Some tent for tickets, others tent for peace. Monday morning, members of Students Against the War in Iraq pitched tents on the Chapel Quadrangle, forming a place they affectionately call Peaceville to raise campus awareness about the war many fear to be almost imminent.
Approximately 20 students gathered around 9 a.m., setting up tables and displays of vocal opposition to the war in Iraq. Their aim: to alert the student body and bring the issue to the forefront of discussion.
"We want to provide a visible statement to people that there are folks who are willing to inconvenience their lives in some ways in response to the way that the lives of so many other people have been inconvenienced," said junior Dave Allen, one of the event organizers.
Despite a rainy start to the day, the campers remained optimistic.
"First we got attacked by the rain, then by the wind, but we're out here to the end," said freshman Marina Kukso, another organizer of Peaceville.
Response also warmed throughout the day as more people stopped by to chat or to lend their support. "A lot of people conveyed concern about what's to happen, but at the same time, they feel powerless," Kukso said.
The local community has lent a hand to Peaceville as well. Roger Ehrlich, a local activist, donated decorated mural umbrellas and parasols as part of a pro-peace display. Other Triangle residents have contributed with supplies such as food, sleeping bags and tents.
Peaceville takes precedent from a campout that occurred last month at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. "We were out there the week before the [Washington], D.C. rally [to protest the war]," said UNC freshman Tim Stallman. He added, "[The Duke campout] is basically the same thing. It's here to create discussion."
Unlike the UNC campout, however, Peaceville carries a distinct parallel toward the other tent city that dominates Duke this time of year. The students camping in the Chapel Quad are outnumbered many times over by residents of Krzyzewskiville, and the discrepancy of motives is on the minds of many.
"I don't want to say that camping out for basketball is frivolous, but I will say that it is much more important to me that I show my support for peace in the world rather than just for men's basketball," Allen said.
The campout marks a series of events this week sponsored by Students Against the War in Iraq in an attempt to elevate campus awareness as the Bush administration makes its case for war. A candlelight vigil was held last night and will be followed by a speak-out Wednesday. Dormitory teach-ins have been scheduled for this week around campus. Students are encouraged to stop by Peaceville to discuss and to learn more about the anti-war cause.
The group hopes that through their efforts, students on campus will become more informed and more aware of the path the nation is on. "Peace is something to sacrifice for," Kukso said.
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