Only two months have passed since UB Anti-War formed in response to the War in Iraq, but members say their visibility is already on the rise.
UB Anti-War is a group of students on campus who come together to make their voices heard on what members feel are detrimental governmental policies and procedures. They meet together on a biweekly basis, taking whatever room is available on the first floor of Clemens.
"The purpose of this group is to unite everybody who is against unjust, unfeasible war and make them effective as students and community members in the ending of the war," Sergio Uzurin, one of UB Anti-War's co-founders. "It is really in everybody's best interest to be against such wars."
The group has no formal recognition, other than a Facebook group amassing some 265 members in since its inception on Sept. 11.
"This was a satisfactory turnout," Uzurin said about the approximately 30 students standing in the hallway and crowding the small classroom at a meeting last week.
During the forum, the group discussed hypothetical tactics for the United States government that could solve violent conflict overseas as well as troubles at home.
"I think we should legalize all drugs," said one group member, who said that doing so would eliminate drug-selling criminals more effectively than the current "War on Drugs" campaign.
According to Uzurin, UB Anti-War does not itself hold or promote any kind of political affiliation.
Several members voiced their opinions on differing issues during the meeting, openly disagreeing with each other while attempting to logically discuss the war.
According to their online profile, the group is "committed to the bettering of our nation by abstaining from blatant war-mongering policies."
Last week's UB Anti-War discussion focused on America's role in Central and South America, and negative effects they believe the nation has had on the continent throughout its history.
As co-founder of the group, Uzurin said that he is happy with the number of people involved, but would like to see more. Many students refrain from being proactive due to shame or fear of retribution, he said.
"The fact that the Iraq War and the War on Terror are so offensive to the sensibilities of people from every walk of life," he said, "is the reason no one should be afraid or ashamed to join the anti-war movement."
According to Uzurin, UB Anti-War has not yet attempted to become a club endorsed by the Student Association because of the strict rules and regulations in club policy.
"All the required rules, meetings, and regulations regarding organizations, activities, advertising, and service make it difficult for any group, not just political activism, to be effective here at UB," he said.
The regulations, Uzurin said, are not being fairly applied to existing groups on campus. Also, SA club policies might restrict the effectiveness of a protest- and discussion-based group.
"SA has rules against endorsing political thought, but there are exceptions for the Democrats, Republicans, and Libertarians," he said.
According to Peter Grollitsch, SA treasurer, club regulations are applied to new and established organizations equally.
"SA is here for education," he said. "We do not discriminate against any kind of students or student beliefs. We represent a very diverse group of students, and we're here to cater to everybody."
Later this month UB Anti-War will be traveling to Georgia, and the gates of Fort Benning, in a demonstration against the U.S. Army program that trains Latin American soldiers on military tactics.
Uzurin said that he expects UB Anti-War to accompany ten- to twenty-thousand protestors.
