http://www.kaleo.org/protests-start-off-the-national-security-studies-colloquium-1.2149380

Protests start off the National Security Studies colloquium

By JUNGHEE LEE

News Co-Editor

Published: Thursday, February 11, 2010

Junghee Lee

Protesters gathered infront of the Korean Studies building yesterday morning to convey their distrust with the CIA’s presence on campus.

A group of about six protestors gathered together and protested against the colloquium National Security Studies yesterday around 9 a.m., waving signs that read “Stop torture” and “CIA off campus now.”

“They say it’s a seminar but it’s a recruitment,” said protester Ann Wright. “They should recruit at a federal government, not at the campus. Students might be applying for something they don’t know everything of.”

Wright has worked for the government for 40 years and is currently a retired army colonel.

“Students should ask questions and be critical,” Wright said in regard to the job intelligence agencies are asking them to do.

However, students think differently.

“If I do the research ahead of time and speak with recruiters, then I think I’ll make the right choice,” said Randy Cortez, a senior philosophy major.

The colloquium consists of 21 expert panelists from fields such as economics, Asian studies and political science. According to Project Coordinator Jialin Sun, 145 students and around 40 faculty and staff registered for the colloquium.

Some of the topics covered in the colloquium were language and cultural awareness in national security, economic issues in East Asia, and 21st-century Intellectual Community (IC) enterprises.

“To understand the new paradigm operated in a global contact, the IC must bring in the equation of the brain power of the academic community, its expertise and intellect,” said Lenora Gant, director of the Office of the Intelligence Community Centers of Academic Excellence.

University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw attended as a guest speaker and gave welcome remarks in the beginning of the colloquium.

“This is an exciting opportunity to introduce students for their future employment options by the federal government,” Hinshaw said. “Being a public servant is a noble endeavor, and it is important to examine all types of careers.”

At the end of the colloquium, students are encouraged to attend an hourlong networking session.