Every heart rings true for the red, white, blue — and green. At least that’s the way Northwestern’s Campus Greens would like to see campus politics this year.
The progressive group is on a mission to promote the “spirit of being green” with informal discussions over a cup of green tea at a coffee shop and a political ideology forum to discuss green politics before the election.
“Hopefully this ideology forum will help us get a hold of more people,” said Campus Greens President Nick Burt. “Being a smaller group, we don’t have different fractions to deal with so many activities.”
After losing recognition from Associated Student Government last spring for failing to meet student group guidelines, Burt is applying for recognition this week.
Campus Greens co-sponsored a forum called ‘Can We Do Better Than Anybody But Bush?’ with green-leaning groups in the Chicago area and Ralph Nader’s running mate, Peter Camejo, at the University of Illinois-Chicago. Nader and Camejo are running as independents.
When it comes to politics and elections, Campus Greens has a different outlook than most groups, Burt said. Compared to traditional campus political groups, Burt describes Campus Greens as having the appearance of a “ragtag opposition group.”
College Democrat President Andrew Proksel said he welcomes the voice of Campus Greens because they bring a different point of view to the elections and politics.
“It’s another political view that we encourage because it means more people at the discussion table,” he said.
Proksel said his group does not feel threatened by Campus Greens, and these groups are still struggling to find the time and management to hold events.
“It’s hard for them to start up when they don’t have the money or name recognition,” said Proksel, a Weinberg junior.
Although most political groups focus on a particular candidate, Burt said his group focuses on grassroots change that can take place even after the election.
“People become apathetic or they can have some say,” Burt said.
“They have the right to feel disgusted but the appropriate action is to build an alternate vote for a third party,” he continued. “You can create change for yourself instead of waiting for someone else.”
Mariola Janik joined Campus Greens to lobby for better working conditions for Sodexho workers at NU. She said the company does not treat its workers fairly and does not let them unionize.
Janik spent a summer in San Francisco interning for campaigns promoting fair trade and opposing sweatshop labor conditions.
“I was introduced to that world, and I started talking to more student groups around the country,” she said. “Joining Campus Greens is part of my commitment to staying involved. I want to bring change to the Northwestern campus.”
With members of Campus Greens, Janik said she hopes the group can work together to change Sodexho’s policy that prevents their workers from forming a union.
Members of Campus Greens will research their own issues they would like to work with and then present it to the rest of the group, she said.
Campus Greens has short and long term goals in mind for this year, but one main goal remains simple, Burt said.
“It would be fantastic if everyone on campus had an opinion about us — good or bad,” he said.
Reach Stephanie Chen at [email protected].
