The Nation - News from Sept. 10, 1985

University scientists who contend the “Star Wars” defense system is “science fiction” and a “colossal waste of money” are asking colleagues to join them in rejecting millions of dollars in research grants. Hundreds of scientists on more than two dozen campuses have pledged not to accept money for work on President Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative project. “Our major emphasis is not to make a political statement but to point out that the bulk of the scientists who would be working on it think it is technically infeasible and at the level of science fiction,” said John Kogut, a physics professor at the University of Illinois.