Passed by the UW Oshkosh Faculty Senate on March 4th, 2003

Resolution on the War in Iraq

WHEREAS, the people of the United States have already suffered grievous loss of life and well-being as a result of the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001; and
WHEREAS, based on current information no proven linkage has been made between the horrific terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 and the government of Iraq, and
WHEREAS, there is an urgent need for genuine multilateral action to eliminate weapons of mass destruction world wide,
WHEREAS, most governments around the world oppose US action in regard to Iraq and support the full pursuit of diplomatic resolutions and weapons inspections before any further military action is taken against Iraq,

WHEREAS, a war with Iraq will jeopardize the lives of American soldiers and will kill many innocent Iraqi civilians, who have already suffered enormously under Saddam Hussein's rule and United Nations sanctions, and
WHEREAS, a war with Iraq would threaten to further destabilize the Middle East, possibly leading to a wider, regional war and increased support for Al Qaeda and other groups dedicated to terrorism, making the citizens of the United States and the world less safe, and
WHEREAS, past military conflict in the region resulted in widespread environmental destruction, the effects of which have not yet been mitigated or understood; and
WHEREAS, past military conflict in the region resulted in widespread damage to the civilian infrastructure of Iraq and widespread suffering and death of Iraqi civilians; and
WHEREAS, Wisconsin is suffering from a fiscal crisis for which severe and disproportionate budget cuts to the UW System have been proposed as part of the solution.
WHEREAS, it has been estimated that a war in Iraq would likely cost the U.S. government over $100 billion, an amount that could go a long way to meeting our higher education and other needs,

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Faculty Senate of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
HEREBY, opposes a U.S. invasion of Iraq, but supports instead a genuinely multilateral diplomatic approach to the Iraq situation, sanctioned and directed by the United Nations; and
HEREBY, opposes cooperation with requests for information to investigate students, staff and faculty at UW Oshkosh as per the 2001 Patriot Act; and
HEREBY, encourages UW faculty to educate our citizens on the history and issues underlying the disputes in the Middle East; and,
HEREBY, supports the March 5th, 2003 effort of UW Oshkosh students to engage the campus community in critical debate regarding Iraq policy

RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be sent to President Bush, Senators Kohl and Feingold, all members of the Wisconsin U.S. Congressional delegation, UW System President Katherine Lyall, and the Wisconsin Board of Regents.