WILL SEBERGER/Arizona Daily Wildcat UA President Pete Likins sent an e-mail to students outlining the university's plan if the U.S. goes to war. The letter urged students to use the free speech zone east of the Cactus Garden to express their opinions.

Plan to deal with tension upsets some students

In a recent briefing addressed to the campus community, UA officials said that if the U.S. declares war on Iraq, "enormous tension" can be expected on campus, but they are ready to deal with it.

UA officials laid out a five-point plan to handle the turmoil that a war could spark at the university.

Students raised objections to a portion of the letter that urged them to congregate only in a designated free speech zone just east of the Krutch Cactus Garden.

"Frankly, if people want to talk, I think they should do it wherever they please," said sophomore Patrick Bigger of the Student Taskforce for Democracy.

Other students find it paradoxical to designate an area as a free speech zone.

"The last I heard, the Bill of Rights didn't have any geographic constraints," said Aaron Kappler, UA Young Socialists president.

Provost George Davis said that the free speech zone will not limit speech but promote an ongoing discourse throughout the conflict.

"What we have in mind is an area to talk and discuss what will be sustained for a long period of time," Davis said.

Davis said that the university is working closely with the UA Police Department and its attorneys to avoid handling a protest situation in the wrong manner.

However, he said that a line will be drawn between peaceful protests and actions that may have a negative impact on the university.

"We must ultimately make a decision about whether what is going on is dissent or disruption," Davis said.

Davis added that students deemed disruptive will receive one warning from the Dean of Students office before being arrested and potentially expelled from the university.

Some students said that a designated free speech zone is a worthwhile idea as long as it doesn't limit their right to peacefully assemble in other areas on campus.

"As long as they don't prevent you from free speech elsewhere, I think it could be a great idea," said Kristy Harker, a family studies junior.

The brief also stated that canceling classes and class discussions regarding the war will be left to the discretion of individual teachers; however, Davis said that the university won't encourage the cancellation of classes.

"We want to steer completely away from responding by canceling classes," Davis said, "It is important that we think hard about what is happening around us and promote discourse."

"I know I am probably not going to go to class that day," said Kappler, who added he will launch a spontaneous protest upon a declaration of war.

In the instance of war, television sets in the Student Union Memorial Center and other campus areas will be tuned to news channels. The Dean of Students office is working to establish a center in the union that will offer counseling, information and breaking news to interested students.

The brief also refers to plans for evening lecture hall meetings where UA professors will present topics of discussion regarding the war.

The brief can be viewed at uanews.org.