Freshmen attempt to revitalize campus NAACP chapter

College activism is not dead.

In contrast to recent criticism that the era of social movements has come and gone, students began to reinitiate Princeton's chapter of the NAACP during a Tuesday meeting in the Third World Center.

In an effort to "energize the campus with new activism," University chapter president Misha Charles '01 and secretary Martha Pitts '01 said they are seeking to reestablish an active National Association for the Advancement of Colored People membership at the University. Though the chapter was started five years ago, the group was discontinued due to lack of members.

Charles said she sees discontent, but no action on campus.

She cited apathy as a key cause for the lack of interest in activism on campus. Charles attributed this sentiment to a feeling of contentment and self-accomplishment that comes with gaining admission into "the best school in the nation."

Plans for the future

By reestablishing the PU-NAACP as a voice through which students can express themselves, Charles said she hopes that vital national issues can be addressed. She said the group would discuss a variety of topics including affirmative action and what she described as the "suspicious" circumstances surrounding former Commerce Secretary Ron Brown's death.

"I think we should be having dialogue," Charles said. "These are things that should be going on on college campuses, since we have not yet reached the dream that Dr. King talked about."

Though this academic year is expected to end without any activity from the PU-NAACP, Charles said starting in fall 1998, the group will begin to adopt a more active role. She said she plans to meet with President Shapiro and the USG to organize student forums.

Chapter vice president Triza Cox '01 discussed the University chapter's close relationship with the NAACP Trenton office. She said that through ties to the national movement, they could plan forums and conferences and have minority community leaders speak on campus.

New members

Tuesday's meeting drew 13 new members, but Pitts said she believes that the Princeton-Penn basketball game drew away a large number of potential signees. The group needs a total of 25 new members in order to regain their charter from NAACP national headquarters. Pitts said she was confident that the group could secure the necessary signatures by the end of the month.

New member Marjory Herold '01 said she was attracted to the group because of its political weight. While citing groups such as Onyx and the Organization of Black Unity as good promoters of social and cultural unity, she said the campus was missing an active political movement for minority issues.

Charles said the NAACP is a good voice for student activism because it works exclusively through legal channels to achieve its goals. "They work within the 'system' and get things done," she said. "I like the way they go about doing things."