Posted on March 20: Students set up peace camp

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/peace_village.jpg” caption=”Peace Village”]A group of students camping out in the McMaster University Student Centre have a strong and clear message. “End the war against Iraq.”

It may not end the war, admits first-year social science student Mike Smith (pictured), but he feels the “peace village” will at least open up dialogue on the war declared Wednesday night.

A number of students are camping out in the west foyer of the student centre. Tents were set up Thursday at 7 a.m. and they plan to stay there, on a rotating basis, as long as they feel students need them, Smith says.

“I don't think it's an option to do nothing,” he said, adding a group of students got together a few days ago to talk about what they could do in the event that war was declared. Wednesday night they decided to establish a peace camp, where people can talk about the war and access information. “People are feeling really down,” he says, noting that anyone is welcome to participate. “This is a positive space where like-minded people can gather.”