Apparently, the U.S. has no problem launching another attack on Syria in case another chemical attack takes place.

“I spoke to the president this morning, and he said, ‘If the Syrian regime uses this poisonous gas again, the United States is locked and loaded,’ ” said Nikki Haley, United States Ambassador to the United Nations.

Although I am completely against the chemical attack, and any similar attacks, and I think that Assad’s government is corrupt, I don’t believe increased violence was the best way to deal with the situation. Here’s why I think the missile attack was a bad idea.

First, the attack was not approved by Congress. This is a potential violation of the Constitution and of international law. Unless responding to an imminent attack on the U.S., the President is required to get congressional approval in order to involve the U.S. army in another country.

Second, it is uncertain whether or not Assad and his associates are actually responsible for the alleged chemical attacks. There is a possibility the chemical attack was carried out by other terrorist or rebellious groups in order to provoke the U.S. and other western countries. Also, Assad has no incentive to provoke the U.S., especially because Trump previously launched missile attacks on Syria to oppose Assad’s violence.

Third, attacking Syria poses the risk of empowering Syria’s current, most powerful terrorist organization, Jabhat Fatah al-Sham. Foreign military involvement radicalizes locals and breeds violence. For example, the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 led to the creation and empowerment of ISIS. Additionally, the creation of Hezbollah terrorist group in southern Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip supports the claim that such foreign involvement breeds terrorism.

Fourth, the missile attack will deteriorate the already unstable ties between the U.S. and Russia. Whether Russia decides to involve its military in the Syrian dilemma or not, the icy tensions between Russia and the West will worsen. No one needs another world war.

Finally, I question the intentions that spurred the missile attack. Trump claimed the missile attack was a moral imperative in response to the unacceptable chemical attacks on Syrian citizens. The claim highly contradicts his policy that does not allow Syrian refugees into the U.S. and the passing of new laws that make it harder for immigrants and refugees to survive within the States. If he truly wanted to help Syrian civilians living in dangerous conditions, there are several other ways he could give aid without launching dangerous missiles.

I am not a political analyst and I am unsure of an ideal solution, but fighting violence with violence in order to stop violence is, in my opinion, a vicious cycle that will only worsen matters. Peace has never and will never stem from violence.

Photo courtesy of Hassan Ammar/AP. 

“I was an artist, as many children are, from the beginning. I was the kid who spaced out in class (first through sixteenth grades) and drew pictures in the margins of my papers. Still do. I lived for the assignments and class projects that required building and designing things. Years later in graduate school I would learn, for the first time, that I am actually a visual / kinesthetic learner. We used to call it ‘right brained.’ It’s the way my brain is wired and it finally made sense why I struggled in school with math and linear type thinking. Still do! I was blessed to have parents who encouraged my art expression and my career goals. And I was fortunate to be able to take four years, eight semesters, of high school art which helped fan the flames of my passion,” said Quinn.

Quinn earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Science in Education from Northwest Missouri State University. He also completed coursework and part of the dissertation for a Doctorate of Education from Baker University.

Before joining Jewell faculty, Quinn began teaching art at Lathrop High School, in Lathrop Mo., where he served for seven years. Then he taught secondary art in the Liberty School District for fourteen years. While there, he also taught adjunct metal smithing and photography courses at Jewell. He will be retiring after teaching at Jewell for eighteen years.

“I’ve been asked why I didn’t attend Jewell when most of my family did, and it was simply because Jewell didn’t offer an Art Education major at the time. I had been good-naturedly teased about being the black sheep of the Jewell alums in the family, but I was able to redeem myself, to everyone’s satisfaction, by becoming part of the faculty,” said Quinn.

Although Dr. Quinn is scheduled to retire from full time teaching next semester, he will not be in full retirement. He plans to continue to teach adjunct classes at Jewell in the fall and in the future. He will also enjoy some free time to work on side projects and be around his granddaughters.

“I might finish that dissertation, or not. I have several sculpture ideas ready to be completed. If I win the lottery, I may donate funds to establish the Johnson-Nore-Quinn School of Visual Art at William Jewell College. But most importantly I plan to hang around my granddaughters more who are eight, five, and three months, so they can teach me how to be a better artist,” said Quinn.

Quinn’s greatest joy in being a teacher has always been working with students. It is what motivated and sustained him. He also greatly appreciates the collegiality and friendships he formed at Jewell. He feels honored to be part of the Jewell family.

“Some of my earliest memories are of hearing about William Jewell in reverential tones from my parents and grandparents, and visiting the campus with my dad as a child. Jewell was considered a sacred place to our family. It represented the highest standards of learning, opportunity, possibility, and a future. Jewell has been a part of the interwoven fabric of our family, and I can recall even as a small child of understanding that it was a special, even magical, place. To become a part of that heritage has truly been a blessing and privilege,” said Quinn.

Photos by Mykala Crews. 

Ethan Hawn is a junior political science and international relations major from Pittsburg, Kan. Hawn plans to attend The Fund for American Studies Institute on Economics and International Affairs in Washington, D.C. The two-month program includes courses at George Mason University and an internship in the D.C. area. Additionally, he will conduct research using resources at the Library of Congress and National Archives regarding the 1968 Tet Offensive and the response of the Johnson Administration.

Ethan Hawn by Christina Kirk

“I was introduced to the topic of my project during Dr. Wilkins’ Major Debates in U.S. Foreign Policy course. I found 1968 to be a particularly interesting and formative moment in U.S. policy regarding the Vietnam War. For that reason, I think that conducting archival research on the topic will give me further insight into the Johnson administration’s response to the event,” said Hawn.

Amaya Clark is sophomore biochemistry major from Dallas, Texas. Clark will use her Hall Grant to travel overseas from June 1 to July 1 to Lisbon, Portugal for a laboratory research experience at the University of Lisbon, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Pharmacology and Neurobiology Laboratories. Her experience will take place in the laboratory of Dr. Ana Sebastião, who specializes in neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases. She will be working with one of her principal investigators in this lab, Dr. Maria Jose Diogenes, and participate in an intensive review of neurochemistry while also learning neurochemistry techniques.

Amaya Clark by Christina Kirk

 “After graduating from Jewell, I plan to study medicine with the goal of investigating a newer, more cost-effective treatments for severe allergic reactions. Currently, epinephrine is the most available treatment. However, it has a short time of effectiveness and the cost is continuing to rise. By spending some intense training time in a neurochemistry lab I will be able to advance my understanding of some of the basic pathways that govern epinephrine. This also gives me the opportunity as a biochemistry major to experience a scientific investigation in an international setting. I will be working alongside scientists from Brazil and Portugal, with additional interactions with other European scientists. This will expand my cross-cultural experience,” said Clark.

Rosalyn Smith is a senior music education major from Independence, Mo. Smith is using her grant to travel to England this July to attend the Choral Institute at Oxford. This is a choral conducting program that will allow her to work one-on-one with some very influential names in choral conducting and to study the craft at a graduate level. Choral music has a deep rooted history in England. Smith will have the chance to work with the Oxford music faculty as well as co-directors James Jordan and James Whitbourn.

Rosie Smith by Christina Kirk

“I chose this program after hearing about it from Dr. James Jordan during his residency with the Concert Choir last May. Dr. Jordan is a very important name in the world of choral conducting and has written countless textbooks that I use here at Jewell and is known across the country. Working with him as a guest conductor last year was a great opportunity all on its own, so I didn’t want to pass up the chance to work with him again,” said Smith.

Margo Evilsizor is a sophomore international relations and Oxbridge Institutions and Policy major from Belton, Mo. Evilsizor will be using her grant to travel to Amman, Jordan for two months. While there, she will be taking 20 hours of Arabic classes a week at a local language center. On the weekends, she will be volunteering at a Syrian refugee camp called Al-Zaatari, north of Amman. Lastly, she will be conducting research on the empowerment of women in the context of war and post-war reconstruction. While in Amman, she will be conducting in-person interviews with Syrian women regarding the role of women in the war, the relationship between women and the rebel regimes, their desired role in the peace negotiations and post-war reconstruction at the conclusion of the war.  This research will contribute to a larger thesis project that will identify “pathways of empowerment” for women living in countries devastated by civil war.

Margo Evilsizor by Christina Kirk

 “I chose this research topic because it combines three of my academic and professional interests: women’s rights, post-war peace-building and reconstruction and the Middle East. This project provides an opportunity to interweave these different areas of passion. Additionally, I am extremely passionate about this project, for there is increasing evidence that women suffer immensely in modern warfare yet often have little voice in peace negotiations and processes of post-conflict reconstruction. With the high number of ongoing armed conflicts, it is therefore essential to understand the role of women in modern warfare and determine the obstacles that prevent female involvement in post-war peace-building. I desire to contribute to this important topic,” said Evilsizor.

Sofia Arthurs-Schoppe is a junior chemistry and communication major from Auckland, New Zealand. Arthurs-Schoppe will use her grant this summer to intern at The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) Institute on Political Journalism. She will be spending the summer in Washington, D.C., taking classes in journalism and economics at George Mason University (GMU) and interning as a reporter for the German Press Agency (GPA). She will be using her Hall Grant to pay for her GMU tuition.

Sofia Arthurs-Schoppe by Christina Kirk

“I chose this project as I see it as a phenomenal opportunity to hone my professional skills while interning as a reporter and enhance my own knowledge by taking classes at GMU that Jewell does not offer. Additionally, the TFAS program facilitates several events exposing interns to D.C. politics, including a speaker series, workshops with politicians and even briefings in several of the iconic political buildings in D.C. I’m really interested in all of these things and recognize that this program offers a unique range of experiences. That is why I chose it,” said Arthurs-Schoppe.

Cover photo courtesy of Kyle Rivas.

This threat has several severe consequences. The EMP has a destructive power similar in magnitude to that of an atomic bomb. The higher the detonation altitude, the more destructive it is. An EMP attack acts over a wide area up to hundreds of miles. Consequences of an EMP can include long lasting power outages in houses and health care facilities and damage to properties, including cars and stores. Sensors, monitors and other electronics that restart power after an outage would also be wiped out. The radioactive waves in an EMP can also kill up to millions of people, depending on its size. The radiation would also severely increase cancer cases.

“The biggest danger would be shorting out of the power grid, especially on the East Coast. Imagine a situation where large sections of the U.S. had no power. Imagine New York or Washington, D.C. with no power for just a week. The implications would be hard to fathom. The casualty rates would be off the charts,” said Harry Kazianis, Director of Defense Studies at the Center for the National Interest.

Despite the possible threat, little efforts have been made to address the issue. The federal government did not implement any recommendations to prevent power outages the EMP would cause. They also claimed that securing the power grid is not one of their current priorities. On the other hand Richard Schoeberl, a terrorism analyst, believes that an EMP attack is a possible threat that requires immediate action.

“Most of our East Coast grid has a lot of older equipment that could be vulnerable. We should work quickly to make the necessary upgrades to ensure North Korea can’t catch us by surprise,” Kazianis added.

“We are highly vulnerable to such an attack. Considering that if North Koreans are able to pack enough destructive power into such a nuclear device they could fry countless electrical grids and equipment. If they use a big enough device, the damage could be beyond belief,” said Schoeberl.

Photo courtesy of matti.frisk / Flickr.