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I To be active or not to be active f CPS T THE HE winds of change can be felt on American f. f campuses say student and political leaders who r predict that old-fashioned old activism is growing f among students frustrated about social issues While demonstrations concentrated on the Vietnam w war r the are seeing students organizing ing around a far wider wIder range of causes Protection of t the environment is the hottest issue followed by raci racism m. m women's issues AIDS Native American t pro life apartheid and rights gay les l bian blan rights 0 1 I I believe that activism deals with the root of the I problem while service volunteerism deals with the ther r P symptom and you need both both said Shah president of the US U.S. Student Association in Washington DC D.C. the oldest and largest student- student f. f run political organization in the US U.S. Y 2 Today's new breed of activist is informed educated educated edu- edu r and not fueled by emotion say student leaders i And there is a distinction between service vol volunteerism volunteerism volun- volun uni un- un also a trend on campuses today and hardcore hardcore hardy hard- hard y core activism where students are prepared to make makeI I a greater personal sacrifice if necessary for their beli beliefs South African divestment stirred the ire of student student student stu stu- stu- stu dent activists of the and their outcry was heard throughout the country Since the release of Nelson Mandela the African National Congress leader and the lifting of apartheid apartheid apartheid apart apart- heid laws in South Africa much of the uproar over universities investing in companies doing business in South Africa has fizzled The shanty towns constructed by student activists activists activists ac ac- are gone and in some cases universities are quietly re-examining re divestment policies Students also cite the recession for declining interest in South Africa Most activists say they prefer to work within the system such as the USSA Others state that if necessary they will use violent non-violent sit-ins sit demonstrations and other acts of civil disobedience to make their point Stu Students are not apathetic They are mobilizing on more and more issues said Shah whose organization or organization r lobbies congress on student-related student is issues issues issues is- is sues from tuition to curriculum reform We work within the system Shah on leave from Rutgers University says she will will always be a a. a political apolitical activist and admits having havinga a talent for organizing for social change Education Education tion is a right for making a better society she said Some activist groups report a sharp rise in stud student student stu stu- stu- stu d dent nt interest since the Persian Gulf War publicized incidents of racial radal and ethnic violence and nd the ongoing ongoing ongoing on on- going economic ills suffered by their colleges and universities Students are experiencing having classes cut and they are increasingly making the connection to military spending which will be billion in 1992 and they are saying lets take the money out of there said Bruce Gagnon who organizes students students students stu stu- stu- stu dents for the Florida Coalition for Peace and Justice I l predict peaceful demonstrations over military spending on campuses II Activism tends to be a way of life a willingness to do things to sacrifice yourself Many people are willing willingto to get arrested to do what they believe in said Blair Palese a spokesperson who says that students comprise a large number in the international environmental group whose policy is violence non-violence and direct action such as blocking shipments of nuclear waste or hanging protest banners on bridges has attracted thousands of students since the environment has become the most popular issue on campuses US U.S. membership is 18 million Palese says that students have an understanding of protecting the environment and atmosphere from nuclear hazards and toxic waste because they are without a lot of economic ties They get involved at an age where they believe they can make a difference she said One student group the Progressive Student Network Network Network Net Net- work says there is a link between social ills found on college campuses We are fighting racism sexism heterosexism militarism There is a root cause that needs to change before these can change said Kim Feicke national office coordinator of a a 25 campus or organization that organizes demonstrations and sit- sit ins to make a public statement Feicke says ays there are six new campuses with offices since the Persian Gulf War We bring in speakers show films and sponsor discussions about these issues We give put out literature too said Feicke who added that there currently is a concern about the activities of f white supremacy groups since former klansman David Dukes Duke's recent bid as Louisiana governor I think volunteerism can be a way to get rid of the guilt Activism is something you commit your life to It is much more of a commitment said Brooke Webster a former Ea Eastern tern Illinois University student Webster is a student organizer for CIS PES Citizens Citizen in Solidarity for the People of El EI Salvador The Washington-based Washington organization which started in 1980 now claims 73 chapters and says their goal is to stop US U.S. intervention and support democracy in El EI Salvador CIS PES according to Webster is a loose organization of religious groups and human rights activists Students are pushing older activists to stay involved involved involved in in- the on ones ones s that are burned out said Webster r who is taking 25 students to El EI Salvador next year to observe conditions there Webster became inter interested st d in Central America in high school when she read a travelers traveler's journal that described torture and ang desperation of the people She said she began gathering research and eventual eventually ly Iy joined Many activist groups such as claim they have endured FBI probes and harassment from wing right-wing groups Some groups say surveillance and destructive tactics by government ag agencies continue to hamstring activities Other student social causes arent aren't as heated Homelessness for example while not as headline- headline grabbing as the environment and not as controversial sial as issues espoused by and is gathering gathering gathering gather gather- ing support as an activist cause as the recession continues to rob citizens of f a place to live |