Radcliffe Sponsors Program Against Violence

Radcliffe's Education for Action (E4A) hopes to broaden the Harvard community's definition of violence this week by sponsoring this year's "Action Week."

Beginning today, in keeping with the event's theme, "Organizing Against Systems for Social Violence," E4A members will host a series of events aimed at making "the Harvard community aware of a crisis that is going on in our society today in every sector," said Julissa Reynoso '97, a member of E4A.

Each day's events will focus on a different social problem, including domestic violence, ethnic sensitivity in education and economic discrimination, said Faith E. Adiele '86-'87, the coordinator for E4A.

The issues will be addressed through events planned in conjunction with other Harvard and Cambridge organizations.

Adiele said the group hopes to leave participants with "a broader definition of violence."

She said she hopes the events will allow students to "take advantage of all the resources for social change" available on campus.

The three events that will have the most impact on students, according to E4A board member Carolyn M. Fast '98 are a panel on domestic violence, a candlelight vigil for youth violence and a speech by Linda Stout of the Piedmont Peace Project, a multiracial organization.

"[Action Week] is a neat chance to combine our efforts to get the word out and to build some coalitions and alliances between groups with similar goals," Fast said.

Groups assisting E4A in Action Week events include Harvard's International Peace Games, Asian-American Association and Bisexual, Gay and Lesbian Students Association.

Cambridge's Peace Commission, Civil Liberties Union and Youth Peace and Justice Core will also participate.

E4A member Alexa M. Gutheil '96 said she is pleased with the large number of co-sponsoring groups.

"Lots of different perspectives are being included," she said. "[E4A has] done a really good job getting a lot of local activists."

Meredith Moss Quinn '99, a member of International Peace Games, said she hopes her organization can raise awareness of domestic violence while providing "means of action that are realistic for college students to do."

"It is very easy for us as college students to be oblivious to the fact that children suffer in the United States because we are part of an immediate community that doesn't include children," she said.

E4A is a student group known primarily for its grants to students for social action projects, its educational programs and its posters about social privilege.

Gutheil said she thinks Action Week will show students that E4A is "really a social action resource, not only a funding organization."

The events will continue through March 3

E4A member Alexa M. Gutheil '96 said she is pleased with the large number of co-sponsoring groups.

"Lots of different perspectives are being included," she said. "[E4A has] done a really good job getting a lot of local activists."

Meredith Moss Quinn '99, a member of International Peace Games, said she hopes her organization can raise awareness of domestic violence while providing "means of action that are realistic for college students to do."

"It is very easy for us as college students to be oblivious to the fact that children suffer in the United States because we are part of an immediate community that doesn't include children," she said.

E4A is a student group known primarily for its grants to students for social action projects, its educational programs and its posters about social privilege.

Gutheil said she thinks Action Week will show students that E4A is "really a social action resource, not only a funding organization."

The events will continue through March 3