The question has been answered: a campus divided can stand.

On April 4, Missouri Southern saw a rally supporting the war in front of Hearnes Hall, and at the same time a rally that supported peace was held at the Sept. 11 memorial flagpole.

Jason Childers, senior criminal justice major, who attended the peace rally, said the rally was to promote peace as well as support the troops. Childers said he believes President George W. Bush “jumped the gun, he was too quick to go to war.”

“He should have done other things before going to war,” he said.

Childers said if there are people on campus supporting peace, then he will be there. Some who attended the pro-war rally said if a person doesn’t support the war then they cannot support the troops. Sen. Gary Nodler (R-Joplin) said those who support peace “encourage the force of tyranny, and in fact support the face of evil.” Nodler said it is the right of those who support peace to do so, and it is the right for others to think they are wrong.

“I absolutely think that the right to dissent is part of the fabric of freedom,” Nodler said. “Do they have the right to be there? Sure. Do they have the right to be wrong? Surely, they do. Should others point out that they are wrong? Absolutely.”

Nodler believes a person cannot be against the war and support the troops. He said the troops are the instruments of the war, and those who oppose the war also oppose the troops because of this.

Dr. Joy Dworkin, associate professor of English, said she believes it is possible to support the troops but not support the war.

“It’s our duty if we care for our fellow countrymen and women, to care about the people who are willing to risk everything for our country,” Dworkin said. “It is our duty to voice our opposition if we believe they are potentially dying for no good cause.”

She said she respects the troops who are fighting, but finds it is not fair that the anti-war supporters are classified as not supporting the troops.

If the groups agree or not, both groups decided their voices needed to be heard. Matthew Hite, junior political science major, said the reason he organized the pro-war rally was because he wanted those people who work and students who have tough class schedules a place to support the troops.

“It (the rally) was suggested to me from a couple of people Monday night who had seen the news piece on one of the local TV stations about how there was a peace protest on campus,” he said. “So we wanted to make sure not one point of view is represented at Southern as a campus.”

Hite said if another opportunity is open for the College to hold another rally, he will try and put one together. The peace supporters said if there was a chance for them to gather together again, they will do it.