News of the Encampment

SOAR, who is camping for the third year, though it did not set up camp last year, wants to raise awareness to animal testing, which they say occurs at the Animal Resource Center and the Biology Department here at the U. SOAR says the tests are conducted on beagle pups, infant baboons, monkeys and cats.

The group has been handing out literature during the day, and invite any students interested in staying over night to visit their tent.

UNION, which started two months ago and has already gained 50 members, wants to raise awareness for the plight of refugee living after war conflict. UNION is an anti-war group, and students got the idea for the U chapter after the war in Afghanistan. UNION's goal is to enlighten students on the poor living conditions of refugees after violence.

Whether you agree or disagree with what SOAR and UNION stand for, the two groups are effectively using the Union's free speech area. It says something to the willingness and drive of the members of these two organizations to spend countless nights outside the Union.

It's also useful for drawing in new members. It may be easy to bypass a table outside the Union, but a tent outside a meeting place for students does much more to attract attention.

These organizations are creating an important venue for dialogue for nearly the rest of the semester, as each group will be on the Union lawn until April 21.

So many student groups exist on campus that are not recognized on a daily basis. Camping out on the Union is an intelligent and effective way to get a group's name out.

Groups don't necessarily have to camp out for several weeks, but other student groups should follow suit and try to use the free speech area to connect and introduce themselves to other students.