SDS confusion

Let’s get SDS straight

In response to the article “There’s nothing funny about anarchy, civilian deaths and domestic terrorism,” Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) would agree that there is not anything funny about anarchy, civilian deaths, and domestic terrorism.

This is not what SDS supports. This UWM student organization (not just the “president” of it because SDS is a nonhierarchical group and has no leader) would like to set the record straight.

SDS is the reformation of the historical student group of the 1960s. We are not the college branch of the Weather Underground. The Weather Underground was a break off from SDS in the late ‘60s whose actions the original SDS denounced.

SDS asked one of the founders of the Weathermen to speak at UWM not to promote his past tactics, but to teach organizers how to learn from his mistakes. Mark Rudd’s message was advocating anti-violence and promoting uniting organizations through peaceful protesting. The ‘60s SDS was based around the anti-war and civil rights movement helping to bring the war to an end and giving a voice to the youth movement.

Today’s SDS reformed in 2006 to address similar issues in today’s society to make youth’s voice heard again. We oppose war, environmental destruction, poverty, racism, sexism, homophobia and other oppressions.

SDS is nonpartisan as we focus on creating a free, just and democratic society. Our goal is to educate students and the larger community by raising awareness through inviting speakers, holding peace rallies, marching at demonstrations, and engaging with other organizations to build a strong student movement.

As we clearly oppose violence, it is obvious that we cannot be classified as a “domestic terrorist organization.” This name-calling is reminiscent of the fear-mongering tactics used by the current presidential administration.

We know there are many students who care about the same issues we do, and we invite you to be a part of our group. Join the movement and make your voice heard.

Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society

Birth Control Prices

To editor and all that read the Post,

There is something that happened this past week that I think you should all be aware of. On Wednesday, March 5th, VOX, a student group advocating for women’s health, held an event in the concourse. We were educating the students on the skyrocketing price of birth control in low-income clinics and university health centers across the country. We were also encouraging students to sign petition cards calling for congressional action and to place phone calls to Sen. Herb Kohl and Congressman David Obey.

When we started making calls, though, we were shocked to find that David Obey’s office refused to take messages from callers outside of his district. However, David Obey is the CHAIRMAN of the committee that is handling the bill that would restore the price of birth control. This is his issue and we are his consitutents, but we were denied to ability to share our opinion.

We were outraged, but we turned that anger into action. We were able to collect over 200 petition cards and place over 50 phone calls to Sen. Herb Kohl.

I am telling you this in hopes that you will become aware of some issues you had not previously been exposed to. First is the Prevention Through Affordable Access Act, which will restore the price of birth control for the affected clinics. For more information on this bill check out the legislative section of www.ppawi.org.

Secondly, I want to make sure that you all know that some of your elected officials have chosen to ignore us. Student voices are often pushed aside, because they don’t believe that we care enough to act. This is our chance to prove them wrong. If you are as outraged as we were, I highly encourage you to write a letter to Congressman David Obey.

Finally, I would really like to thank all of those students that made our event a success. I was humbled by the support that we received on campus. It is great to know that so many of you are willing to take action on those issues that matter most. Sincerely,

Kathy Waligora

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