2008 Woodie Awards
U.S. Amnesty chair speaks out on human rights violations
Chad Eggspuehler
Issue date: 2/14/05 Section: News
During a question-and-answer session at the end of the lecture, retired UTD professor Mike Durbin noted the divergence of current practices with U.S. traditions.
"The recent violations (discussed here) are so contrary to what the Army and the United States have stood for," Durbin said. "It's important for students to not just understand what is being done, but why it's being done. We have lost a dialogue between separate perspectives."
Pitts agreed with Durbin's assessment that the United States has overreacted to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Dean of Libraries Larry Sall asked Pitts where he thought responsibility for torture tactics belonged. Pitts said responsibility rests with both the individual enacting the torture methods and the official authorizing the tactics.
Although many students in the audience responded favorably to many of Pitts's remarks, not all were convinced.
"Mr. Pitts is eloquent and impressive, but I don't really buy that Amnesty International is non-partisan," said Ashley Boothe, junior political science major. "I think what AI intends to do is terrific, but I thought Mr. Pitts impugns the Bush administration's motives."
The lecture was sponsored by the AI Student Group at UTD. Group member and senior molecular biology major Shruthi Naik said they would also sponsor the lecture of London sociology professor Kevin Bells April 25.
"The recent violations (discussed here) are so contrary to what the Army and the United States have stood for," Durbin said. "It's important for students to not just understand what is being done, but why it's being done. We have lost a dialogue between separate perspectives."
Pitts agreed with Durbin's assessment that the United States has overreacted to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Dean of Libraries Larry Sall asked Pitts where he thought responsibility for torture tactics belonged. Pitts said responsibility rests with both the individual enacting the torture methods and the official authorizing the tactics.
Although many students in the audience responded favorably to many of Pitts's remarks, not all were convinced.
"Mr. Pitts is eloquent and impressive, but I don't really buy that Amnesty International is non-partisan," said Ashley Boothe, junior political science major. "I think what AI intends to do is terrific, but I thought Mr. Pitts impugns the Bush administration's motives."
The lecture was sponsored by the AI Student Group at UTD. Group member and senior molecular biology major Shruthi Naik said they would also sponsor the lecture of London sociology professor Kevin Bells April 25.