The Mason Community Debates War in the Persian Gulf, January 25, 1991

Story and Photos Provided By Robert Vay, Special Collections & Archives, University Libraries

On Friday, January 25, 1991 Mason students, faculty, and staff gathered to discuss the then eight-day-old Persian Gulf War. The event, held in the Physical Education Building, was billed as a teach-in designed to both educate and allow all opinions to be heard. Panelists representing those in support of the war and those against spoke briefly.

The floor was then turned over the audience for a question-and-answer session. Various aspects of the war, including the mechanics of the Selective Service System, were discussed. As reported in Broadside, “supporters and opponents of US policy in the Persian Gulf sat together, listened, laughed, and most importantly, respected one another.”