SDAC: As an Organization


[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ SDAC Opinion Board ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Daniel Hunter on November 28, 1997 at 15:49:39:


SUMMARY:

I have been thinking deeply about the nature of activism on campus.
During this, I have come to the conclusion (that is not a difficult one to
jump to) that the activist community needs more communcation and -- more
importantly , -- more support in general. We are spreading ourselves thin.
Events need more publicity and more manpower. With the new activist
center great things may emerge. However, I fear yet another organization
to oversee the activist center will be created and communication will
still be a major problem. I am NOT proposing that SDAC should take over
the Activist Center, but I think SDAC -- as an umbrella organization --
should take a lead role as a group which integrates itself into other< br>organizations. All of this is very general, please read on.

SPECIFICS:

At Earlham, there is a limitted number of activists. Many of us are in
many organizations. In terms of activistism, I am in SDAC, EEAC, MCA, SALAD,
and sometimes Amnesty . Thus, when a great program comes up -- such as the
Worker Apprecation Party -- in the same week with another great program --
such as Food With A Conscience -- I get tired and work hard at both. I
believe most of us in SDAC experience this in a major way. The results of
this is that activist work is done less effectively and that we as
individuals (and groups of individuals) get tired. This is not me saying
that we should not ever get tired! However, the important thing is that< br>activist work is done less effectively. This is because one organization
(out of dozens) is doing a program and -- because there are so many
wonderful events -- people get spread thin. People cannot attend all the
programs. Another factor t hat concerns me is that because under
half-a-dozen people will organize an event, little publicity happens.
Thus, a fairly large group of people who are very interested in the events
but don't hear about it become marginalized. (I'm sure you all heard "I
wish I could have made it but I didn't hear about it..." -- sometimes it's
an excuse, but manytimes it's genuine.) What I am proposing is not a
total solution to this problem. However, I am proposing to turn SDAC into
a true umbrel la organization which will help add focus and centralize the
movement for justice.
SDAC is a wonderful organization. The people in it are great people and
the ideas coming out of us are great as well. I am singling out SDAC
because we have the mission, the name, and -- I think -- the people. SDAC
is in a position to act as an umbrella organization. More specifically, I
think SDAC is in a position to do the following things:
* promote cooperation between the justice-orien ted organizations;
* help publicize events already scheduled by these organizations;
* engage in helping establish a firm structure of activism on
campus;

Below could be a possible mission statement:

We promote greater coop eration between peace and justice activists.
This includes environmental, racial, economic, and social justice
organizations. We draw the conections between the Unoncal in Burma and
in Indiana. We talk about the connections between env ironmental
racism and labor injustices. We work to end injustices anywhere,
whether in Earlham, Richmond, Indiana, the US or the world.
SDAC keeps the Earlham community up to date on the events surrounding
issues of justice. We p rovide easy ways for local organizations and
activists to make their voices heard -- so that campaigns can become
victories. Student Direct Action Coaliation is an organization which
promotes active participation in struggles.

I would like to see SDAC not creating new events so much as helping those
that already exist. Instead of creating new weeks, new annuals, to work
on helping and improving those that already exist. At the same time, I
would not rule out creating new ev ents. For example, the Worker
Appreciation Day NEEDED to happen! We happened to be the organization to
do it -- and that's great. At the same time, I think that SDAC should
focus on helping other organizations publicize and organize so that
events become a success!

I am not asking for anything concrete at this time. Rather, I am looking for
comments and suggestions. Perhaps I am the only person who feels this way,
but I doubt it.
Thank you for your time.

Humbly submitted,< p>- Daniel Hunter





Responses to this opinion :



Post a response to this opinion :

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:


[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ SDAC Opinion Board ] [ FAQ ]