Welcome to spring and new beginnings... Monday, June 21, 2004 Also: read the latest STAND news in WAND's Bi-Weekly News Bulletin.

Hey Everybody,

Ok, it’s definitely summer in Atlanta…a balmy 90 degrees today.  But we just turn on another fan, swat the mosquitoes, and keep plugging away here at STAND.   From what we’ve heard from some of you (or heard about you from others), there is a lot of exciting work, travel, study, and peacemaking going on all over the country.  It’s so good to hear about all of the diverse things you are involved in this summer and know how far-reaching the impact of STAND is!

Please note in this week’s issue of the Holler that Sarah Johnston-Gardner, STAND co-founder and member, features an article about her current internship with Senator Kennedy in D.C.  Pretty cool stuff.  We’d love to get more stories like this from any of you who are willing to share with us your endeavors.  Write to us at stand@wand.org.  In other exciting news, STAND officially has its own URL so we’re easier to find on the web.  Tell your friends to check us out at www.standwand.org and join us in the struggle for justice and peace.

In this issue of the Holller:

Conferences and Educational Opportunities

1. Student Pugwash USA 2004 Symposium – (7/11-15)
2. Young Women’s Leadership Conference, Boston – (7/26-29)
3. Campaign Institute
4. Books Not Bombs Youth Convergence, NYC  - (8/28)
5. National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth Gathering, Philadelphia – (6/25-27)

Jobs, Internships, and Scholarships

1. WAND/WiLL Internship Opportunity, Washington, DC
2. Student Peace Action Network (SPAN) Coordinator, Silver Spring
3. Public Leadership Education Network Program Assistant, Washington, DC

Elections and Voter Education

1. Protect Student Voters
2. Declare Yourself!
3. Center for Progressive Leadership: Voter Mobilization Training

Holler Back!

Sarah Johnston-Gardner, STAND co-founder and long-time member, shares with us her experience working as an intern with Sen. Kennedy since her graduation.

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Conferences & Educational Opportunities

Student Pugwash Summer National Symposium (7/11-15)

What are the opportunities and threats posed by biological research?  What is being done in the US and around the world to prevent bioterrorism?  How can scientific openness be balanced with national security? Explore these and other cutting-edge issues in biology and security at SPUSA's national symposium, July 11-15 at George Washington University.  Click here for more info and application.

Young Women’s Leadership Conference, Boston (7/26-29) & New York (8/29 - 9/2)

The YWLC '04 seeks to bring together young women leaders from all 50 states to take part in a two-day conference that will teach them about women in leadership roles and their ability to influence government and society. The Conference's primary goal is to use the convention as an educational vehicle, introducing young women to the electoral process, and linking successful national and local leaders with young women in attendance.  The YWLC runs concurrently with the Democratic National Convention in Boston, July 26-29 and with the Republican National Convention in New York, Aug. 29 - Sept. 2.  Application deadline is June 18. Click here to apply.

The Campaign Institute, Washington, DC (7/8-11) and Boston (8/2-9)

The Campaign Institute aims to train the next generation of electoral activists who care about the environment, education, women s rights, health care, jobs and peace in Iraq to run and win campaigns driven by the issues, funded by small donors, and fueled by grassroots activism.  This summer 200 activists will learn how to develop a grassroots campaign strategy, plan field operations, organize press events, and more. 

Both recent college grads looking to gain skills and find campaign jobs and staff of various issue groups are being recruited for the Institute.   A job fair with recruiters from political campaigns and issue-focused groups will take place at the end of each training session.  Click here for more info, and email Meg Gray to apply.

National Network Opposing Militarization of Youth, Philadelphia (6/25-27)

NNOMY will sponsor a gathering of counter-recruitment activists from June 25-27.  The gathering, open to all who work against the militarization of young people, will focus on strengthening the network that was formed at the "Stopping War Where It Begins: Organizing Against Militarism in Our Schools" conference that took place in June 2003.  INFO: Click here

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Jobs, Internships & Scholarships

WAND/WILL D.C. Internship

The internship program at WAND/WiLL is a great way for students to learn about the legislative system and gain experience in furthering a progressive agenda to influence policy regarding peace, environmental, and women’s issues. WAND/WiLL offers summer, semester, and year-round internship positions requiring a minimum weekly commitment of nine hours, though three to five days a week is preferred.

To apply: Send cover letter, resume, and writing sample of two to five pages to Darcy Scott Martin, WAND/WiLL Washington Director at:

Women's Action For New Directions - Women Legislators' Lobby
322 4th St. NE
Washington, DC 20002
Fax: 202-544-7612
e-mail: wand@wand.org

Student Peace Action Network (SPAN) Coordinator

Peace Action Education Fund offers the Freeman Fellowship to young people in college or recent graduates interested in promoting campus activism for peace, disarmament and economic justice. The Fellow coordinates SPAN, providing firsthand experience in bridging the gap between academic learning and direct organizing for peace with justice.  Position is 1 year beginning July or August, located in Silver Spring, MD.  INFO: Garrett Wright, 301-565-4050 x320 or span@peace-action.org.

Public Leadership Education Network Program Assistant

PLEN is a national organization working to prepare women for public leadership. PLEN's six annual Washington programs serve hundreds of women college students each year. Students from across the country have the opportunity to experience a first-hand view of the policy process with women leaders acting as their teachers and mentors.  The Program Assistant assists with all aspects of planning, organizing and conducting programs including recruiting, scheduling and confirming speakers and serving as liaison with students prior to their arrival.  To apply, send cover letter, resume, 2-3 page writing sample and list of 3 references to: PLEN Program Assistant Search, 1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20036 or fax to 202.872.0141.

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Elections & Voter Education

Protect Student Voters

There is a serious problem going on around the country effecting students, and Rock the Vote needs your help to raise awareness to change it. College students who try to register and vote using their campus residence are being denied their right to vote by local election officials who claim that campus and school addresses are not considered a "permanent" residence. In fact, in 1979 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it is unconstitutional to deny someone their right to vote based on their residency.  The latest issue of Rolling Stone magazine has an explosive article titled that exposes this problem. Click here to see the article.

What can you do about it? Sign Rock the Vote's Web Petition to your Secretary of State.

Declare Yourself is a national nonpartisan, nonprofit campaign to energize and empower a new movement of young voters to participate in the 2004 presidential election.  Declare Yourself has several cool activities planned to rally young Americans including a live spoken word and music tour of college campuses, a nationwide voter education initiative for high school seniors, an extensive online awareness campaign, a massive voter registration drive, and a televised "get out the vote" concert.  INFO on how to get involved: Click here.

Center for Progressive Leadership: Voter Mobilization Training

Progressive non-profit organizations around the country are looking for trained field organizers to help them identify, educate and mobilize voters supportive of their issues. This summer, CPL aims to meet that need through targeted Voter Mobilization Training programs for individuals prepared to work full-time managing a 60-day push to Election Day.  Training will include strategic planning, communication with voters about progressive issues, and volunteer recruitment and management.  Each training will conclude with a Campaign Job Fair where you will learn about paid opportunities to work full time on a field campaign.

Available Trainings:

• July 31 - Aug 2: UCLA (Los Angeles, CA)
• Aug 7 - Aug 9: CA State Univ. at Hayward (near Oakland, CA)
• Aug 14 - Aug 16: Temple University (Philadelphia, PA)

Click here to register online.

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Holler Back!

Reflections of a Senate Intern and Activist

Sarah Johnston-Gardner

Today I saw President Karzai from a few feet, swept past Senator Levin and was swooned by the passionate prose of Senator Boxer. Boxer, Levin and Kennedy were all courageously attempting to hault funding for new nuclear weapons, specifically the Center of the Earth Penetrator System and Bunker Busters.

It doesn’t take a genius to recognize that these types of weapons are not what we need. They will cost a fortune and jeopardize international attempts of non-proliferation. As Levin said we are talking out of one side of our mouths to other nations and the other side of our mouth for our own policies. The Bush administration would like to spend 1 trillion dollars over the next decade on defense spending.

All this spending while our unemployment rate is at 5.6% and higher education tuition is continuing to rise. As a recent graduate I am relieved to have a degree but concerned about those who are still pursuing college and employment. I too do not have employment, I am fortunate however to be an intern with Senator Kennedy’s labor policy office.

The world of legislators is wild and wonderful. I am thankful to WAND and STAND for preparing me for such an experience. As I sat and listened to representatives’ debate spending on new nuclear weapons I felt I had a firm grasp on the issues, the opinions and sadly, the disappointing outcome-we lost the vote 42 to 55. Goes to show we really have to not only win back the presidency, but the House as well. When Kennedy rose to continue debating in favor of his Amendment to the DoD authorization bill, he pointed out that even the House and Colin Powell recognized these new weapon systems are not an intrinsic part of our defense strategy.

So why are we creating these new monsters? The answer lies in a combination of cold war mentalities and the extreme self interest on the part of defense corporations. We need to continue educating ourselves and those around us. If it had not been for WAND and the passion of our activists this debate would not have even occurred. We need to get our voices out there and continue our struggle of non-proliferation and world peace.

Thank you all.

Sarah J-G