On Friday, September 26th, the George Washington University environmental student group Green GW and Campus Progress hosted a brown bag lunch preceding the September 27th Green Jobs Now National Day Of Action. Over lunch students and Benjamin Goldstein from American Progress discussed what "Green Jobs" are and what they mean to the future of the American economy and environment. The event was a great success, allowing a casual round table for students to ask questions to leaders in environmental policy and have a informative forum for discussion.
To commemorate the seventh anniversary of the September 11th attacks, the Social Justice Film Series Community at Illinois State University and Campus Progress co-hosted the screening of “No End in Sight" .
“No End in Sight” tells the story of Iraq’s downward spiral after the U.S. invasion, highlighting the principal mistakes that the White House made both before and after the initial invasion.
Students stayed after the screening to discuss the themes presented in the film . The discussion centered on the amazement and disbelief that the students felt, having never heard of the issues the film brought forth. They also discussed how many of these problems could have been avoided.
The documentary was a useful means of raising awareness of social justice and student involvement on campus. The Social Justice Film Series will continue with the screening of “Sand and Sorrow” on October 9, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. in Capen Auditorium.
Campus Progress Student Representatives at American River College (ARC) in Sacramento, California are working feverishly along with other members of the ARC progressive community to make sure that their campus is not used to support anti-equality policies like California’s Proposition 8.
When the ARC’s Student Council decided to take up a resolution supporting the proposition, which would outlaw same sex marriage, students swung into action by packing the student council meeting to show their opposition. They also collected twice the number of signatures needed for the council members to be recalled. Unfortunately, the resolution was passed, but it is abundantly clear that the vote did not accurately reflect the will of the student body.
You can watch Nancy Dziuba, one of the two Campus Progress Student Representatives on the campus, on the local Fox station speaking about some of the intimidation that members of the progressive and GLBT community have faced at ARC recently:
On Thursday, September 26th, Campus Progress brought a dynamic panel of speakers to the Commons at Vanderbilt University to discuss Hip Hop and the 2008 Election. “Rap Sessions,” which focused on issues important to the hip hop generation, drew a great deal of interest from the student body and provided insightful dialogue, engaging conversation, and questions from the crowd that further enriched the content of the forum.
The panel was moderated by Bakari Kitwana, co-founder of the National Hip Hop Political Convention and author of The Hip Hop Generation: Young Blacks and the Crisis in African American Culture. The panelists were passionate and energized as they spoke about their belief in the power of youth in the upcoming election. They saw the potential for youth voices to have an impact on key issues, such as civil liberties and reproductive rights, the economy, and global poverty.
This election, there has been much talk on both sides about the need for change, but one of the panelists, Dr. Vijay Prashad, emphasized that Americans need to completely re-imagine the world in order to gain a new perspective. He went on to say that true change can come about through increased education, mobilization, and action by younger generations.
M-1 of the group Dead Prez provided insight about the impact of activism and advocacy in our political process and recounted his experiences at both the Democratic and Republic National Conventions last month. Although he has never voted in an election, M-1 focused on why young people should become politically engaged, noting that freedom of speech is critical to democracy.
Dr. Maya Rockeymore touched upon key policy issues that impact the hip hop generation including abortion and healthcare and discussed the manner in which presidential candidates discount the voting bloc by refraining from talking about substantive issues when addressing communities of color.
Overall, the panel encouraged the involvement of a generation that has previously been ignored as an influential voting bloc in presidential elections. Now more than ever, it seems that the mobilization of the hip hop generation will have crucial importance on the outcome of an election. Most importantly, the students at Vanderbilt left the thought-provoking forum energized and excited about their stake in the 2008 election, making Rap Sessions a great success.
Last Friday, Campus Progress Action traveled to the University of Mississippi, the site of the first presidential debate, to participate in Issue Alley, an all day pre-debate event where a variety of nonprofit organizations tabled and talked to students and the press. We collecting over 50 testimonials from young voters for our I’m Voting For campaign, and while there was clearly a diversity of opinion among the participants, one thing was clear: these young people were passionate, engaged and most importantly, informed about the issues.
He further posited that young people’s use of social networking sites like Facebook and Myspace leads to rampant self-absorption. This last claim was particularly interesting since only a few minutes earlier, Mr. Bauerlein acknowledged the rise in civic participation by young people in the presidential primaries. Many would argue that this increased engagement is, at least in part, linked to the candidates’ use of social networking sites as organizing and information-gathering tools.
The counter-argument was presented by Neil Howe, the author of “Millennials Rising: The Next Great Generation.” Mr. Howe did an admirable job of debunking much of the data presented by Mr. Bauerlein, mostly by pointing to a rise in intelligence test scores over time, and using other examples such as the increased difficulty of the winning words at the National Spelling Bee. Regrettably, his only substantive defense of new technology had to do with video games – specifically the increased use of video games by the military and major corporations as training tools – which did little to debunk the myth that young people only care about themselves.
During the Q&A, there were many questions I wish I could have asked:
“Mr. Bauerlein, wouldn’t you agree that the weakened economy – which is impacting drop-out rates for high school students, and impeding young people’s ability to go to college – might provide one explanation for the decline in intellectual pursuits, such as reading novels for pleasure? Because really, who has time to read War and Peace when they’re working two jobs just to cover rent and student loans?”
“Mr. Bauerlein, can you explain to me the apparent incongruity of a decline in generational intelligence and a rise in political knowledge and engagement? Are you saying that young voters are voting, but it’s because they’re stupid?”
“What do your ‘dumb’ students think of your book?”
Unfortunately, time ran out before I had the chance. Note to self: get to events early…there’s a better choice of food and you’re more likely to get a seat in front so you’ll actually be called on. So, instead, I’d like to pose a question to our friends at the American Enterprise Institute: The next time you attempt to find out whether or not young people are “dumb,” why not let us speak for ourselves instead of having two middle-aged men, however well-intentioned, answer the question for us?
On September 17th, Campus Progress’ Erica Williams appeared on Fox & Friends to discuss one professor’s web posting criticizing Sarah Palin (check on the video on our front page.) The question posed by a Fox host: “Should university professors make their extreme political views public?” spurred a debate between Erica and Jason Mattera from the Young America’s Foundation.
Mattera began his tirade by calling Professor Wendy Doniger of the University of Chicago a “blabbering buffoon” and an “abject moron.” He said that Doniger’s negative remarks against Palin are “everything that is wrong with academia and the American Left,” and went on to call the scholars in women’s studies departments “she-hims.” Erica, on the other hand, discussed the importance of free speech and robust dialogue in our society. Although Mattera paid lip service to the right to free speech, he provided no reason for his distaste with professors speaking on politics outside of the classroom other than that their views that do not align with his own.
We believe that the free exchange of information on university campuses is vital to the development of a young person’s beliefs and character. Thus, should professors want to share their views in a public way, they have every right to do so. The Young America’s Foundation has repeatedly denied Campus Progress from attending their annual conference, displaying further their inability to see the benefit of the exchange of ideas across ideological boundaries. It’s time to stop yelling and start talking.
Check out a blog post on Erica’s interview from Free Exchange on Campus, one of our coalition partners here.
Last weekend, Campus Progress Student Representatives gathered in Washington, DC for the first annual Campus Progress National Student Network Retreat.
Students met in DC to receive training on starting issue campaigns, recruitment and retention, planning events, grassroots lobbying, utilizing the media, and more. They also started planning some great ideas for the 08-09 school year in issue-based committees, which are new to the Campus Progress Student Network, and in regional break-out sessions.
Student Reps headed back to Campus on Sunday ready to fight for social change. They are working on issues as different as climate change, capital punishment, college affordability, poverty, civic engagement, and LGBT rights (to name a few), but are united by a strong vision of better future and a commitment to fight for justice, equality, and opportunity.
Check out some pictures from the retreat:
If you are having trouble loading the slideshow, click here!
If you would like to get involved in the student network, click here!
Amid all of the debate on the $700 Billion bailout, the House of Representatives passed the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights by a wide (312-112) margin. The bill represents one of the first times in many years that Congress has taken action on credit card debt and abusive practices within the industry, and passed despite strong opposition from both the White House and credit card companies. The Senate is not currently expected to take up the bill before the end of the legislative session, but Campus Progress will be joining consumer groups in calling on the Senate to find time to consider this important proposal.
The bill would, among other things, protect consumers from underhanded games that make it more likely that credit card payments would be considered late, require that credit card companies inform their customers at least 45 days before any interest rate increase takes effect, limit the ability of companies to increase interest rates retroactively, and prohibit certain kinds of predatory and “subprime” credit cards.
Campus Progress has worked with partner organizations to advocate for strong protections for credit card borrowers, especially young people. We have testified before the House Financial Services Committee, issued action alerts to encourage young people to contact their representative, and signed onto letters to Congress with partner organizations.
We look forward to continue working with students, Congress, and partner organizations on this issue, and congratulate the House of Representatives for taking action on this issue.
Great news – we have heard from a very good source that the House of Representatives will be voting on the Credit Card Holders’ Bill of Rights sometime early next week! The credit card industry has been lobbying hard to kill this legislation behind the scenes, and so the support of strong consumer protections for borrowers by Campus Progress readers and activists have shown to Congress so far has been crucial.
We can’t stop now – we need to keep up the pressure until the minute that Congress votes. Check out the action alert below for more information, and to take action:
With the rising costs of college, gasoline, food, health care, and other expenses, credit cards are becoming the “safety net” for an entire generation. Unfortunately, credit card companies are using unfair and even predatory practices to increase their profits at the expense of the financially vulnerable or inexperienced. Luckily, the House Financial Services Committee has recently passed the Credit Cardholder’s Bill of Rights, which will create several important protections for borrowers, and the bill will be voted on by the full House of Representatives next week, so take action now!
Friend of Campus Progress Ted Leo, who totally rocked our National Conference this summer, has a new digital EP, Rapid Response.; It's a very rapid response to the official violence doled out by authorities during the Republican National Convention.
Ted explains, "The surveillance, pre-emptive detention, arrest, and beating of journalists, protesters, and watchdogs by the St. Paul police department, the Ramsey County sheriff's department, and the FBI was so egregious that it couldn't be allowed to pass without comment."
It's passionate music for a good cause -- your $4 donation, or more if you want, goes to to Democracy Now! radio/TV and the Minneapolis chapter of Food Not Bombs. Check it out!
While the average citizen lives under the assumption that the trans-Atlantic slave trade ended two centuries ago, 27 million people—eighty percent women and girls—continue to be trafficked into sexual servitude and bonded labor today. On September 5 - 7, 2008 fifteen students from across America met in Washington, D.C. to form the National Student Coalition Against Slavery. Cosponsored by Campus Progress and Americans for Informed Democracy, the students made plans to solidify their activism across the country and bolster youth involvement in the international abolitionist movement.
During this three-day leadership retreat, they learned the finer points of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act from Karen Stauss, Lead Policy Counsel at the Polaris Project, as well as tips for helping survivors reclaim their lives from Amelia Korangy, Director of Development for the FAIR Fund. Professor Michele Clark, of the Elliot School of International Affairs at George Washington University, challenged students to envision a trafficking-free world and to hold our government and economic systems accountable for protection of our most basic human rights. Paula-Raye O’Sullivan, Events Associate at Campus Progress, led a workshop on attracting media to issue campaigns, and spoken-word duo Yellow Rage moved the room with poems of slavery and despair.
The coalition set consensus goals for moving forward and laid out strategies for meeting these goals on their individual campuses. Through synchronized and targeted efforts, the National Student Coalition Against Slavery will fuel a student-led anti-trafficking movement in Massachusetts, Connecticut, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Missouri, Texas, California and Washington. They are supported by Americans for Informed Democracy, Polaris Project, FAIR Fund, and Free The Slaves. For more information visit www.AIDemocracy.org or contact Sarah Frazer sarah@aidemocracy.org.
10 more progressive magazines and newspapers from across the country have joined the over 50 student publications that receive funding, journalism training, content support, and other forms of assistance from Campus Progress.
Campus Progress is proud to support the work of young journalists trying to get their voices heard and bring attention to issues that the mainstream press ignores.
This year, there are several new and exciting publications joining our network including:
*The Fine Print, a brand new publication at the University of Florida looking to break stories and talk about issues in-depth where the campus daily just doesn't cut it.
*The Bottom Line, a bi-weekly newspaper at UC Santa Barbara that serves as a critical voice for students from covering LGBT rallies to talking about race issues at the school.
*One World, a magazine focusing on human rights in the U.S. and around the world at Saint Louis University.
*Women Unite, a publication focusing on women's issues at Trinity College in Connecticut.
*The Collegiate Progressive, examining science policy questions in an accessible format at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania.
Check out all the publications in our network here. It's also not too late to apply to join the network. Check out the online application here.
Trouble in the twin cities - police have arrested, detained, and harassed many independent journalists covering the protest on the RNC, including Amy Goodman, host of Democracy Now!You can read more about what happened here and here.
Free Press has just put out an action alert urging people to take action:
Stop the Arrests of Journalists. Sign the Letter. Police in St. Paul arrested several journalists during protests of the Republican National Convention, including Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman and an AP photographer as they were covering the demonstrations. Police also raided a meeting of the video journalists' group I-Witness with firearms drawn to arrest independent media, bloggers and videomakers. Arresting and detaining journalists for doing their jobs is a gross violation of free speech and freedom of the press. Journalists must be free to do their jobs without intimidation. Please click here to demand that press intimidation in the twin cities ceases immediately, and that charges against the arrested journalists are dropped.
Students that work with Campus Progress in both Texas and Montana have started the year with a bang by getting stories in their campus papers.
In Texas, former Campus Progress Student Advisory Board member Hooman Hedayati wrote a powerful op-ed about what we learned from the de facto seven month moratorium on the death penalty caused by a supreme court challenge to the legality of lethal injection. Here is a snippet:
During the recent moratorium on executions, several notable things happened. Three states - California, North Carolina and Tennessee - launched studies of their death penalty systems. Two states, Maryland and Nebraska, debated abolishing the death penalty in their state legislatures. A third state, New Jersey, did away with capital punishment altogether. For the first time in Texas, Rick Reed, a candidate for the Travis County district attorney's office, ran on a platform opposing capital punishment.
Want strengthen the progressive movement on your campus, bring engaging speakers and films to jumpstart dialogue, and engage in activism on local and national issues?
Then join the Campus Progress Student Network for 2008-2009! We’re currently still accepting applications to join the team of Student Representatives from the across the country who work with the staff of Campus Progress to advance progressive causes at the local level and make their voices heard on the issues they care most about.
*** New deadline! Applications are now due by Wednesday September 3rd, so click here to learn more and to apply. ***
I am surprised that "Acceptance of Homosexuality" and "Liberal Activist Judges" aren't on there.
I like how not -all- the boxes are checked, implying that this is a warning to be heeded and it's not too late. If there's a deadly gamma ray burst, I'll be sure to get in touch with this dude...Oh wait, he didn't leave a return address.
In case you missed Campus Progress and The Nation's National Youth Journalism Conference this past July, fear not. One of the morning plenary panels on media and politics was featured in a recent episode of RadioNation with Laura Flanders. You can check out the podcast here featuring Michael Tomasky of The Guardian, Chris Hayes, Betsy Reed, and Amy Alexander of The Nation, and moderated by Daniella Leger of the Center for American Progress.
South by Southwest (known as SXSW) is an annual interactive festival of film, music, art, and culture held in Austin, TX. For the third year in a row, they are giving the public a chance to weigh in on what panels they would like to see at the festival.
Campus Progress submitted a panel idea entitled "A New Wave? Iraq and Dissent in Cinema," which talks about the impact of Iraq War documentaries (event based on this panel held at NYU). While the online voting only counts for about 40% of the final decision, your vote could help bring us to the huge audiences at Austin next March! Read More »
Alex Cornell du Houx, a friend of Campus Progress, an Iraq War veteran, a graduate of Bowdoin College in Maine, and an outspoken leader for progressive causes, has just been featured in Newsweek Magazine.
He has spoken at the last two Iraq Action Camps sponsored by Campus Progress, and the students in attendance loved his passion and frankness when speaking about his experiences serving as a Marine in Iraq.
Read his story and watch a video here. We're thrilled that he's continuing his activism and getting recognized for it.
Get involved in our Iraq Campaign to bring a safe end to this war by clicking here.
On August 13, 2008, Washington progressives were mesmerized by the Campus Progress, Reel Progress and HBO premiere screening of The Black List, Vol.I in Washington, DC. The overflowing theater cheered as director/producer Timothy Greenfield Sanders and interviewer/producer Elvis Mitchell introduced the project, and continued to cheer, laugh, and nod in agreement throughout the screening. The film features compelling interviews with actor Chris Rock, former Secretary of State General Colin Powell, media mogul Sean Combs, and other prominent African Americans.
In the Q&A after the film, attendees challenged Sanders and Mitchell on everything from their choice of talent, to the effectiveness of an all African-American cast. There was unanimous praise for the film's exceptional visual quality. The scheduled 30-minute Q&A did not satisfy the eager audience--they demanded the director and producer's attention for an additional 45 minutes. Mitchell and Sanders finally escaped after the building’s security insisted that the building had to be vacated.
See for yourself what all the fuss is about when HBO airs The Black List, Vol.I on August 25 at 9:00 pm (EST).
Don’t have HBO? No fear. Request a screening of this amazing documentary on your campus by emailing Campus Progress events at speakers@campusprogress.org.
Please remember that Campus Progress' terms of use do not allow promoting or endorsing any particular political party or candidate for office. Posts or comments that do this will be deleted.
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