By Michela Gritti, Sean Hancock, David Beltran, Shariyah Bass
Nearly three weeks after the United States and Israel launched coordinated military operations against Iran on Feb. 28, the conflict continues to escalate, with ongoing missile exchanges and growing global economic impacts due to disrupted oil supplies.
In the early days of the conflict – on Tuesday, March 3, – journalists from The Pine Needle conducted a man-on-the-street survey to capture how students were reacting in the early stages of what has become an expanding conflict.
What is your opinion about the situation in Iran?
Atticus Power: “I think this war is an example of neo-colonization. I think President Trump is doing this because there are resources in the Middle East that America and Israel want to be involved in.”
Emma Hinson: “I don’t agree with everyone blaming Trump for bringing us into war because war has not been declared yet. People are saying that Trump is using the war as a cover up for the Epstein files, which I can say that two things exist at the same time. I feel like he is kinda distracting the Epstein files, but Iran they hate America, they chant death to the U.S. They are run by a terrorist region, and they don’t have any rights for women. They don’t have any respect for America and what America believes.”
Jerrica Hooper: “Honestly speaking I think it’s a little absurd. I think it’s being blown out of proportion and unnecessary. Not to be controversial but I do think it is something bigger to cover up that’s going on that is not political.”
Leah Smith: “Donald Trump partly ran his campaign on this idea that he wasn’t going to start any more wars. Then out of the blue we bomb Iran without any congressional approval. So I don’t think we should be in a war in the Middle East, it’s a place we have no business being in.”
Rielee Douglas-Jones: “I personally don’t like our President, and I think the history of what President Trump supported is not the best way to determine who we should go to war with.”
Sienna Forrester: “I just have one single question regarding it, which is: why do we have to die? I just cannot understand why this has to happen, and especially why now!”
Why do you think the attack happened?
Atticus Power: “I think President Trump sees this as a game. I don’t think he has a true understanding of human life. I think it’s despicable and racist at heart.”
Leah Smith: “I think it’s a way to distract people from the fact that he is a pedophile and he is covering for everybody in the Epstein files.”
Emma Hinson: “Iran has been building these nuclear missiles for a long time. I don’t really know why it’s all starting now. I think Trump hasn’t been in office for as long as they have been making these missiles.”
Keanna Whitt: “The reason why this is happening is because nobody wants to mind their own business. I wish we could all just stop minding about other businesses and live our own lives peacefully.”
Sienna Forrester: “All that is happening is just due and connected to greed and racism.”
How do you think the media is presenting the situation?
Leah Smith: “I think the media is so polarized that we are not getting a clear picture from either side.”
Jerrica Hooper: “Of course with the political standing its getting blown out of proportion but the media is not showing that same seriousness because we are currently in a state of war but it is not being shown that.”
Atticus Power: “I think the media is not condemning this enough, because what Trump is doing is unconstitutional.”
Rielee Douglas-Jones: “I think the media now has had an issue with being more political. The reason why I watch CNN is because it’s very neutral. The media has been political left, political right and I think a job as a news reporter should be in the middle.”
Where did you first hear the news?
Emma Hinson: “There is an app I use that is like AI, it’s called newsbreak. You can hear all the 911 calls in the area but you can also see everything that’s going on in the world.”
Leah Smith: “I saw it everywhere when it hit the news cycle.”
Sienna Forrester: “I first saw the news on tiktok and then also on CNN.”
Jerrica Hooper: “TikTok”
Atticus Power and Rielee Douglas-Jones: “CNN”
Do you have family members in the military?
Atticus Power: “I had a couple of uncles in the military, but I also think that it is really scary for people nowadays.”
Sienna Forrester: “No. But since they might start drafting people, they might end up taking my brother.”
Leah Smith: “No not currently, but it’s still scary to be a young man now, I would hate it if there would be a draft.”
As the conflict continues uncertainty remains high about how long the war will last and whether it will expand further. Students’ responses, highlighting a mix of fear, skepticism and political division, mirror the broader public uncertainty as the situation continues to evolve.
