Campus recruiters stand behind their table in the SAU, while members of RITSAG protest.
Eric Drummond

“Make levees not war! What the hell are we fighting for?” Chants echoed through the Student Alumni Union on October 24 as students protested against military recruitment on campus — that same day, the Marine Corps had set up a table in the SAU to educate and recruit students.

The movement was spearheaded by RIT’s Social Action Group (RITSAG), a Student Government recognized club that tackles the issues of social justice, war, and racism and believes that the war with Iraq is a central issue of social justice. RITSAG is a chapter of the Campus Antiwar Network (CAN), a national student antiwar coalition that was founded in 2003. CAN makes it a point to regularly confront recruiters visiting campuses.

Although CAN’s chapters, such as RITSAG, hold lectures and bring in speakers, they realized that it wasn’t enough. “We needed something more direct, something that would materially impact the war. One of those things is actually stopping the recruitment of students into the military,” explained RJ Bean, a sixth year dual degree Computer Science major. In addition to the protest, RITSAG set up an informational table a few feet away from that of the Marine Corps.

CAN has become intent on revealing that the benefits of joining the military aren’t necessarily what they have been advertised. “A lot of times, when [veterans] leave the military, they get discharged without any money,” said Ken Love, a former RIT Urban and Community Studies major. RITSAG works closely with the Iraq Veterans Against the War, an advocacy group of active military personnel and veterans who are opposed to the US occupation of Iraq.

On November 13, RITSAG, in association with CAN, will be holding a National Day of Action. The event will be filled with demonstrations and speak-outs and will likely be held on the residential side of campus, although the location has not been finalized.

For more information about CAN, visit their website at www.campusantiwar.net.