Wausau paper

10/10/2001 Peace camp at UWSP attacked Email this story to a friend Click here to comment on this story

By Casey Krautkramer Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers

STEVENS POINT — Peace supporters have moved a camp from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s Sundial, an open area between the Fine Arts building and the library, in response to violence against them.

The Peace and Unity Coalition members said homemade bombs made with Drano and aluminum foil exploded near the camp on Thursday and Friday. Passersby also placed firecrackers near the tents, yelled obscenities and threw eggs at campers, they said.

A campus security official confirmed that officers confiscated the bombs but declined to comment further. University and city police arrested a 20-year-old Campbellsport native who admitted throwing eggs early Saturday, reports said.

“It saddens me,” said coalition member Matt Filipiak, a student and a Stevens Point City Council member. “That’s our constitutional right. Obviously everyone doesn’t respect the Constitution and doesn’t respect each other.”

The group Sunday contemplated completely shutting down the camp, which began Oct. 1, but decided to move it inside to the University Center’s basement.

“I’m concerned about the message that would be interpreted if we left today,” said Dana Churness, a senior from Wausau.

A somber group of 15 students gathered in the Sundial on Sunday to discuss what the group should do in response to the U.S. air strikes and the violence directed toward them.

“As a group, I think it’s getting too dangerous,” Filipiak said. “It seems like we’re risking our lives, and our lives are worth more than the movement of peace. We need to be realistic with what we can do with everything else we have in our lives.”

Andrew Bushard of Stevens Point wanted the camp to remain intact to show people that the movement is strong.

“People seeing us out there in the cold get inspired and see that we’re dedicated,” he said.

The group plans to continue to march every Friday at 4 p.m.

-- Anonymous, October 10, 2001