About SSSP : Action and Activism

In Pursuit of Social Justice

 

As an interdisciplinary community of scholars, practitioners, advocates, and students interested in the application of critical, scientific, and humanistic perspectives to the study of vital social problems, the SSSP is engaged in multiple avenues of social justice research and action. In addition to SSSP publications, the Society regularly participates in calls to action on various social justice issues. Each year the SSSP also presents the Thomas C. Hood Social Action Award, which recognizes social justice work of grassroots organizations in marginalized communities in the city/local area hosting the annual meeting. See below for more information on these activities.

SSSP Resolutions

2011 Resolutions

SSSP resolutions constitute an important opportunity for our scholar-activist membership to publicly declare its sentiments, thereby creating a channel for greater visibility and more direct influence upon various “publics” (e.g. fellow activists, scholars, students, voters, groups, policy- and decision-makers). 

This year, two resolutions were approved at the SSSP Business Meeting on Saturday, August 20: Resolution 1: Expression of Gratitude and Resolution 2: Labor Rights in the Public Sector.

During the annual meeting in Las Vegas this past August, a resolution in favor of decriminalizing sex work was tabled for minor revisions at the Open Discussion of Resolutions Proposed to the Board of Directors' session.  The Executive Officer and Jennifer Heineman, a representative of a sex workers' organization in Las Vegas, made the changes and submitted it to the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors approved the resolution.

Click here for the 2011 Approved Resolutions.

SSSP Letters

If a passed resolution requires letters or e-mails to be sent, the Administrative Office distributes these to appropriate individuals or agencies.

Click here to read the letters.

Take Action!

Academic Freedom of Michigan's Public Universities

In the spring of 2012, a higher education appropriations bill was introduced to the Michigan state legislature that could potentially threaten the academic freedom of Michigan’s public universities. The following language was added to the bill:

Sec. 273a. It is the intent of the legislature that a public university that receives funds in section 236 shall not collaborate in any manner with a nonprofit worker center whose documented activities include coercion through protest, demonstration, or organization against a Michigan business.

This language is so broad that it could potentially prevent public universities from forming partnerships or placing students with virtually any civic, religious, or other non-profit organization that engages in public outreach. This section of the bill represents direct interference by the legislature in the university curriculum, and thereby threatens in a very tangible way the academic freedom of universities, their faculty members, and students.

Upon the request of the Executive Officer, the Board of Directors authorized him to join other organizations and individuals in signing a letter urging legislators to strike Sec. 273a from the bill. Also with Board approval, the Executive Officer wrote a separate letter on behalf of the SSSP membership urging Michigan State Legislators to strike Section 273a from the bill. The Administrative Office distributed the letter to all Michigan State Legislators on April 19, 2012. Click here to read the letter in full.

Click here for more Action items...

Thomas C. Hood Social Action Award

The Thomas C. Hood Social Action Award was established in 1991 to recognize organizations that have a history of challenging social inequalities, promoting social change, and/or working toward the empowerment of marginalized peoples. Its work must demonstrate sensitivity to and respect for cultural diversity. Small, local agencies in the area of that year's SSSP annual meeting are given preference rather than large organizations or chapters of nationally-based organizations. Click here for a list of past winners.