Cities for Peace

We are building a coaltion of local officials and concerned citizens to express the will of our communities through civic resolutions regarding the war in Iraq

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Students for Peace Campaign

View the list of schools that passed pre-war resolutions against the Iraq War

Student Council resolutions opposing the Iraq War were passed on many campuses across the U.S. in the run-up to March 2003. Now students are organizing to end the occupation of Iraq, bring the troops home, and internationalize the peace. The first round of success was exciting, and efforts are underway to broaden this campaign and to give a voice to the anti-war message in mainstream America.

We hope you will lend your energy to this continuing national student effort!

The Institute for Policy Studies is working with the Education for Peace in Iraq Center (EPIC), National Priorities Project, some American Friends Service Committee chapters, and other grassroots groups, in facilitating the drafting and passing of resolutions to end the Iraq War and internationalize the peace. Though initially aimed at City Councils, because of the eagerness of students to have their messages represented by student government bodies, we are expanding the campaign to target Campuses for Peace as well. And the numbers of student council resolutions or letters opposing the Iraq War is growing. In addition to opposing U.S. occupation of Iraq, these Student Council resolutions are highlighting how taxpayers, city and state budgets, and critical social services will be impacted by the costs of a war with Iraq.

The ultimate goal is to express national opposition to war by elected officials and other organized bodies in whatever form. A strong student voice is imperative in achieving this goal.

We hope you will help us reach our goal of generating fifty student council resolutions and letters against the war before military action ensues.

Before Passing a Resolution

An in-depth and comprehensive knowledge of the impacts of war is essential in fighting the opposition that will invariably come with trying to pass a resolution on your campus. Hosting a teach-in or info session to educate doubtful students might be beneficial if there has been a lack of anti-war sentiment on your campus.

Agenda for Teach-In

1 day template- http://www.shapeyourworld.info/agenda_1.html
2 day template- http://www.shapeyourworld.info/agenda_2.html

Student Resolution Tool Kit

Gather and educate

Contact progressive organizations on campus that would be interested in forming a peace and justice coalition. Organize a meeting to review the details of the resolution you would like to pass (sample resolutions provided below). If not all students are up to date on the facts, organize a teach-in/information session. This step is important, knowing the correct facts and making sure everyone is fully aware of the issue will help strengthen your campaign. Getting faculty to address the issues in their classes is also a good way to spur spontaneous debate and get your message out.

Contact the student government

Contact your student government to see what measures must be taken to pass a resolution. Some schools require a certain percentage of student signatures-like a petition-while other student governments make decisions based purely on the member's votes.

Other possibilities if you face resistance

Contact faculty, students, staff, or administration and have them sign a petition or a sign on statement supporting your campaign. A strong letter with hundreds of signatures can be just as effective-especially in local media outlets-and could encourage your student council to take an actual resolution more seriously.

Resource for campus anti-war organizing

General Information for Organizing: Publicity, canvassing, outreach- http://www.utexas.edu/students/utgreens/nowargrapevine/mobilize.html

How to file and FOI- Find what you need to know about passing a freedom of information request- http://www.splc.org/foiletter.asp

Primer for college activists- How to write a press release, letters to the editor, fundraise, and research http://www.utanimalrights.com/primer/

4. Other helpful links

Foreign Policy In Focus' Student Activism page: http://fpif.org/students/index.html
Muslims Students Association http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/
Student Peace Action Network http://www.studentpeaceaction.org/
United States Students Association http://www.usstudents.org/
National Youth & Student Peace Coalition http://www.nyspc.net/home.html
United for Peace and Justice - Youth Caucus http://www.unitedforpeace.org/

Sample Student Resolution Text

Contact Info need help? Call these people to help you get started.

Institute for Policy Studies: These folks are the IPS staff dedicated to working on student resolutions and student outreach:

Julie Ajinkya, Institute for Policy Studies Outreach Coordinator: julie@ips-dc.org or 202-234-9382 x254

Students Who've Passed Resolutions: These students are helping us to network students who have already passed resolutions as well as help other students start campaigns in their own student councils:

Dan Denvir, Reed College: dan.denvir@reed.edu
Brent Perdue, UT-Austin: tompaine@mail.utexas.edu
Eli Zigas, Grinnell College: antiwar@grinnell.edu

		We are building a coaltion of local officials and concerned citizens to express the will of our communities through civic resolutions regarding the war in Iraq


Return to Main Page	Students for Peace Campaign View the list of schools that passed pre-war resolutions against the Iraq War Student Council resolutions opposing the Iraq War were passed on many campuses across the U.S. in the run-up to March 2003. Now students are organizing to end the occupation of Iraq, bring the troops home, and internationalize the peace. The first round of success was exciting, and efforts are underway to broaden this campaign and to give a voice to the anti-war message in mainstream America. We hope you will lend your energy to this continuing national student effort! The Institute for Policy Studies is working with the Education for Peace in Iraq Center (EPIC), National Priorities Project, some American Friends Service Committee chapters, and other grassroots groups, in facilitating the drafting and passing of resolutions to end the Iraq War and internationalize the peace. Though initially aimed at City Councils, because of the eagerness of students to have their messages represented by student government bodies, we are expanding the campaign to target Campuses for Peace as well. And the numbers of student council resolutions or letters opposing the Iraq War is growing. In addition to opposing U.S. occupation of Iraq, these Student Council resolutions are highlighting how taxpayers, city and state budgets, and critical social services will be impacted by the costs of a war with Iraq. The ultimate goal is to express national opposition to war by elected officials and other organized bodies in whatever form. A strong student voice is imperative in achieving this goal. We hope you will help us reach our goal of generating fifty student council resolutions and letters against the war before military action ensues. Before Passing a Resolution An in-depth and comprehensive knowledge of the impacts of war is essential in fighting the opposition that will invariably come with trying to pass a resolution on your campus. Hosting a teach-in or info session to educate doubtful students might be beneficial if there has been a lack of anti-war sentiment on your campus. Agenda for Teach-In 1 day template- http://www.shapeyourworld.info/agenda_1.html 2 day template- http://www.shapeyourworld.info/agenda_2.html Student Resolution Tool Kit Gather and educate Contact progressive organizations on campus that would be interested in forming a peace and justice coalition. Organize a meeting to review the details of the resolution you would like to pass (sample resolutions provided below). If not all students are up to date on the facts, organize a teach-in/information session. This step is important, knowing the correct facts and making sure everyone is fully aware of the issue will help strengthen your campaign. Getting faculty to address the issues in their classes is also a good way to spur spontaneous debate and get your message out. Contact the student government Contact your student government to see what measures must be taken to pass a resolution. Some schools require a certain percentage of student signatures-like a petition-while other student governments make decisions based purely on the member's votes. Other possibilities if you face resistance Contact faculty, students, staff, or administration and have them sign a petition or a sign on statement supporting your campaign. A strong letter with hundreds of signatures can be just as effective-especially in local media outlets-and could encourage your student council to take an actual resolution more seriously. Resource for campus anti-war organizing General Information for Organizing: Publicity, canvassing, outreach- http://www.utexas.edu/students/utgreens/nowargrapevine/mobilize.html How to file and FOI- Find what you need to know about passing a freedom of information request- http://www.splc.org/foiletter.asp Primer for college activists- How to write a press release, letters to the editor, fundraise, and research http://www.utanimalrights.com/primer/ 4. Other helpful links Foreign Policy In Focus' Student Activism page: http://fpif.org/students/index.html Muslims Students Association http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/ Student Peace Action Network http://www.studentpeaceaction.org/ United States Students Association http://www.usstudents.org/ National Youth & Student Peace Coalition http://www.nyspc.net/home.html United for Peace and Justice - Youth Caucus http://www.unitedforpeace.org/ Sample Student Resolution Text Contact Info need help? Call these people to help you get started. Institute for Policy Studies: These folks are the IPS staff dedicated to working on student resolutions and student outreach: Julie Ajinkya, Institute for Policy Studies Outreach Coordinator: julie@ips-dc.org or 202-234-9382 x254 Students Who've Passed Resolutions: These students are helping us to network students who have already passed resolutions as well as help other students start campaigns in their own student councils: Dan Denvir, Reed College: dan.denvir@reed.edu Brent Perdue, UT-Austin: tompaine@mail.utexas.edu Eli Zigas, Grinnell College: antiwar@grinnell.edu