'Rebels with a Cause' draws activist alumni

By Jane Krull

Daily Staff Reporter

The top floor of Cottage Inn Pizza has not always been a place to eat -- it was the residence of a legendary student activist leader.

Alan Haber, the first president of Students for Democratic Society, said he established the group while living in his apartment that now is the upper level of the restaurant.

University students, faculty and community members got a taste of history yesterday as "Rebels With A Cause" premiered at the Michigan Theater. The documentary focuses on the active role SDS had in the 1960s political movement.

When students at the University formed the first chapter of SDS, the group concentrated on civil rights. But as chapters expanded at universities across the nation - eventually topping off at 400 - the group also tackled issues including the Vietnam War, the draft and the women's movement. In April 1965 the group organized its first of many marches on Washington, D.C., protesting U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

Helen Garvy, who directed of the documentary, made the film in order to preserve the activist and SDS history that she said has been distorted over the years. Over time and government intervention, she believes the activist role has been toned down.

"If they can convince you that there is no effect that you can make, then why try," said Garvy, who belonged to the SDS chapter at Harvard University.

Associate producer and SDS member Robert Pardun said the movie is important because it reveals what an impact the students made. "I think it is a good thing to get out there. People don't realize how serious (the government) took us," he said.

During the 1960s, the FBI formed the Counter Intelligence Program in order to neutralize the student activist movement. Members of main council of SDS each had an extensive FBI file.

Profits made from the screening of the documentary will benefit the Guild House, an interfaith justice and peace campus ministry in Ann Arbor.

"The Guild House was and still is a meeting place for students -- especially back in the 1960s," Guild House Board of Directors Chairwoman Rosalie Karunas said.

Guild House Board of Directors member Jim Toy said the house served as a meeting place for SDS and possibly the location where the group's manifesto was crafted.

"It is rumor that Tom Hayden conceived the "Port Huron Statement" under the Guild House piano," Toy said.

Attending the premiere were students of new politically active organizations.

Students Organizing for Labor and Economic Equality member Zack Schulman, an RC sophomore, said he attended the premiere in order to apply SDS activism experiences to SOLE. "I wanted to learn more about SDS and activism at Michigan and nationally as well," Schulman said.

Many students said they were impressed to actually meet the people that the documentary featured.

"It is really powerful to actually see these people that were so influential in starting the student protest movements of the sixties," Public Policy graduate student Jennifer Pasinosky said.

As the end credits began to roll to the song, "We Shall Overcome," members of the audience joined in, adding to the already emotionally charged atmosphere. Closing the night was a panel discussion involving Garvy, members of SDS featured in the film and representatives from politically active groups on campus.

SDS member Bill Ayers told the audience that it is harder to find cases of injustice today compared to blatant injustices of the past like the Holocaust and slavery but they are out there and must be addressed. He said activism starts with finding rage about a issue and then acting upon that rage.

"Rebels With A Cause" will run at the Michigan Theater and select cities across the nation later in the fall. Further details are available at www.sdsrebels.com.

SAM HOLLENSHEAD/Daily

"Rebels with a Cause" director Helen Garvy and Al Haber, the first president of Students for a Democratic Society, speak at the Michigan Theater yesterday before a showing of Garvy's movie.