SDS

[New Morning]

Any fellow SDSers on this forum?

[which doctor]

I plan on joining when I start college. I'm really excited that they've grown so quickly since they were restarted.

I think it's cool that you're in it. We need more SDSers on this board.

[anomaly]

So I think the Marxist-humanist network I was going to join may not longer be in existence. :(

So hopefully SDS or something will be down at Purdue.

[The Feral Underclass]

For us non-Americans can you say what SDS is and also what it stands for. Website etc?

[Nachie]

SDS - Students for a Democratic Society (http://www.studentsforademocraticsociety.org/)

Was probably the biggest "New Left" group, at least amongst the white middle class. Last year I guess some new people teamed up with some vets of the original one and decided to re-start it. The origingal was kind of a half-Maoist half-Trot, vietcong-flag-flyin' clusterfuck that an authoritarian group called the Progressive Labor Party (they may have just been the PL back then, I forget) tried to take over by getting their members elected to all the high positions. Partly in response to this and partly of their own randomness, a faction called the Weathermen began in the organization and tried to push for violent protest tactics like wearing helmets, attacking cops, etc.

They proved to be a minority and it failed horribly so they broke off and became the Weather Underground, which I'm sure you've heard of maybe... they're sorta like the US's version of the Angry Brigade.

You can also find lots of pics about the new SDS at Next Left Notes (http://www.nextleftnotes.org). Frankly I'm skeptical about them but I also don't know very much. They definitely have been able to get a national network going and it may yet become something kinda like the old SDS, though I personally don't believe the conditions are ripe for it on campuses, and of course they are all students so it's pretty easy for me to write them off because I'm a cynical bastard.

[New Morning]

I think the above poster not only provided a distored history of SDS, but did not accurately what SDS stands for today. SDS definately had its share of authoritarians, but lets not forget that the majority of SDSers (those not in the "leadership") did not fall under the politics of Mao, the PLP, or the WUO. SDS was (re)started today due to the lack of a radical, democratic, multi-issue organization that was encompassing of the Left - a broad, inclusive organization that focused on participatory and direct democracy. As many know, the American Left (and the student movement) is currently dominated by authoritarian organizations that do not offer youth and students a voice. It is time for youth and students to define their own organization and determine the direction of their movement, while still working in coalition with older generations. We started in January and have nearly 1,000 registered members and over 115 chapters...this is a tremendous amount of growth (far beyond what we initially expected). University of Central Florida SDS has been doing incredible anti-war and counter recruitment organizing, Pace University SDS has been building a Free Speech Movement to counter campus repression, Connecticut College SDS has been work with the local immigrant community and helped build an incredible May Day. That's just to name a few, but campuses have been becoming more active and I believe SDS has already begun to bring a new level of militancy to the Left - we have alot of work to do, but we're off to a good start.

"Students for a Democratic Society is an association of young people on the left. It seeks to create a sustained community of educational and political concern; one bringing together liberals and radicals, activists and scholars, students and faculty. It maintains a vision of a democratic society where at all levels people have control of the decisions which affect them and the resources on which they are dependent. It seeks a relevance through the continual focus on realities and on the programs necessary to effect change at the most basic levels of economic, political, and social organization. It feels the urgency to put forth a radical, democratic program whose methods embody the democratic vision." - Mission Statement

Sorry for the rant, but feel free to contact me if you want more info. I'm always happy to discuss SDS. More info available at: www.studentsforademocraticsociety.org

- Pat K. (Stonington, CT. SDS)

[Ricardo]

I was just gonna start a thread on this. I joined the other day by email. I'm 16.

Are you supposed to be in college to join?

[New Morning]

No, you don't have to be in college...it's open to youth, students, or anyone else who shares the commitment of the organization to participatory democracy.

[Ricardo]

alright, thanks man

[coda]

Hell-o!

<<
Students for a Democratic Society is an association of young people on the left. It seeks to create a sustained community of educational and political concern; one bringing together liberals and radicals, activists and scholars, students and faculty. It maintains a vision of a democratic society where at all levels people have control of the decisions which affect them and the resources on which they are dependent. It seeks a relevance through the continual focus on realities and on the programs necessary to effect change at the most basic levels of economic, political, and social organization. It feels the urgency to put forth a radical, democratic program whose methods embody the democratic vision." - Mission Statement>>


Just wondering--- do you seek to abolish the wage system... or is that too far in thinking ahead?

[sp468732]

I&#39;m in it. At 16 I&#39;m really still at the younger end of the scale at SDS, but we&#39;re already starting to build up a good chapter in my area.

[violencia.Proletariat]

For you SDS&#39;ers, do you seek the revolutionary overthrow of capitalism? If you want participatory democracy, why is the SDS constitution based on representative democracy?

Do you wish to work outside reformist channels or is getting people to vote in elections something you wish to do?

[New Morning]

SDS currently does not have a constitution because we have not held our first national convention (details are still in the works, but it will be in early August at UIC), you are referring to the original SDS constitution from the 1960s that is currently available on the SDS website under "SDS History". We still have alot of work to do, but the organization (since it restarted in January) HAS NOT been using representative democracy - the majority of the work has been done on a local level where chapters are autonomous, but function within the broad aims of SDS (the vision of a democratic, participatory society). I cannot speak for the organization regarding the revolutionary overthrow of capitalism (many individuals within SDS have different opinions regarding this) but a large portion do seek the revolutionary overthrow of capitalism (myself included...but perhaps you should define what you view as "revolutionary overthrow" first). NO&#33; SDS has not and does not seek to use reformist channels (obviously, the entire capitalist system is corrupt) to achieve radical change...we do not seek to get people involved in electoral politics or endorse candidates (not saying that we take a stand for or against indiviudals voting or participating in electoral politics, although I personally am opposed to it), we seek to increase the participation of young people in a multi-issue radical movement for social and political change. We obviously still have alot of work to do, but I hope that clears up some of your questions. Feel free to ask if you have any more questions.

[violencia.Proletariat]

SDS currently does not have a constitution because we have not held our first national convention (details are still in the works, but it will be in early August at UIC), you are referring to the original SDS constitution from the 1960s that is currently available on the SDS website under "SDS History".

I figuered you were functioning under the original constitution but this is good news&#33;


We still have alot of work to do, but the organization (since it restarted in January) HAS NOT been using representative democracy - the majority of the work has been done on a local level where chapters are autonomous, but function within the broad aims of SDS (the vision of a democratic, participatory society).

Good. I highly reccomend you all push a participatory constitution&#33; If this the case and you work outside reformist channels I think SDS could really flourish, I would really consider joining, especially given its past success.


but perhaps you should define what you view as "revolutionary overthrow" first

The overthrowing of the capitalist system through non reformist channels, to a society which does not exist on class exploitation but through participatory democracy and the democratic control of the means of production.


Feel free to ask if you have any more questions.

What work can an individual member who does not live near a chapter do?

[which doctor]

Can non-members go to the conference at UIC? I would really like to go this summer.

Well, I suppose I could always just join.

[violencia.Proletariat]

New Morning, wanted to let you know I sent a request to join on the website. I have some questions and was wondering if you could answer them.

[Enragé]

Originally posted by [email protected] 10 2006, 01:32 PM
SDS - Students for a Democratic Society (http://www.studentsforademocraticsociety.org/)

Was probably the biggest "New Left" group, at least amongst the white middle class. Last year I guess some new people teamed up with some vets of the original one and decided to re-start it. The origingal was kind of a half-Maoist half-Trot, vietcong-flag-flyin&#39; clusterfuck that an authoritarian group called the Progressive Labor Party (they may have just been the PL back then, I forget) tried to take over by getting their members elected to all the high positions. Partly in response to this and partly of their own randomness, a faction called the Weathermen began in the organization and tried to push for violent protest tactics like wearing helmets, attacking cops, etc.

They proved to be a minority and it failed horribly so they broke off and became the Weather Underground, which I&#39;m sure you&#39;ve heard of maybe... they&#39;re sorta like the US&#39;s version of the Angry Brigade.

You can also find lots of pics about the new SDS at Next Left Notes (http://www.nextleftnotes.org). Frankly I&#39;m skeptical about them but I also don&#39;t know very much. They definitely have been able to get a national network going and it may yet become something kinda like the old SDS, though I personally don&#39;t believe the conditions are ripe for it on campuses, and of course they are all students so it&#39;s pretty easy for me to write them off because I&#39;m a cynical bastard.
weathermen are cool though, accomplished fuck all, but still, were cool