STUDENTS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE
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[edit] Mission Statement
While recognizing that each member brings his or her own goals and ideas of social justice to the group, Student for Social Justice (SSJ) was formed with three main objectives in mind: Providing a campus forum for discussion about critical issues; building campus and community awareness; and taking positive action to create a more just and equitable society and world.
[edit] LINKS
Info on STAND: http://www.standnow.org/
Info on Sudan divestment: http://www.sudandivestment.org/home.asp
Rebecca Tinsley's School: http://www.rwandagirlsschool.org/
Pacifica Radio: http://www.pacifica.org/
Free Speech TV: http://www.freespeech.org/fscm2/genx.php?name=home
Save Darfur: savedarfur.org
Amnesty International: amnesty.org
Conversation With Rebecca Tinsley: The Rwandan Girls School
[edit] MEETINGS
Meetings are open to all. We meet regularly on Monday nights at 7:30 in the UpCaf.
[edit] MINUTES
September 22, 2008
I. Projects for this semester
A. Recruitment alternatives/ Counter recruitment (eg. on main street) B. Hunger Banquet C. Darfur project
II. Ongoing projects
A. Connect with other colleges
B. Current events
C. Facebook group
D. Publicize
1. Sidewalk chalk
III. Next week
A. Philosophical and practical discussion about effective means of protest in the 21st century B. Schedule
September 8, 2008
I. Local projects
A. Hunger Banquet
1. Annual event
2. Some time close to Thanksgiving (although we should also remember that people are always hungry, not just when we’re feeling charitable!)
3. Different themes for different years (one idea for this year: environmental injustices and how they differ for different income brackets in the world as there is variation in levels of industrialization, economic and political systems, population density, urban versus rural population, etc.)
4. Connect Hunger Banquet with Bennington’s food drive
B. Alisa Del Tufo (see attached)
C. Counter recruitment (alternatives to recruitment)
1. We can’t set up in Mount Anthony
2. We could set up at four corners in front of the recruitment center
3. We need to contact former members of SSJ for contact info for local counter recruiters if we want to pursue this project
D. Address Bennington College’s policies surrounding sexual harassment and violence (perhaps in collaboration with WHAM). Petition the school to hire someone who can be available at all times to DEAL WITH (that doesn’t mean ignore or forget about) incidents of sexual harassment and sexual violence
E. Fundraisers to address injustices stemming from the impact of budget cuts and No Child Left Behind policies on public elementary, middle and high schools
F. Incorporate into SSJ:
1. Local peace groups (Vermont Peace Train)
2. Mount Anthony students
3. SVC students
4. Williams students (their first SSJ meeting is today 9/10 at 7PM in Paresky 210)
II. More global projects
A. Become incorporated into the Campus Antiwar Network B. Action for Darfur C. Ishmael Beah, formerly a child soldier, hopefully will speak at Bennington this term D. Panel of professors (e.g. Mansour, Mirka, Mac) to address a controversial or complex issue E. Election awareness
III. Agenda for Monday 9/15
A. Choose projects and elaborate details B. Schedule C. Mission statement
