While a number of my peers walked out of their classes and participated in the Walk Out Western event endorsed by the Student Government Association, I decided to stay in my class and learn. After my class was dismissed, I ventured to the Colonnade to attend the rally, where I signed a banner and listened to speakers such as executive vice president Johnathon Boles, President Jeanne Johnson and Senator Kevin Smiley.

I decided not to walk out of my class with the primary explanation being I have an upcoming blue book exam in the mentioned class. I figured I would need the additional instructional time, and I am content with my decision. The professor of the course did encourage students to attend the event after our class concluded for the day. No student walked out of the class, and I guess the advertised free pizza on the flyer did not swerve their intentions.

While others journeyed to a former football stadium to take a stand for higher education, my political science class discussed human rights, the Rome Statute and the International Criminal Court (ICC). Earlier in the class, we discussed the Armenian genocide, the Geneva Conventions, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). It is interesting to note that I learned the United States is the only developed nation that has not ratified the CEDAW, which came into force in September 1981.

During the last 10 minutes of class, I learned the Rome Statute established the ICC in July 1998, and it entered into force in July 2002. The statute needed to be ratified by 60 states before the treaty and court could come into force, and Russia was the 60th state to ratify the legislation.

The ICC prosecutes individuals for the crime of aggression, crimes against humanity and genocide. The bench consists of 18 judges, and the ICC has a President, first Vice-President and second Vice-President. Philippe Kirsch, a Canadian, serves as President, and he was elected in March 2006.

The goal of the ICC is try individuals for crimes committed during office, and the topic of terrorism is not addressed by court. Some states have not ratified it over issues of sovereignty and the definitions of the crimes. Others have not ratified it because the court relies on the states to hand over the individuals.

I applaud the efforts of the students who protest the General Assembly’s failure to adequately fund Western based upon the recommendation of the Council on Postsecondary Education, and I was surprised by the turnout at the Colonnade. I hope legislators “do the math” and adequately fund the Hill in the future, and I encourage students to attend upcoming SGA events like Campus Clean-up, which has been a tradition since the presidency of Dr. Henry Hardin Cherry.

The opinions expressed in this commentary do not reflect those of the Herald or the university.