By IAN LAUSA
As students walk past the Chapman University School of Law, protestors Sharon Tipton and Dean Inada, from Code Pink and the Orange County Peace Coalition, quietly hold up a banner that reads, "Hey Chapman College, Prof. John Yoo Teaches Torture. Fire John Yoo."
While a couple students politely take a flier, most walk past with nary a glance.
Protestors from organizations such as Code Pink, Orange County Peace Coalition and World Can't Wait have been protesting visiting law professor John Yoo's appointment intermittently since he began teaching this semester. The protesters are calling Yoo a war criminal because he co-authored the so-called "torture memos," written legal opinions the presidential administration of George W. Bush used to justify controversial war interrogation techniques such as waterboarding. Organizers of the protests can be seen in front of the Rinker Law Library on Monday and Wednesday afternoons.
"We would like to see [Yoo] fired and disbarred," said Nicole Lee, a member of the Los Angeles chapter of World Can't Wait. "The fact that he's been teaching ... law when he's been breaking those same laws is unacceptable."
World Can't Wait is a national organization that aims to reject all of the Bush administration, according to its Web site. Other organizations protesting include Code Pink, a group working to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the Orange County Peace Coalition, which advocates peace for international conflicts.
However, most Chapman students' response to the protesters' presence remains apathetic, according to Lori Han, professor of political science.
The number of people able to participate is limited because the protests are organized at the same time as Yoo's class, according to Tipton.
"Most people work during the day," said Tipton. "Two people is OK, but four people would make more of an impact."
A lack of student curiosity may be the cause of the minimal student reaction, according to freshman Greg Johnson.
"People aren't sure what to think and aren't inquisitive enough to look into the facts," he said. "People think it only affects the law school students and don't consider how it affects Chapman."
Some students have a stronger opinion about the protesters than the issue being protested because of a lack of knowledge.
"I think it's cool that they're standing up for a cause," said freshman Tyler Sadler, who has little knowledge of the issues surrounding Yoo.
When freshman Shannon Kelly received a flier from the protesters on Wednesday, March 1, it was the first she had heard of the controversy.
"I just heard about [Yoo]," said Kelly. "If [the protesters] are trying to get their point across, they might want to be more vocal."
Student opposition to Yoo has found more of a home on the Internet with the Facebook group "Chapman Community Against Torture." The group currently has 350 members and an online petition with more than 140 digital signatures, stating that the signers of the petition do not want Yoo's views to be considered representative of the university, according to the Web site.
"I haven't noticed [the protesters]," said Johnson. "I do like the petition though, it's something physical that people can see and comment on."
Contact this reporter: ian.lausa@thepantheronline.com
 
While a couple students politely take a flier, most walk past with nary a glance.
Protestors from organizations such as Code Pink, Orange County Peace Coalition and World Can't Wait have been protesting visiting law professor John Yoo's appointment intermittently since he began teaching this semester. The protesters are calling Yoo a war criminal because he co-authored the so-called "torture memos," written legal opinions the presidential administration of George W. Bush used to justify controversial war interrogation techniques such as waterboarding. Organizers of the protests can be seen in front of the Rinker Law Library on Monday and Wednesday afternoons.
"We would like to see [Yoo] fired and disbarred," said Nicole Lee, a member of the Los Angeles chapter of World Can't Wait. "The fact that he's been teaching ... law when he's been breaking those same laws is unacceptable."
World Can't Wait is a national organization that aims to reject all of the Bush administration, according to its Web site. Other organizations protesting include Code Pink, a group working to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the Orange County Peace Coalition, which advocates peace for international conflicts.
However, most Chapman students' response to the protesters' presence remains apathetic, according to Lori Han, professor of political science.
The number of people able to participate is limited because the protests are organized at the same time as Yoo's class, according to Tipton.
"Most people work during the day," said Tipton. "Two people is OK, but four people would make more of an impact."
A lack of student curiosity may be the cause of the minimal student reaction, according to freshman Greg Johnson.
"People aren't sure what to think and aren't inquisitive enough to look into the facts," he said. "People think it only affects the law school students and don't consider how it affects Chapman."
Some students have a stronger opinion about the protesters than the issue being protested because of a lack of knowledge.
"I think it's cool that they're standing up for a cause," said freshman Tyler Sadler, who has little knowledge of the issues surrounding Yoo.
When freshman Shannon Kelly received a flier from the protesters on Wednesday, March 1, it was the first she had heard of the controversy.
"I just heard about [Yoo]," said Kelly. "If [the protesters] are trying to get their point across, they might want to be more vocal."
Student opposition to Yoo has found more of a home on the Internet with the Facebook group "Chapman Community Against Torture." The group currently has 350 members and an online petition with more than 140 digital signatures, stating that the signers of the petition do not want Yoo's views to be considered representative of the university, according to the Web site.
"I haven't noticed [the protesters]," said Johnson. "I do like the petition though, it's something physical that people can see and comment on."
Contact this reporter: ian.lausa@thepantheronline.com
