New Trier Alumni Against Donald Rumsfeld's "Achievement Award"

The New Trier Alumni Association has decided to honor former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld for its first-ever Alumni Achievement Awards and induction into a new Hall of Honor at the school. In March of 2005, the American Civil Liberties Union and Human Rights First filed a lawsuit charging Rumsfeld with direct responsibility for the torture and abuse of detainees. The ACLU's website notes, "The suit was brought on behalf of nine men subjected to torture and abuse under Rumsfeld's command. The ACLU argued that the Constitution and international law clearly prohibit torture and require commanders to act when they know or should have known of abuses. In addition to the orders they gave directly, former Secretary Rumsfeld and the other defendants were repeatedly notified of abuse and torture at detention facilities in Iraq and Afghanistan by military reports, the International Red Cross and other reports and complaints by human rights organizations. Former secretary Rumsfeld asserted that he is immune from responsibility for acts of torture and abuse committed under his watch."

As New Trier alumni, we do not believe that the career of Donald Rumsfeld adheres to New Trier's mission "to commit minds to inquiry, hearts to compassion and lives to the service of humanity." Rumsfeld's activities in the United States' war against Iraq are anti-humanitarian, are despised around the globe, and have contributed to the degradation of our country's national standing. We ask the Alumni Association to unambiguously revoke this award, and we agree to cease supporting alumni activities until Rumsfeld's award is rescinded.