Monday, February 16, 2009
Students can learn about the Iraq war from a variety of perspectives tonight in the Kansas Union. Student Union Activities is hosting an Iraqi documentary about the war, and a panel of veterans and professional experts.
Through the event, SUA wants to encourage dialogue about the war, said Arnold Phommavong, Spring Hill, Ark., senior and SUA assistant coordinator for social issues.
'breakbox'
“Dreams of Sparrows” and Panel Discussion
Who: Hosted by Student Union Activities
When: Monday, Feb. 16, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: Woodruff Auditorium, Kansas Union
Cost: Free
The film, “Dreams of Sparrows,” is a documentary directed by Hayder Daffar of the Iraqi filmmaking group Iraq Eye Group. The film presents the views of Iraqi civilians in Fallujah after U.S. forces entered the city.
According to a 2008 press release from the U.S. embassy in Iraq, during the first two years of the war in Iraq, Fallujah was known as a hotbed for insurgents and the deadliest place in the country. Daffar filmed scenes for “Dreams of Sparrows” after the 2004 U.S. assault on the city.
The discussion afterward will consist of six panelists: a student from the Collegiate Veterans Association, a student from Iraq Veterans Against the War, two students from the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth and two KU faculty members from the political science and sociology departments.
Phommavong said finding differing opinions was important because of the nature of the event. The committee for SUA wanted to host something about the Iraq War, but had difficulties agreeing on what type of event to host, Phommavang said. The final decision was to show a film and invite students to ask questions from a panel of students and faculty who were familiar with the conflict.
“We had a list of ten films, and went though and read the description of each one, and us and the films committee put it to a vote and decided on ‘Dreams of Sparrows,’” Phommavong said.
Felix Zacharias, Wichita senior and representative for the Collegiate Veterans Association, said he was enthusiastic about participating in the event, but was apprehensive about certain elements of the film. He said some of the footage that particularly unnerved him was of Iraqi insurgents calling themselves the protectors of Fallujah.
“I thought that was my job while I was there,” Zacharias said. “But I guess I was wrong.”
Zacharias said he was worried about some of the tension the nature of the event would cause. Phommavong agreed, but said it wasn’t the panelists he was worried about, but the audience. He described an incident last semester during a debate about marijuana.
“We hosted one former DEA agent and one former editor for High Times Magazine,” Phommavong said. “The two panelists were great, but there were some audience members who weren’t quite appropriate.”
Samantha Snyder, Topeka senior, said though she was going to support the Iraq Veterans Against the War, she was looking forward to hearing different perspectives. She said she hoped to see some common ground between the different viewpoints.
“Dreams of Sparrows” will be showing at 6:30 p.m. today in Woodruff Auditorium at the Kansas Union. The panel will begin its discussion at 7:45 p.m.
— — Edited by Liz Schubauer
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