Even with the war in Iraq being waged thousands of miles away, some NIU students may feel the effects at home.

“It certainly has an effect on any American who pays taxes,” philosophy professor Tomis Kapitan said. “Right now, there’s a huge federal deficit.”

According to Orayb Najjar, associate professor of communication, while students and their parents may be funding the war, some do not pay attention.

“I don’t think many students follow foreign affairs very closely, and Iraq is no exception,” Najjar said. “They should follow it because they’re paying for it.”

Another effect of the U.S. occupation in Iraq applies to students who travel abroad, Kapitan said. They may be treated differently by foreigners who oppose the occupation.

The situation may also give students the wrong idea about war, Najjar said.

“It gives young people the idea that the way to solve international conflicts is by the use of violence,” Najjar said.

Some students may have reasons to become detached from the situation in Iraq. Among the reasons are their studies, work, friends and family, said Christopher Jones, associate professor and chairman of the philosophy department.

“The economy and the presidential campaign have absorbed a good portion of the news coverage that was previously devoted to Iraq,” Jones said. “In the absence of dramatic developments, it is very easy for citizens – including students – to lose interest in the war.”

Whether or not students follow the war, the NIU community in general has been directly affected.

David Schultz, 25, an NIU alumnus, died in Iraq on Jan. 31 after being hit by indirect enemy fire.

Ashley Sietsema, 20, of DeKalb, was reportedly enrolled at NIU prior to being deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She died Nov. 12, 2007, as a result of injuries suffered in a single-vehicle accident.

Christopher Alcozer, 21, who reportedly attended NIU for about a year, died in Iraq on Nov. 19, 2005, when his patrol was attacked by insurgents.

March 20 marked the fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq and March 23 saw the 4,000th U.S. soldier killed.

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