The Students for a Democratic Society is an organization long thought to have been relegated to the 
ashtrayof history. However, in 2006, a new SDS was formed, and this semester we will see a chapter started by Appalachian student Monk Glosup. Inspired by a long series of political and social activists, as well as many sociology teachers, Monk has taken up the role of founder and will start this SDS chapter in order to fight against all forms of oppression.
The SDS of the 1960s was a controversial organization, known for rowdy street protests and militant opposition. After internal factions split the organization apart, SDS was a shadow of its former self, with one faction even aligning itself with the Weather Underground, a group notorious for its bombing campaigns.
But today’s Students for a Democratic Society has a different outlook. While most certainly militant, Monk hopes to take SDS in a peaceful direction and build a peaceful reputation.
I can commend this organization; they represent an oasis of radicalism in the desert of liberal social justice organizations. Even though they do not agree with my own line on all matters, it is refreshing to find a place where issues can be discussed and debated from a perspective that is too often ignored in mainstream press.
Not only that, it is about time we have an organization that is dedicated to the liberation of Palestine, which is one of the biggest goals of SDS according to their website, newsds.org. Hopefully we can see more issues like these come to the forefront of visibility due to SDS.
The Students for a Democratic Society represents a new break with old ideas. After the initial spark that was the Occupy movement, people are starting to move to more action. They are becoming more political, and I think that with all of the problems that we have to face today, SDS will grow to become an important place on campus for those who feel that they cannot be represented by the main political organizations already here.
Mann, a freshman computer science major from Raleigh, is an opinion writer.