+NOWAR NEWS

NOWAR IS MORE THAN A NAME, it is a collective of students at Northwestern University interested in actively changing the world around them by calling to attention unfair conditions and entities that promote racism and war at home and abroad.

Its membership is as diverse as the color and of the cause it seeks to educate students and community members about.

“I am a sophomore integrated science and chemistry double major,” said Becky Miller, who got involved in NOWAR in her freshman year. “I am concerned with the direction that our government and society is headed, and I wanted to be a part of an activist group that strives to raise awareness of war and racism in the world today.”

Another member, Kyle Schafer, is from Minnesota and has been involved in NOWAR since his recent arrival on the NU campus. “I put a lot of time and effort into NOWAR,” said Schafer. “I think it is important for everyone to realize that the world can become a more just place and that we can help make it happen if we band together and embody the change we would like to see.”

Schafer is also involved in Students for Economic Justice and in the progressive publication created by members of the Peace Project called “The Protest.” NOWAR operates as an organization under the umbrella group Peace Project, which includes the staff at The Protest. Many members of NOWAR are active in more than one of the Peace Project’s many organizations, like Naureen Shah. Shah is a double major in journalism and law. She is one of many members who write and edit for The Protest.

Regarding the role of NOWAR on NU’s campus she said, “With each front in the war on terrorism, there are periods when the antiwar movement has the public's attention and when it lacks the spotlight,” said Shah who has been involved in NOWAR since its inception. “We try to adjust our programming and efforts to the changes we perceive, but there is a continuity to our themes of student empowerment and self-awareness,” said Shah.

Schafer has thoughts on the direction NOWAR should take in its future. He said, “I would like to see it develop a more positive presence on campus.” He added, “I want people to see that NOWAR is not just anti; I want people to see that NOWAR is for something and that progressivism is about far more than just political argument.”

Shah spoke about how far the organization has come saying, “I think NOWAR has evolved into a more community and education based organization.”