Student begins new campus chapter of ACLU

After six years of abandonment, the IU Civil Liberties Union, a chapter of the Indiana Civil Liberties Union, has been revived, ready to impact the community.\n"I have been juggling with the idea to start an American Civil Liberties Union chapter here for a long time," said junior Jared Sloane, the organization's founder. "After I became a card-carrying member, I began to think about how an organization such as the IUCLU could help students on campus get involved in the community."\nThe organization plans to involve students with the community through a number of different events.\n"We will probably hold our own events, which will include rallies, protests, fund-raisers and general awareness functions," Sloane said. "We'll have speakers and the like, and my main focus for the meetings will be to educate members and students about the issues that the ACLU deals with."\nThe purpose of these rallies and speakers will be to deal with issues affecting basic American citizens' rights.\n"Our main concerns will be dealing with issues affecting our rights, both stated and unstated, as citizens of this country," said junior Aamir Bharmal, a member of the new chapter.\nAlthough some believe taking a stance on a political issues would force one to choose a party, the IUCLU does not subscribe to this.\n"This club is nonpartisan and, therefore, associates with no particular political party or candidate," Bharmal said. "Members of all political parties are welcome to join."\nOther campuses across the country, including other IU campuses and the Notre Dame law school, have chapters of the ACLU. Some students on campus welcome the group -- as long as it remains peaceful.\n"I think it is awesome that people can speak out (to) use their freedom of speech," said senior Jene Mundil. "But sometimes I think they go too far to get their point across. If they don't make a big scene and are there to have their voices heard because it's a cause that they believe in, then by all means."\nAlthough the chapter is ready to run, no official date or time for a call-out meeting has been set, but the club's founder is available at jsloane@indiana.edu if students are interested. \n"The IUCLU is a doorway to opportunity for those who cannot find it on their own," he said. "And for those who can, the IUCLU makes it easier to make a difference, and that is what counts in life."\n-- Contact staff writer Amber Nicholas at amrnicho@indiana.edu.