NIU students and staff are fighting against terrorism — not with guns, missiles or planes, but with passion-fueled opinions.

Senior history major C.J. Grimes hosted a forum dealing with the Sept. 11 attacks and how they affect America — or how America affects terrorist attacks. Around 50 people attended, mainly NIU history majors or history professors.

Several key speakers discussed terrorism, including policy expert Paul Street, who gave a general overview on the night’s topics. Other speakers included NIU history professor Rose Feurer, who covered the history of the Middle East, and Grimes gave insight into concrete responses to the problem at hand.

“America doesn’t have that great of a reputation around the world,” Grimes said. “We’ve created a nest of hatred.”

Grimes said American foreign policy has created the situations that caused the recent tragedy, and it needs a major overhaul.

“Osama bin Laden was largely the baby of the United States during the Cold War,” Grimes said. “We gave him weapons and set him up with money. We created his network and now that’s coming back to haunt us.”

Those present at the forum feel a violent response will make matters worse and offered alternate solutions.

One of the proposed solutions would be removing our troops from the Middle East. Another is to democratize America’s policies and put the power back in the people’s hands.

“America has so much power, yet only a few agencies are in charge of making decisions,” Grimes said. “And not in the best interest of the people.”

Grimes added that we should stop “the ridiculous war on drugs,” which she believes funds organizations like the Taliban.

Not all Americans share the same opinions as Grimes and her fellow speakers.

A majority of Americans — 88 percent — favor a direct attack on the countries and organizations that are affiliated with the Pentagon and World Trade Center tragedies.

“If we don’t defend ourselves and they get the wrong type of military access, such as nuclear weapons, they will destroy this country,” said Carly Putnam, a DeKalb resident and political enthusiast. “We don’t want more people to die, but if we don’t stop these terrorists, more people are going to die anyway. The only way to stop them is by taking military action.”

Grimes, along with other local activists, will be holding a sit-in at noon Friday in the King Memorial Commons. A vigil will be scheduled in the future that will take place along Lincoln Highway.