The Michigan Daily - Orientation Edition 2002- 21
Warning: Activism at large
Amnesty 9nternational By Hiba Ghalib, Daily Staff Reporter Students Allied for 3reedom
A mnesty International is a g ra s s r o o t s a n equality
human rights advocacy group estab- tudents Allied for Freedom and Equality
lished in London in 1961 in response eing the first campus to initiate teach-ins nearly 40 years ago, it is not was formed in 2001 by a group of stu-
to the incarceration of two Portuguese stu- dents who support human rights and
dents who lifted their glasses in a toast to lib- surprising that the University of Michigan is renowned as one of the most international law.
* erty. The University chapter became active a Fadi Kiblawi, an LSA senior and co-founder of
decade ago. politically active carpuses in the nation. 9ssues with any global or local SAFE said "The group was formed in response to a
Caricia Catalani, an LSA graduate and mem- wave of propaganda, exaggeration, and finger
ber of Amnesty International, describes Amnesty significance are likely to be manifest on campus by such media as conferences, pointing by both Palestine supporters and Israel
International as concerned with securing fair tri- supporters. We wanted to unite in opposition to the
als for prisoners of politics. lectures, protests, teach-ins, demonstrations and town hall meetings. illegal Israeli occupation"
Catalani added that by helping these prisoners, The main objective of SAFE is to educate the
Amnesty International helps by "gaining fair tri- Vastly diverse populations of students contribute to a wide variety of activist campus community on the Arab-Israeli conflict
als for political prisoners, ending torture, political while advocating for Palestine rights and protesting
killings and "disappearances," and abolishing the groups. Many students on campus have a direct stake in issues such as affirmative the Israeli violations of human rights and interna-
death penalty throughout the world," she said. tional law, Kiblawi said.
The University's chapter of Amnesty Internation- action, the Middle East crhis, national security and other such social predicaments. "Our goal is to educate the campus community
al is led by four main leaders of different back- on every global human rights issue. We focus most-
grounds and comprised of about 200 members. They take advantage of the activism to act upon their concerns. ly on the anti-occupation activism," Kiblawi said.
"However the initiative to lead activist projects SAFE consists of about 150-200 members,
is in the hands of the t mittee. "SOLE promotes sus- Squires said. including about 30 active organizers, and meet-
membership, who tainable solutions for prob- ings are open to anybody that opposes the Israeli
direct and inspire much lems created by an the Coalition to Defend occupation.
of the content of meet- increasingly inequitable global Affirmative Action and In the past year, SAFE was involved in plan-
ings and events," Cari- economy through building 9ntegration and 3ight for ning a series of rallies in support of peace in
cia said. coalitions with student groups, Equatit Yf y Any Means Afghanistan, anti-sanctions in Iraq lectures, .
unions, faith-based and human ecessary mock Israeli checkpoint, film showings, a mock
American Civil rights organizations." T he Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, funeral procession, a mock refugee camp, many
Liberties Currently SOLE is made up 3 Integration and Fight for Equality By Any protests and rallies
P union of about 200 members, 30 of Means Necessary is another of the activist and a symposium
T he University is whom are active. Last year, groups that is widely recognized. First established with Rep. Lynn
also the houses SOLE organized a rally that at the University of California at Berkeley in Rivers (D- Ann
the American attracted 300 undergraduate 1995, BAMN grew to expand to the University of Arbor) and ACLU
Civil Liberties Union, students for the SOLE Gradu- Michigan in 1997. Agnes Aleobua, an Education Michigan Legal
a century-old civil ate Student Union. junior and BAMN member said BAMN was Director Michael
rights advocacy group In early April, SOLE also founded "in response the start of the resegrega- Steinberg to sup-
that focuses on pre- j enveloped the Fleming tionist, anti-affirmative action, anti-integrationist port incarcerated
serving constitutional Administration Building with initiatives. The U of M chapter was started in Ann Arbor Muslim
rights. The University's a 360-foot banner as part of 1997 in response to lawsuit filed against the law leader Rabih Had-
chapter, which consists National Student Labor Day school and LSA." dad.
of approximately 25 of Action. BAMN's mission is to build a successful new
members and is the 0N PRATT/Dai "SOLE has a great history civiltrights movement that is able to defend affir- American
largest ACLU college Education junior Agnes Aleobua, a member of of direct action," said Jackie mative action and proactively oppose racism, sex- )Vlovement B
chapter in Michigan, the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action and Bray, an LSA junior and ism and anti-homosexuality. for 9srael UdETTet MOUgNIN/ Dai
centers on protecting Integration and Fight for Equality By Any steering committee member. "Our main focus on campus is the defense of Fhe American Students Organizing for
the rights of students. It Means Necessary leads a rally in February. "In both 1999 and 2000, affirmative action and fighting racism and sexism. Movement for Equality held a putt-putt day
is also involved in other campus groups, includ- SOLE held sit-ins. The first one in the Presi- We see the fight to defend affirmative action as our Israel, found- earlier this year in an
ing Michigan Student Assembly and social justice dent's Office and the second one in the dean's generation's opportunity to realize the promises of ed in the early attempt to raise awareness
groups. office," she said. the Brown v. Board of Education decision," Ale- 1990s, exhibits the about the labor problems at
"The American Civil Liberties Union is devoted SOLE is involved in a variety of local and obua said. range of activism on New Era Cap Company.
to defending the constitutional rights of all Ameri- nationwide campaigns. "As far as activities go, BAMN's membership is over 50, including campus as its objec-
cans through litigation, education and lobbying." SOLE strives to balance working in our local about 20 active members, and BAMN's weekly live is to promote the rights of Israelis on campus.
Jim Secreto, an LSA alum and former ACLU community and on national campaigns (as a meetings are open to all those on campus who David Livshiz is an LSA alum and AMI co-
chairman, said."We publish a 'How to Have a member of USAS)," Squires said. "This last year, support their various causes and especially to chair. Livshiz said AMI's main goals are to edu-
Legal House Party' Handbook every year that we helped the Graduate Employees Organization those who support the use of race in admissions. cate the campus community about Israeli society,
teaches student what their rights are in a house (GEO), the union of "The U of M affir- politically, historically and culturally. AMI, with a
pa situation." our GSIs, to bargain mative action cases membership of over 200, including 25 core mem-
The group actively defends the rights of stu- for a fair contract" . gave students at U of bers, aims to elucidate Israel's policy and place
dents, especially with the recent attempts to vio- Among other M the best opportu- Middle Eastern events in proper contexts.
late the constitution after Sept. 11. actions SOLE took nity to present an "AMI is non-Partisan and strives to provide bal-
"Also, last year we did many activities based on on in the recent GEO independent, pro- anced overview of Israeh society,' he said. "In the
the aftermath of September 11, including a press quandary was to per- affirmative action past few years, AMI has worked together with the
conference/informational meeting for Arab-Ameri- sonally deliver 160 defense in a legal other two Israel related groups on campus, the
can men who received a letter from the Justice baby diapers to Inter- case, while simulta- Israel Michigan Public Affairs Committee and the
Department requesting interviews. We also held a im University Presi- neously building Zionist Organization of Michigan to promote
symposium on racial profiling," Secreto said."(The dent B. Joseph mass support Israel."
ACLU) acts as a voice for student's rights, and to White's office in the through mass action The common methods of action used by AMI
enter into litigation when necessary." Fleming Administra- against racism," Ale- to promote Israel on campus include rallies,
lion Building as an -Iohu said. movies, conferences and lectures. Meetings of 25
Students Organizing for attempt to remind the Some of the activi- core members happen weekly to organize various
Labor and Economic Equality University adminis- ties BAMN organizes activities.
to DANNY MOLosHOCK/Daiy during the year "In terms of activities, AMI has.worked hard to
tudents Organizing for Labor and Economic tration incthe interim University President B. Joseph White, who will include conferences, maintain a balance between promoting an intel-
Equality is another of the University's activist childare in bt leave his post Aug. 1, watches outside his office window marches in Cincinnati, lectual forum in which to discuss the events
stdentsiz199atonsidits found inapp xiate sion. as members of the Graduate Employees Organization prominent speakers occurring in the Middle East while maintaining
students in 1998 along side its founding affiliate, In addition to hold a protest during their contract negotiations. GEO i such as Rev. Jesse an activist agenda," Livshiz said "This spring
the United Students Against Sweatshops.i n ermt tati dingcf l oy e cjust one active group of many not mentioned in this Jackson, Fred Shut- AMI is working with the other two Israel oriented
"(SOLE) campaigns for social and economic energy to actions in article. tieswoh andNAACP student groups on campus put on the only aca-
justice locally, nationally and internationally," support of our goals, . . .
said Emily Squires, an Art and Design sopho- SOLE is also committed to being an ally to National Director of the Youth and College Divi- demic conference in the United States dealing
more and member of the group's steering com- other progressive organizations on campus," sion Rev. Jeff Johnson. with Israel,"