Those are quick answers. Elaborate answers on request (send mail).
1) Do you think pro or anti war protests should be allowed on campus? Why?
I live in France and study at the Grenoble Institute of Politics, 2nd year student, 19 years-old. The Institute is part of the town campus.
War protests are allowed. Up to now, there has been one major anti-war protest led by a trade union called SUD (Solidarity - Union - Democracy). It was a non-violent sit-in in front of the documentation center, completely pathetic in my humble opinion.
All forms of regroupings, rallies, protests, are allowed here in France, at the very sole condition they do not hinder public order nor trespass constitutional liberties (respect of the individual and so on). I obviously support this freedom.
2) Do you feel that the protesters have the right to disrupt class' or other normal daily activities?
This has never happened here, for the simple reason it is an unbearable idea. French students may be against the war, they dissociate it completely from their students' life. This statement I have verified on friends.
Most people here refuse politics to mix with their studies. As an example, you should know that, at my Institute of
Political Studies, only two people out of 600 are in a trade union (whereas in normal population 6/7 ppl out of 100 are, depending on age).
3) Should the student protesters have to face charges or fines for their actions?
They would according to the law, which I agree with in a general sense.
4) What role should the school play in protests? Should they create ground rules? Encourage or discourage protests?
Role should be reduced to zero. School is a public organization which is not allowed to support or discredit any political views. Some people here are pro-war, they're a minority but they exist.
If I have an opinion to defend, I don't need any institution behind me. So I say 'no' to any form of involvment of a public service into politics.
5) Do you feel that students that are involved in the protests feel strongly about being there or are they just using it as as excuse to get out of class?
Those who miss class to protest do protest, they don't go home and watch TV. Another example of that would be 2001 presidentials in France, where a radical right candidate got to the second turn. Almost everyone missed class then, and it was to protest. People rarely abuse of such protests. If they don't wanna come to school, they just don't, they dont any protest for that
6) What are some alternatives to protests? What might work better? Or is a protest the best way to express the views?
Alternatives can be more passive (signs on your jacket) or more active (boycott), or even more active (violence) actions. See a list of conventional and non-conventional protest actions in Ted Gurr, "Why Men Rebel".
I personnally hate moving my butt for nothing, hence I don't wear thousands of peace&love badges nor do I throw bombs or go on strike against the war. If everyone were like me I'm not even sure it would be known France is against the war
. I simply don't find this protest useful. The word 'better' has hence no solution in your question, as far as I am concerned. Sorry
7) Feel free to also add any other comments, experiences, or ideas.
You need to read Tedd Gurr, "Why Men Rebel" (I think it's published by Princeton Press). He explains how different levels of satisfaction and deprivation lead to different forms of rebelloin from the individual. He's a reference when you study protest, non-conventional forms of political participation and action directories (Im not sure this last expression is very English, sorry
).
Send mail for better info/formulation.
