Campus Film Series to Question U.S. War Policy

This is the first in a series of stories on what various student organizations are doing at UB in the months leading up to the presidential election.

A tall man with a quiet smile, UB professor Luis "Khalil" Nieves carries himself like he carries his anti-war organization, the Institute for Justice and Equity -- speaking softly, but carrying a big stick.

"It's very clear that America plans to be the un-contended power in the world. This is in the national security strategy of 2002. They're very clear that they plan to have unrivaled military dominance," Nieves said. "We believe in working on, how do you create a just world, an equitable world for all human beings, so that national boundaries, language and race have nothing to do with it."

With the presidential election drawing near, Nieves said he hopes the Institute for Justice and Equity can have an impact on campus regarding the issues of American imperialism and world justice through equality.

"We believe that because this is an American election year and American foreign policy has such an impact on the world, all students need to carefully evaluate the positions of both candidates and have a discussion around it," Nieves said.

That's why for the next six weeks, the institute is running a film series called Fourth World War, with its first screening -- "Uncovered: The War on Iraq" -- this Wednesday at 5 p.m. in 31 Capen Hall. The other screenings include "The Hidden Wars of Desert Storm," "In Whose Interest" -- a film about U.S. foreign policy from 1945 until now -- and "Palestine is Still the Issue."

According to Nieves, the series is called Fourth World War because the Central Intelligence Agency largely considered the Cold War as World War III. The War on Terror is World War IV.

Nieves said he hopes the films will help encourage among students important discussions that currently are not happening.

"Our future is in jeopardy, and we're asking for critical discussion on the state of the war," he said. "There's just a certain apathy among students. It's very hard getting students involved in any activity. Plus, there may be a draft. When there's a draft, you'll see a tremendous change in students."

Nieves said he recognizes that his organization - which has 14 members - might be perceived by some groups as far-left, and even anti-American. But what the institute stands for, Nieves said, is much bigger than the election or partisan politics.

"What we're asking is for people to come, and let's look at the facts. And if you have a counter-argument, we ask you to come and present it," Nieves said. "It's not who's right and wrong, it's where humanity is at today and how do we solve these issues."

And to those who say America is unfairly picked on as the sole source of the world's problems?

"We can't affect policy in France or Germany because we're in this country. America is the leader. It is the dominant imperial power," Nieves said. "We believe there are problems in all countries, but we cannot affect the foreign policy in those countries."

Nieves and a handful of UB students started the Institute for Justice and Equity in October 2002, branching out to student groups like Muslim SA and Black Student Union, and community organizations like United Neighborhoods and the Langston Hughes Institute.

"We came about after 9/11 because we realized the U.S. was going to use 9/11 to affect policy," Nieves said.

In March 2003, the group increased its on-campus presence when it held a debate with the College Republicans. A month later, the institute was part of a conference to network with other like-minded groups, and that summer it held classes through the Langston Hughes Institute in Buffalo.

"We believe that developing an anti-war movement is relatively easy, but challenging American imperialism is a much harder task and takes a systematic effort," Nieves said.

And a big step in that effort, according to Nieves, is building student support in this election year.

"We're looking past the election," he said. "Our position is that were on the edge of World War IV. We really believe this is where the Bush policies are leading humanity."

"We want people to look at the world honestly," he added. "And whether they agree with it or not, we need to have this discussion."