Leftist group holds 'teach-in'

Refuse and Resist, a new campus leftist organization, hosted a teach-in yesterday intended to address some of the nation's major social problems, according to History graduate student Stephanie Camp. Various speakers addressed topics relating to welfare, affirmative action, racism and the emergence of the police state. Six University professors, including Finance Professor Emeritus Edward Herman, author of the new book Triumph of the Market, spoke at the event. Refuse and Resist is a national protest organization that encourages strong public resistance to certain social policies and conservative ideals. Camp said the organization is broad based and deals with various issues ranging from abortion rights to the continuing anti-war movement. The group is currently working to free controversial radio journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal, who they claim was wrongly convicted of murdering a policeman in the early '80s. Part of yesterday's teach-in program included discussion of the Abu-Jamal case. "One important goal [of Refuse and Resist] is to raise consciousness of right-wing attack on people -- women, minorities, anyone non-white male," Camp said. "Most of the media is not exposing the real nature of the system." Camp, who organized the meeting held in Bennett Hall, said the new Penn chapter of Refuse and Resist has about 15 members. The teach-in was open to the University and surrounding community and had at least 30 attendants at its peak. Some of the lectures were followed by questions and debate. In his lecture entitled "The Attack on the Welfare State," Herman noted the potential for "real social catastrophe in the next three years" due to what he termed "class warfare." He also condemned a "business-controlled media and press" for exacerbating current social disorders, citing the Philadelphia Inquirer's unbalanced editorial section. Later speakers focused on similar issues of societal ailment -- most blaming rightist establishments and policies. Various flyers and pamphlets were available at the meeting. One depicted a woman holding an ax with the heading "Sexual Assault: Cut it Out or Cut it Off."