DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Students for a Democratic Society, 1965-1972 | 1966-09-19 Article: 'SDS Members Discuss Issues' Page 1

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Students for a Democratic Society, 1965-1972

1966-09-19 Article: 'SDS Members Discuss Issues' Page 1

9/19/66
SDS Members Discuss Issues
"The type of people who would join us seek us out. They are politically aware, activists, articulate and not afraid to propagate their viewpoints."
This is how a member of the Steering Committee for the local chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) describes a likely candidate for membership in the politically-left, campus group.
The organization's membership card states; "SDS ia an educational and social action organization dedicated to increasing democracy to all phases of our common life. It seeks to promote the active participation of young people in the formation of a movement to build a society free from poverty, ignorance, war, exploitation and the inhumanity of man to man."
Starting its second year on campus this fall, SDS meets alternate Thursdays. The first meeting in the fall is expected to be held about two weeks after the beginning of the semester.
The group does not have officers, but administrative tasks are handled by a steering committee, which last year consisted of four seniors, two sophomores, two gratuate students and a freshman. 
This committee of volunteers makes no decisions for the group but gets guidelines for possible action and programs. 
The organizational set-up presented problems for the new group when it got started last september. 
"At first we were groping and trying to find our role, but now we are pretty sure what we are doing" said steering committee member Michael R. Theis, A4, Burlington. 
Typical meetings, which are coordinated by a different volunteer each time, consist of a guest speaker followed by discussion.
Theis said, "The discussions concern something happening in the world right now, not just something  to talk about."
Representative of the kinds of meetings held this past year, Theis said, was one led by James N. Murray Jr., chairman of the political science department and also the SDS adviser, on the topic "The Feasibility of Supporting a Peace Candidate for Congress."
Also at their meetings, SDS members discussed and decide on projects the chapter will undertake. 
Concerning these projects, Theis said "The main emphasis here should br the University, since we are University students, but we try in our own way to make all of society more meaningful, too."
Among the projects which the group has concerned itself with are: a campaign against conditions in a new student apartment building being built in Iowa City, helping residents of a local slum area, supporting a campus blood drive, aiding male students to pass the Selective Service Colege Qualification Test and joining in a national telephone hookup to discuss the Dominican Republic. 
Speaking about the campaign against the new $2 million private apartment building going up at 110 N. Dubuque St., David S. Gross, G. Orono, Maine, a member of the steering committee, said the apartments were overpriced, would crowd five students in a room made for two or three persons, and the 200-unit building was ugly, as well as a detriment

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9/19/66 SDS Members Discuss Issues "The type of people who would join us seek us out. They are politically aware, activists, articulate and not afraid to propagate their viewpoints." This is how a member of the Steering Committee for the local chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) describes a likely candidate for membership in the politically-left, campus group. The organization's membership card states; "SDS ia an educational and social action organization dedicated to increasing democracy to all phases of our common life. It seeks to promote the active participation of young people in the formation of a movement to build a society free from poverty, ignorance, war, exploitation and the inhumanity of man to man." Starting its second year on campus this fall, SDS meets alternate Thursdays. The first meeting in the fall is expected to be held about two weeks after the beginning of the semester. The group does not have officers, but administrative tasks are handled by a steering committee, which last year consisted of four seniors, two sophomores, two gratuate students and a freshman. This committee of volunteers makes no decisions for the group but gets guidelines for possible action and programs. The organizational set-up presented problems for the new group when it got started last september. "At first we were groping and trying to find our role, but now we are pretty sure what we are doing" said steering committee member Michael R. Theis, A4, Burlington. Typical meetings, which are coordinated by a different volunteer each time, consist of a guest speaker followed by discussion. Theis said, "The discussions concern something happening in the world right now, not just something to talk about." Representative of the kinds of meetings held this past year, Theis said, was one led by James N. Murray Jr., chairman of the political science department and also the SDS adviser, on the topic "The Feasibility of Supporting a Peace Candidate for Congress." Also at their meetings, SDS members discussed and decide on projects the chapter will undertake. Concerning these projects, Theis said "The main emphasis here should br the University, since we are University students, but we try in our own way to make all of society more meaningful, too." Among the projects which the group has concerned itself with are: a campaign against conditions in a new student apartment building being built in Iowa City, helping residents of a local slum area, supporting a campus blood drive, aiding male students to pass the Selective Service Colege Qualification Test and joining in a national telephone hookup to discuss the Dominican Republic. Speaking about the campaign against the new $2 million private apartment building going up at 110 N. Dubuque St., David S. Gross, G. Orono, Maine, a member of the steering committee, said the apartments were overpriced, would crowd five students in a room made for two or three persons, and the 200-unit building was ugly, as well as a detriment