DAAP is part of national student movement

A new student movement is growing in this country.

The point of departure of this movement has been the fight to defend the programs and policies that seek to offset the racist and sexist inequality of today's society - affirmative action. Other issues have been brought forward and had light shed on them like the fight to end the sanctions against Iraq and the fight to end sweatshop labor abroad.

Students are beginning to realize that our collective action has the power to change things.

Only this growing movement will provide the social power necessary to realize the program of the DAAP.

- Defend affirmative action: As long as racist and sexist inequality and discrimination exist, social policy must continue to take them into account and offset their impact.

Through affirmative action, American society made an important, partial step towards integration and equality. DAAP members have been leaders of the movement to defend affirmative action nationally.

This movement has begun to turn the tide against the attack on affirmative action. MSA should take a more active leading role in defending affirmative action in higher education nationally.

- Fight racism, sexism, sexual harassment, anti-semitism and anti-lesbian/gay bigotry on campus: MSA should be a place students can come to for help and action against bigoted attacks. The administration is often more concerned with protecting its image than it is with protecting students.

- Stop tuition increases: DAAP introduced a resolution for a tuition freeze, which was rejected by the Assembly. Access to higher education is being constricted by its expense. We will organize popular support for a state-wide tuition freeze in higher education. We will also fight to expand grants and financial aid.

- End police harassment of parties and the scapegoating of fraternities and sororities: DAAP repeatedly put forward a resolution in defense of students' rights and against police harassment and persecution. On our third try a weakened version finally passed. The current anti-drinking hysteria is a media creation intended to get good PR for the University and protect the administration from legal liability, at the expense of students' rights. DAAP calls for an end to police harassment and for dropping the charges against the Phi Delts.

- Abolish the Code: The Code functions to give the administration more power to act selectively against students. It does not provide any additional protection for students.

- Support GEO: DAAP introduced and fought for both resolutions passed this year in support of GEO.

We headed up the MSA effort to educate and organize students and professors to support the GEO walkout.

We will continue to work with and support GEO and to make sure the administration lives up to its contract, especially in regards to international GSIs.

- Jessica Curtin can be reached over e-mail at jcurtin@umich.edu, and Erika Dowdell can be reached at edowdell@umich.edu.

03-24-99