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Students dance for social change
by Emily Lange

http://www.loyolaphoenix.com/media/paper673/news/2005/11/16/News/Students.Dance.For.Social.Change-1059292.shtml?page=2

As students walked down the stairwell to the basement
of Centennial Forum Student Union, they immediately
saw colored lights, dance music and students gathered
in Zipoli's for "Dance Dance Social Revolution," a dance
party sponsored by Living Wage NOW!, a campaign of
Loyola Students Against Sweatshops (LSAS).

The dance was a social event intended to increase the
campus presence of the LSAS' campaigns. The students
of the Living Wage NOW! campaign hoped to increase
the number of students involved in their organization and
advertise upcoming activities. The group also sought to
raise money to host a "workers' breakfast" - something
the Living Wage NOW! organizers hope will build
relationships with the workers who serve the Loyola
community.

"We need students on our side," junior Sarah Marie Coogan, member of the Living Wage
NOW! campaign, said.

"We are at the very, very beginning stages of our organization's attempt to see what
we can do ... from just establishing an awareness on campus that our campaign exists,
or reaching out to people who know nothing about it or finding people who might want
to be a part of it."

"We are looking for people who are just generally interested in the cause, no matter
what level of involvement they feel like having."

Graduate student Tamara Smith was enthused about the dance.

"This is great," Smith said. "People are having fun, and the donation [money] is for
a great cause ... putting together a workers' breakfast."

The event drew a small crowd, changing in size throughout the three hours it was
held. Coogan was satisfied with the turn-out, and said she felt the people who were
at the dance were interested in the cause.

"Dancing [and] revolution sort of narrows down your crowd a bit, at least at first
glance," Coogan said. "The more we continue to keep a persistent appearance on
campus, the more people will show up and know that we exist. The people who showed
up, plus the hundreds who saw the flyer are all going to know about us now."

Sophomore Nate Kemphues attended the dance to hang out with friends and support the
cause.

"A lot of students don't know about wages and whether you can live or not live on
them," Kemphues said. "A lot of students are financed by their parents and should be
informed that it doesn't work that way for most of the world.
Members of the Living Wage NOW! campaign also attended a teach-in orchestrated by
the United Students Against Sweatshops on Nov. 11. The teach-in featured students
from Georgetown University who worked together to achieve a living wage for all
workers on their campus this past March.

Because Loyola University Chicago is a Jesuit institution, LSAS members feel that
Loyola should follow in Georgetown's footsteps as part of the mission to hold a
strong social concern for all people in the community.

"Loyola should step up as a leader in not only the local community but the larger
Jesuit community as well," Coogan said. "Aligning the Living Wage NOW! ideals with
the [Jesuit] concept is very important. We want to find out how we can make Loyola
stand out as a leader who strives to live consciously toward the Jesuit social
justice tradition."

By working through two separate campaigns, the Living Wage NOW! and Loyola Students
for a Sweat Free Campus, members of LSAS hope to sponsor more activities and results
from focusing on specific social justice issues.

The Sweat Free Campus campaign unravelled a banner, hung above the seventh floor
outer windows of Mundelein on Thursday, Nov. 10, which read "Loyola Stop Using
Sweatshops!"

Senior Megan Grusenmeyer of the Sweat Free Campus campaign worked on the banner drop.
She hoped students would see the banner and make a conscious effort to try not to
support sweatshops.

"Most things students buy in Loyola's bookstores were made in a factory where the
working conditions are illegal and immoral," Grusenmeyer said. "We, as students and
as an institution, can change that fact. As a Jesuit institution, it is disgraceful
for us to continue to support companies that abuse the poor and powerless."

Both Grusenmeyer and Coogan agree that Loyola students and administration must work
together to reach the standards of Jesuit social justice.

"We want to reach out to the entire student population and gather support from
everyone," Coogan said. "We all have to support each other."

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I intend to last long enough to put out of business all *****-suckers
and other beneficiaries of the institutionalized slavery and genocide.

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"The army that will defeat terrorism doesn't wear uniforms, or drive
Humvees, or calls in air-strikes. It doesn't have a high command, or
high security, or a high budget. The army that can defeat terrorism
does battle quietly, clearing minefields and vaccinating children. It
undermines military dictatorships and military lobbyists. It subverts
sweatshops and special interests.Where people feel powerless, it
helps them organize for change, and where people are powerful, it
reminds them of their responsibility." ~~~~ Author Unknown ~~~~
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