2008 Woodie Awards
Students, faculty protest CIA during informational session
Keri Todd
Issue date: 10/10/07 Section: News
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When ex- CIA agents arrived at Winthrop on Wednesday Oct. 10 to recruit students in Dinkins Student Center, they were met by a rally of more than 25 faculty and students on the front steps.
"The point wasn't to bother, or interrupt them," Hollie Blake, president of the Student Socialist Union, said. "It was to do something educational. The goal was to bring it to students' attention. The organization has had an ugly history that they need to know about."
Faculty members from many different departments as well as students wore posters and had open discussion over a bullhorn protesting against the CIA.
"I was excited to see the departments being represented," Blake said. "I think it's because they have lived through these controversies and are more aware than our generation. When that many professors come out of the woodwork, something serious is going on."
Political science professor Stephen Smith helped initiate the rally by talking with students and other faculty members when he learned the CIA would be on campus. A group of 25 faculty and staff members then emailed the faculty-staff listserv inviting others to join them in front of Dinkins.
"I was delighted to find that a lot of people in addition to me were concerned," Smith said.
Recently, the CIA has made headlines after being accused of inhumane treatment of terror suspects by human rights groups.
Because of the attention the rally received, Blake said a cultural event panel to discuss the history of the CIA and the present day problems with the CIA will be taking place sometime after fall break.
"A date hasn't been set yet," she said. "But it will cover topics from all regions of the world including Africa, Latin America, and possibly Iran."
The panelists will include faculty members who have different regional specialties.
"I've been in campus activism for a while and that was the most direct faculty involvement on an issue I've ever seen," Blake said.
About 50 students attended the meeting to receive more information on what it takes to become part of the CIA. The recruiter contacted Winthrop to set up an informational session after getting a good response from students during Grad Expo and Corporate Connections, two different sessions to connect students with potential employers.
"I'm glad the rally happened in tandem with the informational session," Michelle Wolf, director of career development and service learning said. "It created good conversations and that's part of being in a university community."
Other students agreed that the rally offered a balancing perspective.
"I understand why they are rallying," Janelle Dunlap, senior political science major said. "But the students attending the sessions are just looking for employment opportunities, and the CIA is a good place to find that."
"The point wasn't to bother, or interrupt them," Hollie Blake, president of the Student Socialist Union, said. "It was to do something educational. The goal was to bring it to students' attention. The organization has had an ugly history that they need to know about."
Faculty members from many different departments as well as students wore posters and had open discussion over a bullhorn protesting against the CIA.
"I was excited to see the departments being represented," Blake said. "I think it's because they have lived through these controversies and are more aware than our generation. When that many professors come out of the woodwork, something serious is going on."
Political science professor Stephen Smith helped initiate the rally by talking with students and other faculty members when he learned the CIA would be on campus. A group of 25 faculty and staff members then emailed the faculty-staff listserv inviting others to join them in front of Dinkins.
"I was delighted to find that a lot of people in addition to me were concerned," Smith said.
Recently, the CIA has made headlines after being accused of inhumane treatment of terror suspects by human rights groups.
Because of the attention the rally received, Blake said a cultural event panel to discuss the history of the CIA and the present day problems with the CIA will be taking place sometime after fall break.
"A date hasn't been set yet," she said. "But it will cover topics from all regions of the world including Africa, Latin America, and possibly Iran."
The panelists will include faculty members who have different regional specialties.
"I've been in campus activism for a while and that was the most direct faculty involvement on an issue I've ever seen," Blake said.
About 50 students attended the meeting to receive more information on what it takes to become part of the CIA. The recruiter contacted Winthrop to set up an informational session after getting a good response from students during Grad Expo and Corporate Connections, two different sessions to connect students with potential employers.
"I'm glad the rally happened in tandem with the informational session," Michelle Wolf, director of career development and service learning said. "It created good conversations and that's part of being in a university community."
Other students agreed that the rally offered a balancing perspective.
"I understand why they are rallying," Janelle Dunlap, senior political science major said. "But the students attending the sessions are just looking for employment opportunities, and the CIA is a good place to find that."
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