster of protesters from the Feminist Action Group, who staged an anti-Bush rally Monday afternoon in front of the Student Union. The protesters voiced their discontent with American politics over a megaphone.
"We're losing all of our rights, we will not be silenced, and will not go easily," said Kochman, a sophomore psychology major. "We need to have two different parties, we will not unite. We do not accept the concession of Kerry."
"I feel the Bush administration is putting too much control over the bedrooms and not enough legislation over the boardrooms," said Vanessa Barigelli, a freshman political science major. "People think it's more important to control women's reproductive organs than save the impoverished people of this nation. I think it's disgusting."
Though the College Republicans were scheduled to rally for Bush in front of the Student Union, only four or five appeared and soon left when they realized the nature of the situation, according to Duncan Stanley, the group's treasurer.
"We saw it for what it was, and realized it wasn't worth it," said Stanley, a junior political science major. "Where were (the protestors) two weeks ago? If they had done this the Monday before the elections, they would have drawn a much larger audience."
But when asked if such a protest could still change American politics some protestors said the answer was yes.
"We're raising awareness against the Bush ideals," said Amanda Ellis, a senior women's studies major. "People should know it's alright to be pissed off, and they don't have to be silent."
"Bush is the enemy of the working people, he pushed back union initiatives and cut wages. All the jobs we see leaving the United States after NAFTA will increase, and the negative effects will be exacerbated," said Dan Cross, a senior history major.
Stanley said that such a protest would not accomplish much in the long run.
"Their hearts are in the right place, but they should be doing other things elsewhere," Stanley said. "I have nothing against protesting, but this kind of effort is not helpful. You're preaching to the choir. You're not going to gain any new converts."
Daniel Kaputa, who was observing the protest, had a more moderate viewpoint.
"If people are extreme in either direction, I don't think it's the way to go," said the graduate biophotonics major. "We have to find somewhere in the middle, it's what our country needs right now."
Kaputa also commented on the division that such protests create.
"I think my biggest problem with this sort of thing is the divisiveness that it causes," Kaputa said. "Things are much more dangerous now than they were in the past, and people don't realize that. We need to start working together a little more, the president has made stupid mistakes, but we have to get together and move on."
