Armed with megaphones, fliers and noisemakers made from rice and soda cans, members of UB Anti-War along with other students and faculty members gathered Thursday to protest against the on-campus Army recruitment office on South Campus.
The group met at Abbott Hall before marching together to Clark Hall, where the office shares space with South Campus' gymnasium and other offices.
"We're here just to get recruiters off campus. They shouldn't have a permanent location here," said Anti-War member Oliver Morse.
Protestors cited the War on Terror and discriminatory policies towards homosexuals by the military as some reasons why the office shouldn't be allowed on university grounds.
"A minor recruitment presence would be fine, but there's no reason to give them an office on campus," said Anti-War Action leader Sophia Azeb. "UB is the only SUNY school in the system that houses a military recruiting center."
Only students were allowed inside Clark Hall - the on duty supervisor controlled building admission, citing the recent events at Virginia Tech - and the indoor protest was quickly ended by University Police citing building protocol prohibiting the blocking of exits.
"I just think they want to get the message out. They're very peaceful," said University Police officer Dan Walgate, who was present at the rally and also witnessed riots at UB in 1969. "We haven't had any trouble from these guys. It's a different time."
Jon Maurer, a sophomore English major, was in Clark Hall when the protest began and was surprised by the event. "I think they should have stayed outside. That's cool of them, but it was annoying." He added that he didn't know what the protest was about.
"I've never seen anything like this on campus before. Good for them for standing up like that," said Ruxandra Radu, who was present only as the group was leaving.
According to Jessica Clark, an assistant in the recruitment office and sergeant in the U.S. Army, no recruiters were present in the building during the protest.
"This is an institution of learning. There's no need to storm the building and be loud about it," she said. "No one is forcing (students) to come into this office and join. We're just here to help people join who want to."
Clark also said that the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy is similar to other companies' stances on homosexuality.
"(The army) is like any other corporation in that regard, because that's what it is... I wouldn't be compelled to come up to anyone and tell them I'm straight."
"Everybody has a right to protest, but people have a right to recruit too," said Joe Iannotta, a senior media study major who was present in Clark gym after UP asked the Anti-War students to leave.
Rachel Scarano, a member of UB Anti-War, is disappointed with the current state of students' awareness and involvement on campus.
"The two biggest epidemics here are apathy and ignorance," she said.
Clark said that UB Anti-War will "absolutely not" accomplish their goal of removing the recruiting center from campus.
"People really just need to educate themselves," she said.
Azeb and Anti-War founder Sergio Uzurin expressed overall satisfaction with the protest.
"I think it went great," Azeb said. "We have shown that university students care, and that they will risk getting arrested for a cause they believe in."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
