SANS gears up after 2-year hiatus

Junior Alex Wilson is revamping the Student Alliance for National Security, or SANS, after the organization lost traction in 2010.

The non-partisan group gives students the opportunity to discuss contemporary security issues.

“We’re basically kind of starting from scratch,” Vice President Alyssa Kelly said.
The group was founded in 2006 by IU student Miles Taylor but lost membership when Taylor graduated two years ago.

In the past, SANS has organized discussions and other events with prominent figures in the field, including former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Mary Beth Long in 2009.

Both Wilson, who is serving as the group’s executive director, and Kelly, a junior, learned about SANS through their advisor, Gene Coyle, an adjunct lecturer in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. 

“He encouraged participation,” Kelly said. “SANS existed, but minimally.”

She said the group desperately needed executive members. Wilson said the group now has a complete executive board of five members and has reregistered with the Office of Student Life and Learning.

 He said they want to help the organization continue into the future.

“We’re dedicated to giving students on campus a way to discuss important security issues facing both America and the rest of the world,” Wilson said.

The group will participate in round-table discussions and organize lectures with guest speakers. Some of the topics they hope to discuss include cybersecurity, the Israeli and Iranian conflict, issues facing Sudan and drug cartels in Mexico.

“There’s so much,” Kelly said.

Wilson said students can network and mold themselves professionally.

“It really is who you know and not what you know,” he said.

SANS is organizing a weekend-long conference in mid-November, its first major event.  
Coyle has connections in Washington, D.C., so members of the FBI and CIA will be present as well as diplomats.

Wilson said the group hopes to have their first meeting after they advertise at the Student Involvement Fair and said about 20 people, including the executive board, have expressed interest in SANS.

He said SANS hopes to work with other groups on campus, such as the IU College Republicans and IU College Democrats. He added the group wants to build relationships with groups that have been part of the IU campus for many years.

“It’s so much more than just a club,” Wilson said. “We really think it’s important students discuss these issues.”

More information can be found on their Facebook page, Twitter at @SANS_IU or their website, sansiu.wordpress.com.