Campus Antiwar Network History

UPDATE: Activists, writers and professors come to the defense of Kent State Students (see statements of support and letters to Kent State administration)

Join with Anthony Arnove, Bonnie Weinstein, Brian Willson, Camilo Mejia, Charles Jenks, Charles Peterson, Cindy Sheehan, Dave Zirin, David Swanson, Elizabeth Wrigley-Field, Gilda Carbonaro, Hadas Thier, Justino Rodriguez and Nick Bergreen of the “City College 4″, Howard Zinn, Jeffrey St. Clair, Kristin Anderson, Lindsey German for Stop the War Coalition (UK), Michael Letwin, New York City Labor Against the War, Michael Smith of “Berkeley 3″, Mitchel Cohen, Nagesh Rao, Norman Solomon, Pablo Paredes, Phil Gasper, Rania Masri, Rebecca Sambol, Sally Shaw, Sheri Leafgren, Sherry Wolf, Stan Goff, Sunny Miller for Traprock Peace Center, Tariq Khan, and Ward Reilly in supporting Kent State students.

Kent State Administration Threatens Iraq Veteran with Expulsion
by Nikki Robinson

Call/email the Kent State University administration to tell them how you feel.
Carol Cartwright- University President: 330.672.2210 Carol.cartwright@kent.edu
Greg Jarvie- Dean of Undergraduate Students: 330.672.9494 Gjarvie@kent.edu
William Ross – Executive Director of the Undergraduate Student Senate: 330.672.3207 wross@kent.edu

IRAQ WAR veteran and Kent State student, Dave Airhart, is under attack for opposing the war he considers “unjust” and attempting to stop any more students from being used as “cannon fodder.”

On October 19, the Kent State Anti-War Committee (KSAWC) stood around the Army recruiters, who had brought a rock-climbing wall to entice students over to talk with them. A member of KSAWC and former Afghanistan and Iraq War veteran, David Airhart decided to show his opposition against the war by exercising his rights of free speech. After filling out liability forms Airhart climbed the rock wall. Once he reached the top he took out a banner, which he held under his jacket, and draped it over the wall. The banner read: Kent, Ohio for Peace. Airhart was forced to climb down the back of the wall because a recruiter was coming up the front, yelling at him. As he was climbing down another recruiter came up the back and proceeded to assault Airhart both verbally and physically by pulling his shirt, forcing him off the wall.

Airhart was fined $105. by city police for disorderly conduct and told that he will have to go to judicial affairs at the university where he will face probation or expulsion. When asked why he wanted to counter-recruit against the military Airhart responded, “I do not feel that the administration should allow the military to recruit their students for an unjust war that is taking the lives of innocent people. They should be protecting their students, not using them for cannon fodder.”

The recruiter who assaulted Airhart was never charged with disorderly conduct; nor was the bigot who came by screaming profanities and spitting at KSAWC members fined for being disorderly. Somehow an Iraq War veteran hanging a banner, which called for peace, was disorderly and the others were not.

Even after the atrocities of the May 4, 1970 massacre at Kent State University the military has the audacity to come to campus and attempt to recruit students for their illegal war. However, KSAWC, which is a member of the national grassroots organization, Campus Antiwar Network (CAN), counter-recruits against the military every time they are on campus. We stand around the table of the military, hold signs, chant and pass out literature exposing the lies of recruiters.

The administration’s blatant attack against the antiwar movement will not be tolerated. We can clearly see that the administration does not want its students and veterans practicing free speech on this campus, especially if we are taking a stand against the war in Iraq. However, we will continue to fight.

We believe in getting troops out of Iraq now, as well as assuring that they have a voice to stand in opposition to the war when they return. It is obvious that the Kent State administration does not care about Iraq Veterans who attend their school. After everything Airhart had to go through and see as a soldier, after viewing thousands of innocent Iraqi lives being taken, he has every right to exercise his opposition to this war. The administration may have the audacity to punish an Iraq Veteran for speaking out against the war, but the Kent State Anti-War Committee will continue to fight back for all Veterans and students right to exercise free speech against the war. We will continue to challenge our administration’s role in recruiting for the war and demand our right to a ‘recruiter-free’ school.

Call and e-mail the Kent State University administration and let them know how you feel.

Carol Cartwright- University President: 330.672.2210 Carol.cartwright@kent.edu

Greg Jarvie- Dean of Undergraduate Students: 330.672.9494 Gjarvie@kent.edu

William Ross – Executive Director of the Undergraduate Student Senate: 330.672.3207 wross@kent.edu

KSAWC is a member of the national student grassroots organization, Campus Antiwar Network (CAN) – http://www.campusantiwar.net

UPDATE: We have created a SPECIAL BLOG for Kent State Students – all new statements of support are being posted at the HANDS OFF DAVE blog.
.
.
.
.
.
.
TO: Carol Cartwright, William Ross, Greg Jarvie, Kent State University

Dear all,

I am prompted to write this protest letter on behalf of Dave Airhart, a
student and Iraq War veteran that climbed the Army’s rock wall at your
infamous university and draped a sign that read, “Kent State 4 Peace” over
the wall for all to see. Since when is peaceful protest not allowed in this
country?

But there is an even more important reason for demanding that Dave be given
all his rights back and that all punishment against him be rescinded
immediately. The rock wall is a horrible advertising scam designed to fool
students about the reality of war, the reality of military “life,” if you
are lucky enough to live through it whole and with all your faculties.

War isn’t climbing rock walls and joking with friends and David knows this.
War isn’t “expanding your horizons” or “learning useful skills”. War is
about killing the enemy. That means that war is based on who the government
deems the enemy at any given moment in time. And who makes these decisions?
Do we vote on war? No, those who rule decide upon war.

So, our elected officials make the decision about war. Both Republicans and
Democrats alike voted on the war; the budget; the expansion of military
spending; the increase in the military’s advertising budget for recruitment
and the entrenchment of the military in our school system at every level;
Patriot Act; increased internal surveillance of civilians; more jails; more
police, etc. At the same time all social nets and services; schools;
hospitals; the entire social and service infrastructure is in shambles. But
the oil barons corporate kingpins are swimming in money. Their children
don’t join the military! They join the jet set.

And then, we find out beyond any reasonable doubt, that all the reasons for
the war in the first place were nothing but a bunch of lies—-to militarily
occupy the oil-rich region for American business interests, having nothing
to do with anything but making that financial arrangement by force—-using
our tax money to carry out one of the biggest crimes of our century.

And you expect people to be silent about educators allowing the
military—-this sick monster—-to come onto our schools and campuses and set
up a rock wall and pretend that war is fun; to lie, pressure, humiliate,
shame and coerce young people to sacrifice their lives for lies; to consume
and mangle more of our kids to make the pockets of the wealthy elite bulge
even more? To condemn those that do survive to suffer the images of war that
dart in and out of consciousness continually for the rest of their lives?
Just whose side are you on?

The buck stops here!

Get the military out of Kent State University. If you can’t do it now you
can at least demand it now! You can encourage students like Dave. He should
be speaking to all the students at Kent State. He has valuable and real
experience. The military is no place for the inquisitive mind which all
educators are supposed to be nurturing. You need to get your bearings back.

You need to stand on the side of these brave students. You need to support
them not punish them. You need to convince young people that joining the
military is not a good choice when an entire government has lied about all
the reasons for going to war in the first place. This war will be a shame
and disgrace for centuries to come, if the human race makes it. Our young
people need to study how to end wars and create a humane world.

As educators your job is to stand on their side against the military
recruiters; to encourage students to think twice and three times about
joining the military. Your job is to see that they are not fooled by the fun
of climbing a rock wall. It’s not as much fun when you are carrying your
buddy’s bloody torso on your back under gunfire. Your job is to encourage
them to read about the war; to seek out veterans to speak to; to do thorough
research on how the government lied and used the mass media to perpetrate
the lies. This is the reality of our world today as much as we detest it.
School is no place for the military—-no place to recruit our children to die
for the enrichment of the wealthy elite who rules this country.

It is up you to stand on their side. Go out and protest with the students
against the military. Let the military know they are not welcome at Kent
State even if you can’t ban them now! And drop all the charges and reinstate
Dave Airhart immediately. Get the military out of Kent State!

Sincerely,

Bonnie Weinstein, Bay Area United Against War
www.bauaw.org
giobon@sbcglobal.net

####

Carol Cartwright- University President: 330.672.2210
carol.cartwright@kent.edu

Greg Jarvie- Dean of Undergraduate Students: 330.672.9494
gjarvie@kent.edu

William Ross- Executive Director of the Undergraduate Student Senate:
330.672.3207
wross@kent.edu

KSAWC is a member of the national student grassroots organization,
Campus Antiwar Network (CAN)

Tariq Khan Speaks
October 3 Rally

First of all I want to say that what happened to me last Thursday is not an isolated incident. More and more this society is moving in the direction of rampant militarism and vicious authoritarianism. At at least three different colleges in the last week alone – the University of Wisconsin at Madison, Holyoke Community College in Massachusetts, and here at George Mason University – students engaged in non-violent counter-recruitment were met with police repression.

At UW-Madison 25 students were threatened with arrest if they continued to peacefully protest military and CIA recruiters at their school’s career fair, even though no police officer or administrator was able to show them a campus rule they were violating.

At Holyoke Community College, on the very same day that I was arrested, police and the College Republicans assaulted and battered 30 students engaged in a peaceful picket of the Army National Guard recruiting table in the school’s cafeteria. A campus security officer snatched a sign out of a student’s hands, then four other officers lifted him off the ground and assaulted him. When other students came to their friend’s defense, an officer grabbed one of them, put him in a headlock, and sprayed mace in his face.

Around 20 state police armed in riot gear and gas masks showed up fully prepared to use chemical weapons against non-violent students trapped in the school cafeteria. While the assault was taking place College Republicans lined up behind the police to cheer on the attack, calling the men “fags” and the women “dykes” and “bitches”. Gotta love those College Republicans [sarcasm]. One student anti-war activist was wearing a pin of a gay/lesbian organization, and a cop who saw it laughed at him and said, “you’ll have a great time in jail!” as College Republicans laughed and called the student a “fag”. The student who the police maced is now banned from campus indefinitely. Many students who participated in Thursday’s protest did not attend classes the next day for fear of harassment from right-wing students and police.

And here at GMU I was harassed and assaulted by police and right-wing vigilante wannabe’s simply for standing in the JC with an 8×11 sign taped to my chest that said “Recruiters lie. Don’t be deceived.” Then I was charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct. While the police and vigilantes were brutalizing me, other right-wing students were cheering them on and shouting “Kick his ass!”

This is the climate we’re going to school in. It isn’t a learning environment. It’s a police state. Politicians say they had to send troops to Afghanistan and Iraq in order to “liberate” the Middle East. But we don’t even have something as fundamental as freedom of speech on our own college campuses. The fight for freedom isn’t in Iraq. It’s here at home. How can the U.S. military give liberty to another country when they don’t even have it themselves?

They went to war for a lie and now they’ve got recruiters in our schools lying to students, deceiving students into becoming a cog in their insidious death machine. Then when I stand next to a recruiter wearing a sign on my chest that says he’s lying, I get brutalized, abused, and arrested while jingoistic students cheer gleefully, hatefully.

Officer Reynolds, the goon who arrested me told me that he had to handcuff me because of 9/11. He said, “I didn’t know who you were, and what with 9/11 and all, there’s no telling what you’d do.” So because he didn’t know me, he had to assume that I’m a terrorist. Another officer at the GMU police station shouted at me, “You people are the most violent people in the world! You’re passive aggressive!” What does that mean? Who are “you people”? All I was hearing come out of the policemen’s mouths was ignorance, fear, and hate. And those same guys are given badges and guns and are paid to walk around this campus.

When I was finally released from jail, the adult detention center they call it, Officer Reynolds told me that I’m banned from campus until I hear otherwise. Later that evening a police captain called me to let me know that I will be permitted back on campus, however, and he stressed the however, I will not be permitted to cause any more disturbances.

Now I’ve got a message for the police, and GMU authorities, and for all of the right-wing goons who helped the police brutalize me or who cheered them on. If by “don’t cause any more disturbances” they mean don’t tell students the truth about the military, then I will continually cause disturbances. I will not be bullied or intimidated into silence, I will not respect or obey any order that tells me I can’t exercise my own inalienable rights. I will continue to stand against war, militarism, occupation, and authoritarianism. And I will not acquiesce to fear tactics, and bullying, and stupidity, and hate. The university authority’s actions against me last Thursday were their way of telling me to shut up. And my answer to them is, No, I will not shut up! They don’t want me to say recruiters lie. Well I’m going to say it, Recruiters lie!

The power-mongers in this country are using 9/11 and terrorism as an excuse to trample all over our individual rights. A friend of mine recently said, “When we’ve traded in all our freedom for security, we’ll find that the only thing we’ve secured is our own incarceration.”

The minutes from the 2005 Campus Antiwar Network National Conference Minutes are both below as plain text and attached as a word document. They should be available on the website for download as well in the next couple of days.

–Josh Karpoff
Rochester Institute of Technology Anti War, Organizer
Campus Antiwar Network, Website Manager
Email: trotskysghost@hotmail.com

Sunday Agenda
Structure Proposals 10am-10:30 am

Regional Breakouts and CC Elections 10:30-11:15

Major Action Proposals 11:15-12:00

Final joint session with MOOS Noon-1

Resources, endorsements, and other action proposals 1:15-2:00

Voting: 37 Schools (74 Delegates), 38 votes to pass

Conference Minutes
Agenda – CC Proposal
Passes: Unanimously

Structure of the CC Proposal – CC Proposal
CAN’s national coordinating committee will have one representative from each of the five regions, five at-large representatives and two at-large high school representatives (which does not preclude high school students from being elected as regional representatives). CAN will also elect three alternates who may be invited to join the coordinating committee in the event of a resignation.
CtQ: Charles P, HCC, seconded (many for)
Passes: Many for, 0 against, 2 Abstentions

Internship Proposal – CC Proposal
CAN will offer an unpaid internship program that allows students who have internships as a part of their studies to work for CAN on our common work. The terms of this position will be worked out in collaboration with the Coordinating Committee and will work towards strengthening the priorities of CAN nationally as determined by the national conference. In the future the CC will establish a more formal application process.
CtQ: Dave D, SUNY Geneseo (Many for)
Passes: Unanimously

Delegate Proposal – CC Proposal
Two delegates from each campus should give their contact info to the Coordinating Committee so that the CC can be in direct touch and more prepared to coordinate national activities. If one of these delegates graduates or otherwise moves on, the CAN chapter should elect a new point person to be in touch with the CC.
CtQ: Unanimous
Passes Unanimously

Chapter Dues- CC Proposal
In order to begin to accumulate a national treasury, established CAN chapters will pay membership dues to the national network. As CAN takes on more national initiatives, it is critical for us to have a treasury for travel, honorarium, publicity and conference expenses. Depending on the resources of the chapters we ask that each chapter pay $50-$100 annual dues. Amended sliding scale of $50-$300 (friendly)
CtQ: Unanimous
Passes: Many for, 1 opposed, 1 Abstention

Establishment of a CAN Treasury – CC Proposal
We propose the establishment of a CAN treasury. This would consist of a CAN Treasurer as well as East and West of the Mississippi Treasury Assistants. The Treasurer will be called on by the Coordinating Committee to be a part of important financial discussions and votes, as well as help implement these decisions. The Treasury Assistants would also serve as alternates in the event of the treasurer’s resignation. Members of the CC may also run as Treasurer or Treasury Assistant. The CAN Treasury will submit an annual report giving the income and expenditures of CAN nationally. This will be used for the eventual establishment of a CAN operating budget.
CtQ: Unanimous
Passes: Unanimous

Agenda Modification (Action Proposals before Regional Breakouts)
Call the Question (Many for)
Fails: For: 20, Against: 37, Abstentions: 10

Coordinating Committee Election Results
Northeast: Shinah, Holyoke CC (MA)
Mid-Atlantic: Ian, Rutgers (NJ)
Southern: Desmond, Georgia State (GA)
Midwest: Nikki, Kent State (OH)
Western: Kristen, SFSU (CA)
At Large: Wes, Cornell: 50 votes (NY)
At Large: Elizabeth, NYU: 68 votes (NY)
At Large: Jorge, Seattle Central CC: 68 votes (WA)
At Large: Dave, SUNY Geneseo: 54 votes (NY)
At Large: Chris, N. Iowa: 52 votes (IA)
High School: Helen Y., Westmoor HS (CA)
High School: Unfilled
Alternate: Jeff, UC Berkeley (CA)
Alternate: Sophie, Bennington (VT)
Alternate: Dan, Pace University (NY)

Treasury Election Results
Treasurer: Dave, SUNY Geneseo (NY)
East Treasury Asst.: Sophie, Bennington (VT)
West Treasury Asst.: Karen, UT Austin (TX)

Contact info for the new coordinating committee will be available on the website by November 1st.

Action Proposals
3/19 Day of Action w/ CR Petitions in Student Gov’ts – Rutgers
1. The Campus Antiwar Network shall launch a national “College Not
Combat” counter recruitment campaign on every campus with an active CAN
chapter
2. The aim of the petition campaign will be threefold:
a. First to unite the various counter-recruitment efforts into one
united nationwide campaign. On campuses where no CAN chapter exists, the petition can be used as the focal point for starting a chapter of CAN.
b. Second, to pressure college and university administrations (as well as Student Government bodies) to take a stand against military
recruitment on our campuses.
c. Third, to pressure college and university administrations to oppose federal reprisals against campuses that kick out military recruiters.
3. The College Not Combat petition campaign will culminate in the simultaneous delivery of signatures to administrations on campuses across the country sometime in the week of March 15 (date to be decide). On this day, CAN chapters will organize rallies, speakouts and press conferences on every campus to mark the submitting of the petitions. In addition, all participants will don a black armband with the words “recruiters off campus” (or some symbol to be decided) and refuse to take them off until action is taken. (The idea is also to show a visible sign of resistance in addition to the petition).
4. Why the week of March 19:
a. This day will mark the anniversary of the start of the Iraq war.
b. CAN could also call for a national week of action, and include delivering the petitions as the kickoff event on all the campuses for this week of action
c. In order for the action to be successful, campus antiwar groups will need to gather thousands of signatures on each campus. This will
involve persistent tabling, “dorm storming” and other activities to help gather signatures. With the winter break intervening, we will
have about three months to carry out this campaign.
5. Draft of Petition
College Not Combat Petition to Stop Military Recruitment on Campuses
Two thousand U.S. Soldiers have died, and several thousands more
injured, in a war that was based on lies. Tens of thousands of Iraqi
civilians have been killed so far, and there is no end in sight. To
continue to wage its illegal and immoral war, the government hopes to
recruit students and the youth to its military machine. But what we
need today is books, not guns; College not Combat. Killing Iraqis is
not a career. We the undersigned call upon our administration and our
Student Government body to:
1. Take a public stand against military recruitment on our campus
2. Take steps to actively oppose any Federal reprisals on universities that kick recruiters off of campuses
CtQ: Unanimous
Passed Unanimously

December 6 Supreme Court Day of Action -Berkeley
Day of Action at Recruiting Station– NYU
(These two proposals were merged into one day of action by the working groups)
We propose that CAN make December 6, 2005 a anational day of action because this is the date that the FAIR v. Rumsfeld case will be taking place. This case will be heard by the US Supreme Court on whether campuses that ban military recruiters would lose their federal funding.

CAN call a national day od city wide, nation wide demonstrations at military recruiting stations, before the end of this semester.
We think CAN is in a position to organize an impressive day of action targeting military recruiting stations around teh country. This will increase the pressure on the military as they struggle to boost enlistments before the end of the year; put students in a position of leadership over an important demonstration, as we were in the College Not Combat/ Relief Not War contingents; and help to widely publicize the fact that there is a national student movement against recruitment and the war, which can inspire students in other places.
CtQ: Unanimous
Passed, Many for, 1 against, 2 abstentions

Day of Action for Kent State May 4 (see packet) – Kent State
Every year on May 4th the media comes to Kent State to see not only the commemoration of those who died and were injured because of the U.S. military invading a college campus 35 years ago, but also to see what the anti-war activists have planned. This year the Kent State Anti-War Committee (KSAWC) wants to have a large demonstration and march into town to declare the Troops be pulled out now and the military recruiters leave our schools! The area high school may plan a walk out to join us.
This will: help publicize the voice of CAN nationally in the media; bring members of CAN from across the U.S. together so that we see our strength in numbers; lead us into a summer that is not dormant, but rather motivates us to continue in our fight to end the war and demilitarize our schools throughout the summer.
There may be a chance to do this at both KENT STATE and JACKSON STATE, depending on what JACKSON STATE would like to do. We feel this is a crucial time for the anti-war movement to come together and demand Troops Out Now!
College Not Combat! because of the history at KENT and JACKSON STATE. We cannot forget the history of the anti-war movement if we want to move forward. And we feel the best way to do this is to gather together for a national day of action.
KENT STATE could provide housing for those traveling out of town and there is the possibility of a full weekend of events, since May 4th is a Thursday. Maybe on Friday, a large die-in at the ROTC building, maybe on Saturday, a planning meeting for ways to stay active during the summer? We have just recently begun discussing May 4th weekend. This would be a regional mobilization. Chapters in other regions should consider some type of action.
CtQ: Unanimous
Passed: Many for, 0 Against , 2 Abstentions

Delegate recount: 68, passing = 35

Regional Conferences – CC Proposal
The CC proposes that regional conferences be held this spring sometime between late March and early April.
CtQ: Many for
Passes Unanimously

College Not Combat, Troops Out Now! Statement – CC Proposal
The continued occupation of Iraq by US coalition forces is the most recent stage of a long standing racist war agsinst the Iraqi people. The Iraqi people will never be ffree as long as foreign occupier remain in their country. Instead of preventing the deteoration of Iraqi society, the US military presence is actually teh driving force behind the death and destruction ravaging the region.

Alongside escalating military operations in Iraq come escalating recruitment efforts to fill the militay’s shrinking ranks. In order to pay for their war on Iraq they are cutting spending on education, job training and disaster relief. Young people are watching educational opportunities in their schools diminish while recruiting efforts intensify. We refuse to stand by quietly as our generation gets signed up for endless war.
CtQ: Many
Passes: Many for, 0 Against , 2 Abstentions

Resources

Lit Committee – Lit WG
1. The Campus Antiwar Network shall have a literature working group.
2. The duties of this group shall include, but not be limited to:
a. Producing a comprehensive pamphlet on how to start a CAN chapter
that is more in depth than the current information. This pamphlet shall
include but not be limited to the topics how to build a group, how to
make flyers, how to publicize, and how to affiliate with can.

b. The literature working group shall be charged with the task of
maintaining the current materials on the website as well as adding new
materials as the working group deems necessary.

c. The literature working group shall work with the group maintaining
the website to post previous literature that they believe is pertinent
to the movement, but not available, such as the pamphlet “the lies they
tell to sell their war.”

d. Lastly the literature working group shall create a book cataloging
the work of the counter recruitment movement. This book should include
but not be limited to:

i. The history of draft and counter recruitment protests.
ii. A collection of true stories of counter recruitment both for
inspiration and for information.
iii. Explanations as fully as possible of legal action that can
be taken as well as your rights.
iv. An information page containing places for further reading
and contact people for CAN.

CtQ: Unanimous
Passes Unanimously

Counter Recruitment Resource Page – Tabled
No one available to motivate the proposal.

Website revamp – Website WG
The Website Working Group proposes that the entire CAN website, www.campusantiwar.net be redone, so as to meet our current needs. The current website will remain up until the new one is complete, with the launch of the new site taking place late one night. The chapter at RIT has offered to host the CAN site for free, which will not mean any changes in the domain name, but will mean a cost savings to CAN nationally. The important points raised by the working group are:
-Renew URL and Hosting, in CAN’s name BEFORE January 6
-Transfer ownership of backup domains (www.campusantiwar.org and www.campusantiwarnetwork.org)

-Give website working group full access to backend of site
-Create new Chapters List w/ delegate info and chapter url (if available)
-New Site Structure Layout:
-News – Campus Reports, Newsletter, Current Actions, CAN authors/ blog
-About CAN: Structure, CC, FAQ, Talking Points
- Join CAN: Contact Form, How to Start a Chapter Page
-Resources – Flyers, Pamphlets, Petitions and cross link to Newspaper
-Photos – Actions, Conferences
-Links – Other groups, resource pages

-A small picture of the front page of the lastest issue of the Newspaper will be in the upper right hand corner of the site, which will link to pages for the latest issue.
-The Paypal “DONATE” button made more prominant. This is the preferred method to donate to CAN.
Passed Unanimously

Anti Repression WG
-Legal Strategy
-Publicity for defense campaigns
-CAN solidarity strategy
Passes: Unanimously

New “How to Start a CAN Chapter Handbook”- Bennington
Motivated by the “How to Start a CAN Chapter Workshop”

We the “How to Create a CAN Chapter Working Group” propose the creation of a how to start a CAN chapter manual. This compendium to beginning ones experience in CAN organizing would include the following:
v History of CAN
v What CAN stands for
-Who we are
-Points of unity
-Structure
v How to start a chapter
-Sign-up sheet
-Tabling/flyering
-Meetings
-Organization/publicity
-How to chair
-Panel discussions
-Getting people involved in the groups organizing
-How to keep people interested (weekly discussions, etc)
-Getting established as a campus organization
-Affiliating to CAN
-Understanding internal structure (democratic leadership, roles in group)
-Resources, links, etc
-Regional coordination
-Events to hold (teach-ins, public meetings, movie screenings, debates, etc)
v Counter Recruitment
-Media
-Faculty
-Petitions
-Building for rallies
v High School
-Counter recruitment
-School club policies
-No child left behind, opt out, ASVAB
v Activist Materials and Resources
-Templates
-Petitions
-Contacting congressmen
-Flyers
-Website links

In conclusion, by constructing this comprehensive manual for new chapters we will equip and empower them to develop into strong and productive organizations.
Passes Unanimously

Start a CAN newspaper – U. Northern Iowa
-The Legacy will pay for the printing of the first issue
-The First issue will be sent out to every CAN chapter
-CAN chapters can then order following issues
-A CAN newspaper working group will be formed
-This newspaper could serve as the voice for the student anti- war movement
-The working group will raise funds for the newspaper
-Content will include:
-Take action section (what CAN is doing)
-Hard news on Iraq
-Features on actions taken by CAN chapters
-arts & music
-All CAN members can contribute
-Newsletter will come out no matter what, even if the paper fails!!
-Down the road a website will be developed for the newspaper
-Local printable format will be available in PDF
-Suggested Donation of 50 Cents
-Newspaper Committee will make getting copies to HS’s for free a priority

Counter Proposal: An Internet only based newspaper/ newsletter – Alan M, RIT, seconded
CtQ: Many for, 6 Opposed
Fails: 6 for, Many Against, 6 Abstentions

Amended Proposal (added PDF, Suggested Donation, and HS priority)
Passes: Many for, 0 against, 1 Abstention

More Actions
Speaking tour Jan/ Feb (War Resisters) – Rutgers (Nat’l Organizing Workshop idea)
Passes: Unanimously

CAN Chapters consider adopting a color/ logo – Cornell
SUGGESTION (withdrawn as a proposal)

RECESS: 18 for, 25 against (Motion Failed)

Days of Action around Iraq developments – Hunter
Passes Unanimously

Adopt a HS – HS Workshop Idea
1. While CAN has historically been situated on college campuses, the need to build CAN chapters on high schools campuses is clear. Military recruitment takes its sharpest form amongst high school students, especially those which predominantly enroll people of color and children of the working class. It is imperative that the burgeoning counter-recruitment movement take hold in those places where it is the most insidious.

2. For the first time in its history, CAN is growing steadily and grounded on a significant number of campuses. We no longer need to concentrate solely on holding together a national organization; we now have the opportunity to expand outward and focus much of our energy on building CAN chapters on campuses where presently there are none.

3. As a grassroots, democratic network, CAN wishes to see the counter-recruitment movement grow organically on high school campuses, with high school students themselves taking the lead in ending recruitment at their respective schools. Thus, our approach to high school counter-recruitment is not to simply use our existing chapters to convince high school students not to enlist. Instead, we wish to use our experience and resources to help high school students to initiate and lead counter-recruitment activity on their own campuses.

4. Each CAN chapter, given sufficient resources, shall select a local high school on which to facilitate the building of such activity. The goal shall be to find students who wish to lead the counter-recruitment movement on their campus, and to assist them in whatever ways are possible.

5. This concerted effort to build CAN chapters on local high schools shall commence on a single day and/or week, to be decided on by a national CAN working group, in order to give a sense of momentum to this effort and for the sharing of strategies and experiences amongst already existing CAN chapters.

6. CAN chapters shall make a special effort to get interested high school students at their designated school to the regional CAN conferences to be held in the spring.

Passes Unanimously

Endorse Nov. 2 YAWR and where possible mobilize– CC Proposal
Passes Unanimously

Endorse Nov. 2 WCW – CCSF
Passes: 32 For, 14 Against, 14 Abstentions

Endorse Campaigns to “Bring the Nat’l Guard Home” across the US – CC Proposal
-Code Pink Campaign in CA
-Bring the Guard Home campaign in MA
-All other similar initiatives
Passes Unanimously

Endorse “Books Not Bombs” Nov. 17 NYSPC – Elizabeth, NYU
-We also ask NYSPC to endorse our actions
Passes Unanimously

We really really want to Send Delegates to the WSF -
Passes Unanimously

Conference Concludes

Defend Antiwar Veteran at Kent State

By Nicole Robinson
October 27, 2005

IRAQ WAR veteran and Kent State student, Dave Airhart, is under attack for opposing the war he considers “unjust” and attempting to stop any more students from being used as “cannon fodder.”

On October 19, the Kent State Anti-War Committee (KSAWC) stood around the Army recruiters, who had brought a rock-climbing wall to entice students over to talk with them. A member of KSAWC and former Afghanistan and Iraq War veteran, David Airhart decided to show his opposition against the war by exercising his rights of free speech. After filling out liability forms Airhart climbed the rock wall. Once he reached the top he took out a banner, which he held under his jacket, and draped it over the wall. The banner read: Kent, Ohio for Peace. Airhart was forced to climb down the back of the wall because a recruiter was coming up the front, yelling at him. As he was climbing down another recruiter came up the back and proceeded to assault Airhart both verbally and physically by pulling his shirt, forcing him off the wall.

Airhart was fined $105. by campus police for disorderly conduct and told that he will have to go to judicial affairs where he will face possible probation or suspension. When asked why he wanted to counter-recruit against the military Airhart responded, “I do not feel that the administration should allow the military to recruit their students for an unjust war that is taking the lives of innocent people. They should be protecting their students, not using them for cannon fodder.”

The recruiter who assaulted Airhart was never charged with disorderly conduct; nor was the bigot who came by screaming profanities and spitting at KSAWC members fined for being disorderly. Somehow an Iraq War veteran hanging a banner, which called for peace, was disorderly and the others were not.

Even after the atrocities of the May 4, 1970 massacre at Kent State University the military has the audacity to come to campus and attempt to recruit students for their illegal war. However, KSAWC, which is a member of the national grassroots organization, Campus Antiwar Network (CAN), counter-recruits against the military every time they are on campus. We stand around the table of the military, hold signs, chant and pass out literature exposing the lies of recruiters.

The administration’s blatant attack against the antiwar movement will not be tolerated. We can clearly see that the administration does not want its students and veterans practicing free speech on this campus, especially if we are taking a stand against the war in Iraq. However, we will continue to fight.

We believe in getting troops out of Iraq now, as well as assuring that they have a voice to stand in opposition to the war when they return. It is obvious that the Kent State administration does not care about Iraq Veterans who attend their school. After everything Airhart had to go through and see as a soldier, after viewing thousands of innocent Iraqi lives being taken, he has every right to exercise his opposition to this war. The administration may have the audacity to punish an Iraq Veteran for speaking out against the war, but the Kent State Anti-War Committee will continue to fight back for all Veterans and students right to exercise free speech against the war. We will continue to challenge our administration’s role in recruiting for the war and demand our right to a ‘recruiter-free’ school.

###

October 27, 2005
From Nicole Robinson:
NLR75@hotmail.com

We need to tell the KENT STATE administration that we will not allow them to
punish an Iraq Veteran for speaking out for peace! Below are the
numbers/e-mails. Let’s show them that we are a strong antiwar movement all
around the U.S. and we will not tolerate such actions! We have done a press
conference but need your support as well. Also if you have more suggestions on what we can be doing e-mail me. Thank-you everyone for your solidarity.

Carol Cartwright- University President: 330.672.2210
carol.cartwright@kent.edu

Greg Jarvie- Dean of Undergraduate Students: 330.672.9494
gjarvie@kent.edu

William Ross- Executive Director of the Undergraduate Student Senate:
330.672.3207
wross@kent.edu

KSAWC is a member of the national student grassroots organization, Campus Antiwar Network (CAN)

The Struggle in Italy

Scoula per Tutti, Liberi Saperi per Tutti

By Katrina Yeaw

The protests that have rocked Italian universities over the past week
show no sign of ending. In fact, the movement against reforms proposed
by the Minister of Education, Letizia Moratti, to change the Italian
educational system and admissions process, blocked the beginning of
the academic year at many campuses and in some case resulted in the
first occupations of university buildings.

The demonstrations organized by the l’Unione degli Studenti, the Union
of the Students that is connected to Democratici di Sinistra; Studenti
di Sinistra, the Student Left that is associated with Rifondazione
Comunista and Rete Studenti, Student Network that has a legacy with
left squatter community centers, gaining the support of all the
student associations as well. The main protests have been centered in
Rome, but demonstrations have taken place in over 70 cities including
Milan, Palermo, Trieste, Florence and Naples. The organizers estimate
that as many as 250,000 students have participated in protests and
other action over the last several days. On Tuesday, symbolic
occupations began in the physics department in Rome and the
mathematics department in Florence. Then on Wednesday, 20,000
demonstrated in Palermo in piazza Indipendenza, 20,000 in Rome in
piazza della Republica and 10,000 in Milan against “the political
privatization of schools and of knowledge”.

Teachers have also played a prominent role in the revolt against the
government reforms. Nunzio Miraglia, the national coordinator of the
Association of University Teachers, exclaimed: “the protests of this
week are the best answer to a minister who says she has the good of
the university in mind… The university is under attack, finally
students discuss with us and they expect more from an institution and
that it be democratic.”

The government reforms will create eight liceo or secondary schools:
classic, scientific, language, artistic, human sciences, technical,
musical and economic. The professional institutes would then be
entrusted to the regions with four obligatory years and a fifth
optional one. The opposition to the reforms is rooted in the fact that
they will clearly divide whose who will attend liceo, the stepping
stone for entrance into the university system and whose who will go to
professional institutes. The continued mobilizations of students
across Italy are to make sure that that this does not become a
reality.

The demonstrators have opened a debate beyond the proposed reforms
that has begun to start a discussion about the function of the public
university and its future in Italy. In opposition to Moratti’s
proposed reforms, they are demanding: 1. The implementation of
obligatory scholarships until age 18. 2. Institution of a national
law stating the right to study and to total access to knowledge. 3.
Reform of the national and peripheral collegiate organs in order to
guarantee greater democracy and participation of the students in the
instruction.

However, in spite of mobilizations across the country, the
demonstrators still face an uphill battle. Even in the face of
national pressure expressed repeatedly by students and teachers,
Moratti continues to seem intent on going ahead with the government
reforms.

Katrina Yeaw is a member of Students Against War, a chapter of the
Campus Antiwar Network, at San Francisco State University. She is
currently studying in Florence and can be reached at
Katrina.yeaw@gmail.com

The Struggle in Italy – Opposition to Berlusconi’s Policies

By Katrina Yeaw

On Sunday October 9, 2005, thousands people demonstrated in the piazzadel Popolo in Rome against attempts by the Prime Minister, SilvioBerlusconi, to change election rules as well as against the financialpolicies of the Berlusconi government.

Berlusconi and his allies have proposed a change in the voting rulesbefore next year’s general elections that are scheduled for April orMay 2006. Currently, Italy has a mixed electoral system with 75% ofthe seats being assigned by uninominal voting system and the remaining25% by a proportional system. If successful, the change will repeal a1994 amendment that brought about the current voting laws and create asophisticated proportional system with a 4% threshold for a party toreserve any seats. The proposed changes are expected to favor thecenter right since the center left coalition is made up of a number ofsmall parties, some of which have failed to reach 4% of the total votein recent elections. It is likely that today will be decisive indeciding whether Berlusconi is successful in pushing the reformsthrough parliament

Opposition to Berlusconi’s economic policies center around his budgetplan for 2006 that cuts resources to regions and cities as well asprovides tax cuts for big business. It is also being fueled by ageneral fall in standard of living for Italian families over the lastseveral years.

The demonstration, estimated at 100,000 people, was a sea of partyflags and balloons, mostly representing the center left of Italianpolitics. It was supported by the center left coalition l’Unione, theUnion, the former olive tree coalition, L’Unione is composed primarilyof Socialisti Democratici Italiani (SDI), Italian DemocraticSocialists; La Margherita – Democrazia è libertà, a centrists party;Democratici di Sinistra (DS), the former Communists Party;Rifondazione Comunista, a split from DS, the Greens and another dozensmall parties that received from 0.5% to 2.0% in the last elections.However, the Disobbedienti, the political wing of the left squattercommunity centers in Italy, did not participate in the demonstration.

Romano Prodi, a former European Union commission president, took the stage among loud applause and chats of “Prodi, Prodi, Prodi…”. In his diplomatic remarks, Prodi declared that reintroducing proportionalrepresentation would be “gigantic steps backwards” for Italy anddescribed Berlusconi as suffering from “irresponsibility” and”incompetence”. He went on to condemn Berlusconi’s internationalpolicies and “military adventures” although he made not specificmention of Iraq or the 3,000 Italian troops stationed there. Prodi isexpected to be the candidate for l’Union in this springs generalelection against Berlusconi, which will be decided in a primaryelection on October 16, 2005. He was the only one of the sevencandidates running to address the crowd from the stage.

Sundays rally is the first event expected to rock Italian politics andthe Berlusconi government in October. French President Jacques Chiracfaced a “Black Tuesday”, when more than a million people demonstratedin 150 cities across France on October 4th against unemployment,decreases in the standard of living and to demand rights for workersin the public and private sector in France. Berlusconi, on the otherhand, may face a “Black October”. On October 17th, a national generalstrike has been called in the public health sector and the officialunions are also calling for a 4-hour general strike, both inopposition to the government budget.

Katrina Yeaw is a member of Students Against War, a chapter of theCampus Antiwar Network, at San Francisco State University. She iscurrently studying in Florence and can be reached atKatrina.yeaw@gmail.com

Charles Peterson has returned to classes at HCC. We will post more details when available. Thank you.

On October 6 over 100 students from several Western Massachusetts colleges gathered in support of Charles T. Peterson and the right to free speech, as well as oppose the war. Seven republicans formed a counter protest. In the words of one student, Public Enemy #1, “Everything Messner said was bullshit.” Justin LeFurjah spoke out in his speech, ” We will not snuggle up to or compromise with right wing bigots. That is not our movement. We must stop this senseless killing machine. Troops out now. College not combat!” Then Elizabeth C. laid down the revolutionary call, “We have succeeded in kicking the military recruiters off our campus, but the battle is not over. We must build our alliances and get more organized to confront the administration and make sure the recruiters never come back. But if they do come back, we must meet them with our fists in the air and our voices united in opposition. The campus administration believes that they can hang Charles for the events of last Thursday, and that our movement will die with him… We are all leaders in the anti-war movement. We are all Charles!” Dan Clawson, UMASS radical union leader, called for the reinstatement of Charles T. Peterson and a full investigation into the totality of the circumstances of Sept. 29 and the events leading up to this day.
3 HCC agitators

The Anti-War Struggle in Italy

Let’s Face the Truth: A Report from an International Protest Gathering in Rome

By Katrina Yeaw

On Sunday, October 2, 2005, I attended the conference “Let’s Face the Truth”, an international protest gathering in support of the Iraqi resistance, organized by Free Iraq Committees in Rome.

The nature of the meeting changed a number of times from its conception to the event that took place on Sunday. Originally, the goal was to hold a gathering in Italy of those involved with openly supporting the Iraqi resistance.

In April and May of 2005, several prominent Iraqi representatives accepted invitations to attend the conference. This substantially changed its nature as it now included representatives from many of the main political currents involved in opposing and resisting the US occupation. Entitled “Leave Iraq in peace – support the legitimate popular resistance”, the conference was going to consist of Baathists, Ayatollah Sheikh Ahmed al Baghdadi, international spokesman of the movement of the Shiite movement of Muqtada al Sadr, dissident Communists leaders, the Iraqi National Foundation Congress and Iraqi Patriotic Alliance as well as activists from across Europe. This would have been a historic event: for the first time, these forces would have had the opportunity to meet together, and to launch a peace proposal to the occupying countries.

Once the nature of the conference took shape, pro-war forces in the US and Europe made attempts to both impede the gathering and criminalize the anti-imperialist camp, one of the organizations involved in the Free Iraq Committees, for a campaign for “10 Euros for the Iraqi Resistance” which had taken place two years before. On June 28, 44 Congress members wrote a letter to Sergio Vento, the Italian ambassador in Washington, expressing “concern” that “supporters of terrorist activity are planning to meet on Italian soil…to plan a campaign of financial aid for terrorism.”

On top of this, the Anti-imperialist Camp’s website was closed down by its Internet hosting company in Utah because of their support of the Iraqi resistance. The Department of Homeland Security also admitted that it had a secret court order requiring the web host to turn over records that included every visitor to the Anti-Imperialist Camp’s website. Furthermore, the Italian police raided the home of Emanuele Fanesi, a member of the Anti-Imperialist Camp, for the lists of those who had contributed to the “10 Euros” campaign. On September 3, however, the court of Perugia established that there was nothing illegal about the fund-raising campaign.

The organizers did not take these attacks lying down. On August 31, they launched a hunger strike in front of the Farnesina, the Italian foreign ministry in Rome, demanding that the Foreign Minister, Gianfranco Fini, grant visas for 6 prominent Iraqis planning on attending the conference (http://www.counterpunch.org/yeaw09192005.html ).

In the end, the organizers were forced to postpone the “Leave Iraq in peace – support the legitimate popular resistance” conference since the visas were denied. The more modest goal of Sunday’s gathering became to make the idea of the right of Iraqis to resist a topic of discussion among not only the left but also the mainstream media.

In spite of attempts to isolate those who support the Iraq resistance, Sunday’s conference was attended by over 300 activists from 15 countries and a range of organizations involved with the anti-imperialist left in Europe including communists and socialists as well as immigrant from the Middle East and Islamic forces both from Europe and the Middle East. Speakers included Leonardo Mazzei, the Secretary Italian Free Iraq Committees; Awni al Kalemji, spokesman of the Iraqi Patriotic Alliance (IPA), Abdulhaleem Kandil, representative of Kifaya, Egypt; John Catalinotto, International Action Centre, USA and the prominent dissident Catholic thinker Giovanni Franzoni . Throughout the day, speeches centered on the threat to civil liberties and democracy in Europe and in particular Italy, support for the Iraqi Resistance and strategies for building future stuggles.

I addressed the gathering, speaking about the American anti-occupation movement and the work that the Campus Antiwar Network has done opposing military recruiters on campuses. Since most activists in Europe are the familiar with the counter recruitment movement, they were excited to hear about the campaigns CAN is organizing. During my speech, I received loud applause from the audience. Many people approached me afterwards to thank me for the work I had been involved with and for sharing it with the gathering as well as to ask for more information about CAN.

Originally, Hajj Ali, who became the symbol of the torture at Abu Ghraib when photos of him hooded and attached to electrodes were broadcasted around the world, had also been planning on addressing the meeting on Sunday. Unfortunately, he was denied a visa to enter Italy at the last minute. When he arrived at the Italian embassy in Amman, Jordan on September 29, he was informed the visa was not available and that he must return to Iraq to apply with the diplomatic representation of Italy in Baghdad inside the American Green Zone.

At the end of the gathering, a three-point resolution was read in both Italian and English. It stated that the organizers want to: 1) Bring Hajj Ali to Europe in order to expose the anti-democratic character of American rule in Iraq. 2) Make the conference with the representatives of the Iraqi opposition possible, which means recognition of the Iraqi resistance. 3) Strengthen the network of anti-imperialist organizations that support the Iraqi resistance.

Katrina Yeaw is a member of Students Against War, a chapter of the Campus Antiwar Network, at San Francisco State University. She is currently studying in Florence and can be reached at Katrina.yeaw@gmail.com