Posts in "Activism"

Eric Sharp. ETF's picture
By Eric Sharp at 12:48PM
Feb 6, 2012

All Hail Campus Protectionism!

Check out this satirical letter I wrote for the Opinions section of MTSU's student newspaper Sidelines. If it reads like my previous satirical letter in Sidelines this is quite intentional.

Aramark, our food services provider, recently enacted a rule at MTSU that student organizations could only have one bake sale per semester (excluding Greek organizations of course). We speculate that this is because our YAL chapter sold too many tasty tamales and apple pies. MTSU is not the kind of campus where it is easy to walk or drive 5 minutes away for lunch at back in time for class, so the cartel granted by contract particularly effects what choices and prices students have to deal with. Aramark is a large company and may even be doing the same thing on your campus.

Anyway, on with the letter:

Dearest Aramark:

You, my favorite of food-service giants, have recently undertaken some measures, which I must praise.

Specifically, you have insisted that a section of your contact with MTSU be enforced – the one that binds radicals and hooligans in "student organizations" to a satisfactory one bake sale per semester.


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mvwindsor's picture
By Michelle Windsor at 4:39PM
Feb 1, 2012

A Call to Collaboration

On Saturday, February 4th, members of the Occupy movement across the globe are planning to hold various rallies and marches in their respective cities to protest the growing momentum of U.S. interventions and sanctions against Iran that are building up to a possible declaration of war. Given that U.S. liberty-minded activists are equally passionate about halting the spread of our overseas empire and the unconstitutional declarations of illegal wars, this event presents a historical opportunity for liberty activists and Occupiers to unite for a commonly shared goal. 

iran

 The organizations lending their official endorsement to this cause are strikingly diverse, ranging from the Workers World Party to the Center for a Stateless Society.

I would like to urge all Young Americans for Liberty members to coordinate with their local YAL chapters for a planned collaboration with the Occupy movement on February 4th to show the Establishment that we stand together in solidarity against the unconstitutional wars that are declared without Congressional approval, wars which threaten to bankrupt our nation both morally and financially. According to the Facebook event page, so far every state has an anti-war Occupy event planned in major cities across the U.S. on Feb. 4th, and I am working with my local YAL chapter to engage with our own city's anti-war Occupy rally to be held this coming Saturday.


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KTSontag's picture
By Kendall Sontag at 10:26AM
Feb 1, 2012

A New Generation

When I converse with my peers about current events, I tend to get one of two responses: that of ignorance, or that of despair.  The ignorant aren't the ones that I would like to reach in this article; they still have a lot to learn and a lot of waking up to do.  Instead, I want to reach those who no longer have hope -- those who see the police state forming and feel that if their candidate of choice doesn't win the presidency, well then, there is no more use trying.  I have news for you, friends:  You have a lot more power than you realize.

Each upcoming generation has a great, underrated power over older generations: inevitability.  There is no way to get around it; we will be the leaders of the world, and as such, we are the ones responsible for the world we live in.  We cannot be like the political leaders we despise and blame it on generations passed.

We may consider each generation as a distinct nation, with a right, by the will of its majority, to bind themselves, but none to bind the succeeding generation, more than the inhabitants of another country. -- Thomas Jefferson

Have we already forgotten the lessons of the 60's, or did we simply learn the wrong ones?  I contend it's the latter, another failure of our abysmal education system.  But I digress.  The real lesson to be learned is that the people have the power, especially the youth.  The youth overwhelmingly participated in the civil rights protests -- the sit-ins, the marches, and the boycotts.  In fact, Martin Luther King, Jr. himself was born in 1929, making him a relatively youthful leader.


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mrbasil0's picture
By Kenny Tan at 5:38PM
Jan 31, 2012

YAL@VU: Spring Kick-off Events

On January 16th, YAL@VU held its first event of the semester, a teach-in focusing on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and its provisions for indefinite military detention of terrorist suspects, combined with a presidential debate watching party. We had one of our largest ever turn-outs, with close to 50 people in attendance during the 3 hours. As part of our spring recruitment drive, we also added 16 new emails to our mailing list. Two local TV stations, WSMV and WKRN, came to report on the event. Our teach-in was led by John M. Drake:

imageJohn Drake was born in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1968. He earned his baccalaureate degree in computer science from UAB in 1991. He then completed a Masters in computer science. In 1998, Drake relocated with his wife to Nashville so that she could pursue research at Vanderbilt. A friend whom he was helping prepare for the LSAT suggested that he sit for the exam as well. He attended Vanderbilt University Law School and graduated in 2011. He currently works in the Nashville area, where he lives with his wife, Dr. Wonder Drake, and their twin sons, Cameron and Miles.
image

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Hans Schulzke's picture
By Hans Schulzke at 10:13AM
Jan 30, 2012

KSU YAL Hosts 'The Case against the Drug War'!

Our first event at  Kennesaw State University  this semester was the most successful we’ve ever had. Over fifty people showed up on a Wednesday night to hear LEAP speaker Jay Fisher give a constitutional case against the drug war.  By the end of the night, there were people standing in the back, sitting in the front, and all engaged in a great Q&A session. We had a large number of people sign up for email and call-sheets, we launched a new SSDP (Students for Sensible Drug Policy) chapter on campus, and we had high-quality conversation exposing people to libertarianism, the ideas of liberty, and YAL.  

Our Full Room!

There are four main behaviors or decisions to which I credit the successful turnout:

1. We prepared in advance. We contacted LEAP (www.LEAP.cc) in December to schedule a speaker. We reserved the room before the first day of classes. We had a flyer produced in the first week of class. We had an advertising plan, a solid event plan, a Facebook page produced, and a committed ground crew for advertising long before the week of the event. 


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jamesmaier93's picture
By James Maier at 11:07AM
Jan 25, 2012

YAL at IUPUI to host Civil Liberties College Tour Stop

Young Americans for Liberty at IUPUI will be hosting one of the stops on the YAL Civil Liberties College Tour on Tuesday February 7th!

At the current moment, an event of this nature is certainly necessary, as every day, we are seeing our rights whittled away by a government that has stepped far outside of its constitutional and legal constraints. Legislation such as the PATRIOT Act and the NDAA have roused people awake to the threats we face and even have become seminal issues for Republican presidential candidates.

All of these developments have come about as a result of wars, and as Randolph Bourne's thesis suggests, war is the health of the state. Wars, like the ones the US government is conducting in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Somalia are the health of the state because many accept the certain steps taken in effort to make us "safer," when in reality, our rights and privacy are violated.

Many do not know this, but as a result of NDAA, anyone of us can be indefinitely detained with no charge. Yet, many accept this. Those who warn of it are painted as traitors and terrorist sympathizers, by those who do not understand the laws of this country and their natural rights.


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mvwindsor's picture
By Michelle Windsor at 11:01AM
Jan 25, 2012

Where did you get your shoes?

It's a common question I used to ask Occupy activists while being present at some of their rallies during the peak of the movement in autumn 2011.

vans

Caught off guard by a perfectly normal question, the anti-corporate activist would inevitably drop his head down towards the ground in guilty contemplation of whatever shoes he was wearing during the protest, with his "corporations are evil" sign suddenly beginning to waver uncertainly in his hand. As if contemplating the issue for the first time, his mind races for a quick response to a disarmingly simple question. He flounders around awkwardly for a few minutes, thinking out loud with an "um, well... ah" mumble, fidgeting nervously with the wounded and confused look setting deeper and deeper into his well-meaning yet misguided face. 

If there's any one question I've found that silences an Occupier who decries the evils of corporate greed which puts profit before people, it's  "So where did you get your (fill in the blank) from?"  


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Joseph Brown's picture
By Joseph Brown at 10:57AM
Jan 25, 2012

National End Crony Capitalism Day Feb. 14th

natlcronycapKelly Jemison has a post over at Students for Liberty promoting national crony capitalism day, a great event to do on campus before wrapping up our Spring recruitment drive contest, which ends Feb. 17th--your chapter can win cash prizes and we will provide you with free resources and activism kits! Crony capitalism day, is set for February 14th (Valentine's Day), and will expose the love between big business and big government. Tabling kits are provided free of charge, just apply through this survey. Each tabling kit includes: 

  • 1 tabling banner (2′ by 6′) – to draw attention to the event
  • 1 event execution information sheet
  • 1 sample press release
  • 100 stickers with the attached image
  • 100 Valentines – with a cronyism definition on one side and illustration on the opposite side
  • 120 Dum Dum lollipops – to be attached to the Valentines (for a candy gram effect)
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Bonnie Kristian's picture
By Bonnie Kristian at 12:58PM
Jan 23, 2012

Get Trained to Take Action

If you want to run for office yourself, or work on a principled, liberty campaign, or just become a more effective activist, you need to be trained.  Fortunately, our partners at American Majority and the Leadership Institute have exactly the training you need.

Upcoming Leadership Institute Trainings

Jan. 27Television Workshop, Introduction to TechniquesArlington, VA
Jan.  27Television Workshop, On-cameraArlington, VA
Jan.  28Grassroots Activist SchoolBozeman, MT
Jan.  28Grassroots Activist SchoolFreehold, NJ
Jan.  28Travel-Campaign Management SchoolRock Island, IL
Jan.  30Campaign Management SchoolArlington, VA
Feb.  01Advanced New Media Workshop: CampaignsArlington, VA
Feb.  01Powerful Public RelationsOnline
Feb.  04Youth Leadership SchoolNewark, OH
Feb.  09CPAC - How to Raise Money...the Easy WayWashington, DC
Feb.  09Getting Your Message HeardWashington, DC
Feb.  09CPAC - Landing a Conservative Job: The Hill and BeyondWashington, DC
Feb.  10CPAC - Public Speaking WorkshopWashington, DC
Feb.  10CPAC - Video Activism: Tips of the TradeWashington, DC
Feb.  11Grassroots Activist SchoolSheboygan, WI
Feb.  11CPAC 2012 Job and Internship FairWashington, DC
Feb.  11CPAC - GOTV: Creating a Winning Ground GameWashington, DC
Feb.  17Television Workshop, On-cameraArlington, VA
Feb.  21Public Speaking Workshop, AdvancedArlington, VA
Feb.  25Youth Leadership SchoolDes Moines, IA
Feb.  25Youth Leadership SchoolPensacola, FL
Feb.  25Travel-Future Candidate SchoolJonesboro, AR
Feb.  27Comprehensive Online Activist SchoolArlington, VA

View the full LI training schedule here.

Upcoming American Majority Trainings

Jan. 25Activist Training SchoolYuma, AZ
Feb. 9Candidate Training SchoolNorman, OK
Feb. 11Activist Training SchoolCharleston, SC
Feb. 11Candidate and Activist SchoolMiddletown, DE
Feb. 18Campaign Training SchoolSt. Paul, MN
Feb. 18Candidate and Activist SchoolBell County, TX
Feb. 25Campaign Training SchoolCleveland, TN
Mar. 3Activist Training SchoolDuPage, IL

Click here to learn more about AM's training options and request a training in your area.

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Josh Jackson's picture
By Josh Jackson at 11:27AM
Jan 19, 2012

Chapter Glue: How to Keep Your Group Together

The beginning of a new semester is the perfect time to be thinking about how to grow and expand your YAL chapter.  Maybe you turn out a big crowd of people to a information meeting or a semester kick-off rally, but will they come back?  Are they still there at the end of the semester?  This is the ultimate test of your effectiveness as a student organization, and here's what you need to remember.

The Idea: Community

Think about the most successfully organized groups you know.  These may be churches, veterans groups, or college fraternities, for example.  The common thread that sustains the existence of these groups is that they create an environment which not only enables the purpose of the group, but ultimately fosters social interaction.  In other words, people want a place they can make friends and hang out!  It's half the reason you went to college to begin with.    

Understanding "community" is vital to the success of your group. It encourages the creativity that occurs when people are comfortable around each other and sharpens ideas on philosophy and rhetorical skills.  People build bonds with each other, find other common interests, become friends, and eventually begin to interact outside of the group. I love logging into Facebook and seeing people who are members of my YAL group asking each other which professors to take for a certain class, who wants to meet up for pizza, or where the best trails to go hiking are located.  These people will continue to show up for YAL events, if only just to see their friends who they made there!  I'm sure they love liberty too.


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