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You are here: Home / News / Students have mixed feelings as Iraq war looms

Students have mixed feelings as Iraq war looms

October 18, 2002 by Melanie J. Knox

By Melanie J. Knox, Page Editor

President Bush Wednesday signed the authorization he had received from both the House and the Senate last week to declare war on Iraq.

Bush has been talking to the United Nations about the possibility of war, and the issue has caused controversy throughout the nation and at ACU, as well.

Many students are torn about what the correct action would be in this situation.

“It’s a tough call because I really feel like it’s an evil regime doing these horrible things to other people,” said Cameron Slack, junior broadcast journalism major from Lufkin. “However, a pre-emptive strike from us sets a precedent for the rest of the world and if we go in and do this, then that means that other countries will use our example as a justification for other things.”

Others think Bush should more effectively evaluate the decision he is making before America jumps into war.

“The whole bombing Iraq thing is sort of rash,” said E’den Wooten, freshman nursing major from Dallas. “It’s really quick, and Bush needs to think about it more because it’s going to affect a lot of people and a lot of lives could be lost, and that’s not good.”

Courtney Armstrong, freshman computer science major from Mesquite, agreed.

“Bush should clearly think of the situation and make sure that he is making a good decision because it’s going to affect our nation as a whole. He has a very important decision, and I’m hoping he’ll make a good decision and prolong the attack.”

Jessica Poarch, junior English major from Jackson, Miss., said that at this point and time, she thinks it is a very bad idea. “We need to handle our ‘war’ with Bin Laden before we jump into any other international problems,” she said.

“I think we resent all Middle-Easterners at this point, and Sadaam really isn’t a just cause for us to kill innocent women and children, but we’re ticked off, so he’ll do,” said Mark Weathers, senior Christian ministry major from Abilene.

Some felt Bush is making a good decision in taking action now.

“After Sept. 11, we shouldn’t just sit around and wait on something to happen anymore,” said Perry Bolton, senior social work major from Paris. “If it does, we’ll just have to look back again and say, ‘Oh, we should have done something beforehand.'”

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Iraq, War

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About Melanie J. Knox

You are here: Home / News / Students have mixed feelings as Iraq war looms

Other News:

  • Ko Jo Kai, Gamma Sigma Phi, mixed class win 2026 Sing Song

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  • NEXT Lab funding drives university’s research strategy

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acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
29 Mar

Sing Song 2026 Awards Class Division:

Overall Award:
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Sing Song 2026 Awards Women’s Division:

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The Optimist staff won several awards and competed at the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association 2026 convention in Denton this weekend. Students participated in live contests and submitted work from the past year into the competition.Here are the results.- 1st place: Live print news writing, Ashley Henderson- 1st place: Live print sports writing, Roman Raffaeli- 2nd place: Live tv announcing, Zion Webb- 2nd place: Live news photo, Daniel Curd- 2nd place: Newscast, Optimist Staff- Honorable mention: Documentary (video), Makayla Clayton- 2nd place: Documentary, JMC documentary production class- 3rd place: General news, Callie Leverett- Honorable mention: General column, Zion Webb- Honorable mention: Sports reporting (video), Roman Raffaeli- Honorable mention: Live sports action photo, Daniel Curd- Honorable mention: General news video story, Ashley Henderson- Honorable mention: Photo illustrations (Daniel Curd & Optimist staffStudents also received awards for their work through KACU and ACUTV.- 1st place: In-depth news reporting (audio), Ashley Henderson- 1st place: General news audio story, Baylie Simon- 1st place: Live sports coverage (video), Roman Raffaeli & London Gray- 2nd place: Live sports coverage (video), Josiah Wonnell & Londyn Gray- 3rd place: General news audio story, Ashley Henderson- 2nd place: Sportscast (audio), Daisy Strine & Zion Webb- 3rd place: Sportscast (audio), Daisy Strine & Zion Webb- 3rd place: Feature reporting (audio), Baylie Simon- Honorable Mention: Feature reporting (audio), Josiah Wonnell#acuoptimist #abilenechristianuniversity #studentmedia #tipa2026 ... See MoreSee Less

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Sororities and fraternities began New Member Orientation with Bid Day, officially starting the pledging process this weekend.Originally scheduled for last week, the start was delayed due to winter weather that brought snow and ice to campus. Clubs and their sponsors gathered at designated locations on and off campus to complete tasks assigned by their officers.To view the full photo gallery, visit acuoptimist.com or click the link in our bio. #acuoptimist #abilenechristianuniversity #greeklife 📸: Daniel Curdacuoptimist.com/2026/02/gallery-clubs-begin-new-member-orientation-after-weather-delay/?fbclid=PA... ... See MoreSee Less

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