Support the DREAM Act!
Currently, our chief objective is to help get the DREAM Act passed through Congress. The DREAM Act is federal bill that would allow undocumented students the opportunity to pursue their dreams through higher education or military service. Click on the "DREAM Act" tab to learn more.
Our goal is to get Vanderbilt to publicly endorse
the DREAM Act by October 2010.
Colleges and universities already supporting the DREAM Act:
View University Endorsement/Resolutions in a larger map
Our Coalition
Vanderbilt Students of Nonviolence, Vanderbilt Advocates for the Immigrant Community, Vanderbilt Chapter of NAACP, Economic Empowerment Coalition (Divinity School), Vanderbilt Chapter of Amnesty International, College Democrats, and many student activists and leaders from across campus.
How can you get involved?
The next meeting of our student coalition is Wednesday, September 8th in Sarratt 112 @8pm. Please join us!! Email us at vandynonviolence@gmail.com for more information.
What's next?
We are drafting a resolution that will be presented to Vanderbilt Student Government on Sept. 15th. Look out for an op-ed in the Vanderbilt Hustler on Monday, September 13th.
On Monday 9/6/10, we sent dozens of letters to Chancellor Zeppos, urging him to support the DREAM Act. We are in the process of securing broad student and faculty support.
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View our Video about our
Campaign for Responsible Investment!
WHAT WE DO
Organize for CHANGE
Our main role is to bring together networks of students in Nashville to resist any injustice in our community. Of course we organize protests, but mass assembly is only one tactic that we utilize. We also write articles, lobby community leaders, conduct research projects, among other creative forms of nonviolent resistance.
Build an ACTIVIST INFRASTRUCTURE
VSN strives to create a sustained structure of resistance so that we are prepared to address any and all examples of social injustice. Although we have a ways to go, we are already well on way to building the resources and coalitions necessary to tackle the multitude of problems that we face as a community
Raise CONSCIOUSNESS
The first step in any struggle for justice is to raise awareness. Only when people learn about the extent of oppression in their community, can they become motivated to do something about it. VSN will always be committed to learning from others and sharing our knowledge and experiences.
WHAT IS NONVIOLENCE?
Mahatma Gandhi described nonviolence as satyagraha or “soul-force,” an active expression of love that directly resists violence, in all its forms. The goal of nonviolence is not to defeat an enemy, but rather to overcome the evil that creates the enemy. Hardly a passive concept, nonviolence is inherently active, as it demands direct resistance and requires deep sacrifice and commitment from its practitioners. Nonviolence is the most effective tool for social change in the 21st century and we hope that our actions will prove just that.