The cost of a human life is too expensive.

Marist College students offer their emotional and physical support as activists all over the world are hard at work to end the economic sanctions imposed on Iraq by the United Nations.

Brooke Beltran, a senior international business major, said she believes change can only come from a movement of the people."I support the activists who are working to end the Iraqi sanctions morally and physically," Beltran said. "I believe we all need to act collectively in order to change the government and we have to act from the people."Advocacy groups claim the situation in Iraq becomes increasingly urgent with each passing day. Unicef estimates that 1.5 million children will suffer malnutrition and imminent death as a result of the sanctions.

Rabia Harris, coordinator of the Muslim Peace Fellowship in Nyack, NY, said that the economic sanctions being imposed on Iraq are futile as well as disastrous." The Iraqi sanctions are a complete moral disaster," Harris said. "In addition to being inconsequential."

Voices in the Wilderness is another activist organization based in Chicago, Illinois and is made up of teachers, social workers, parents, church workers and authors. The group has launched a campaign to break the immoral sanctions against the people of Iraq.VITW said they are demanding that the U.S. government end the immoral and unjust sanctions immediately. Those leading the movement risk the chance of being prosecuted to the full extent of the law as a result of their efforts. The organization provides an opportunity to publicly violate the sanctions by sending medical supplies to the Iraqi people. The maximum penalty for violating the Treasury Department's law regarding shipments to Iraq is $1 million fine and/or 12 years in prison.

Robert Amodeo, a junior film major, said that he supports the work of groups like Voices in the Wilderness, but would not put his own life on the line."We cannot allow the government, which represents us, to knowingly harm innocent people," Amodeo said. "I would lend my 100 percent support because I believe vehemently in their cause just short of putting myself in physical danger."Amodeo is not alone in his position.

Jessica Maglione, a senior public relations major, said that she supports organizations like VITW , but is not prepared to put her own self in harms way."I support these activist groups and their devotion, but at this point in my life I would not put myself on the line,'' Maglione said. "I would help by petitioning the government, but as far as standing in the airport to be gunned down by Iraqis, no, I would not."

Marist students do not find the course of action chosen by the U.S. to be an effective solution to the crisis in Iraq.Alicia Zadrozny, a public relations major, said she believes people need to take a stand when there is a violation of human rights." I understand the United States has its justifications behind the sanctions," Zadrozny said. "But that does not take away from the fact people's human rights are being violated."

Beltran, the international business major, said that she believes the sanctions are not justified because the wrong people are suffering."I think the UN would be justified if the sanctions were effecting the right people," Beltran said. "What the U.S. officials are failing to realize is that these dictators like Saddam Hussein do not care if their people starve."

Although this present generation of college students may be the closest reflection of 1960s idealism the world has known for a long time, some are disenchanted by tragedies of the past.Maglione, the public relations major, said that the assassination of Martin Luther King makes her question whether or not the first amendment exists in the United States."People like Martin Luther King, who have tried to stand up to injustice and the government in a free country like ours have been killed," she said. "It makes me question the reality of freedom of speech and expression when people have been shot for speaking out.Nevertheless, others claim they would be willing to risk their own safety in thename of justice for the Iraqi people."

Jessica Giacobbe, a junior psychology major, said that she believes her own actions can serve as a witness of hope for the people in Iraq."I think I would consider participating in one of the campaigns," Giacobbe said."The people who are being effected need to be aware that there are others willing to sacrifice for them."