Each year, the SSSP membership proposes resolutions to publicly declare their sentiments on social justice issues, thereby creating a channel for greater visibility and more direct influence upon a variety of "publics," i.e., fellow activists, scholars, students, decision-makers, social action groups, voters, and others. If the resolution requires letters to be sent, the Administrative Office distributes these to appropriate individuals or agencies.

Below are short descriptions of the actions SSSP took and letters sent following the passage of resolutions:

2012

Resolution: Unsolved Homicide Cases

The SSSP approved a resolution endorsing the full funding of a Cold Case Team of Investigators for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Although the Colorado legislature passed a bill in 2007 supporting the creation of such a team, it never materialized due to lack of funding. In this resolution, the SSSP acknowledges the need for such a specialized team to continue work on unsolved homicide cases. The Administrative Office of the SSSP sent a letter of support to the Families of Homicide Victims and Missing Persons, Inc. (FOHVAMP), recognizing FOHVAMP's important work to find, support, and empower family members and friends suffering from a loved one’s unsolved homicide or from their long-term, suspicious disappearance.

Click here to read the letter.

In addition, FOHVAMP representative and SSSP member, Dr. Michael Radelet has agreed to contact both houses of the Colorado legislature and the State's Governor communicating the SSSP's support of  the funding of a Cold Case Team of Investigators.

2010

Resolution: Discontinue the Atlanta “Braves” Logo and Paraphernalia 

The SSSP approved a resolution calling for the discontinuation of the demeaning and racist use of Native American nicknames, logos, and mascots in sport. The Administrative Office of the SSSP sent a copy of the 2007 Resolution and a letter to the Administrative Office of the Atlanta Braves, the Governor of Georgia, and the Mayor of Atlanta, with a copy to local newspapers, calling on the Atlanta Braves organization to discontinue and cease in promoting any and all demeaning and otherwise negative representations of Native Americans, and in particular tomahawk chants, paraphernalia, and logos.

Click here to read the letter.

Resolution: To Officially Endorse the Clean Water Protection Act [HR 1310]

In response to devastating consequences related to mountaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia, the SSSP approved a resolution to officially endorse the Clean Water Protection Act [HR 1310]. The SSSP also encouraged the Senate to pass complementary legislation to address the problems of environmental justice discussed above. The SSSP further encouraged Congress to pass legislation to ensure that coalfield communities, who have provided cheap energy to the nation at the cost of their environment and health receive assistance in dealing with economic hardship from ongoing decline in extractive employment. The Administrative Office of the SSSP sent letters of concern to several state and federal legislators supporting the Clean Water Protection Act citing the ecological devastation and economic hardship of Appalachian communities.

Click here to read the letter.

2009

Resolution: Gender-Neutral Pronouns

The SSSP approved a resolution calling on all publishers, editors, educators and institutional agents who issue style guidelines, edit documents, or correct papers to (1) let stand gender-neutral pronouns when they encounter them in other’s written work; and (2) update their style manuals to state that gender-neutral pronouns may be employed to refer to real or hypothetical persons of unknown gender, and to those known individuals who choose to refer to themselves with gender-neutral pronouns. The SSSP will permit the use of gender neutral pronouns in its publications. The SSSP administration is directed to send copies of this resolution to the administrations of the universities to which the SSSP regularly sends literature, to the editorial boards of the sociology journals listed by Sociological Abstracts, to the editorial boards of the top 100 US newspapers by circulation, and to the authors of widely used style guides (such as The Chicago Manual of Style, the APA, MLA, ASA, CBE and other disciplinary guides, the Harvard Bluebook, and Strunk and White). Cover letters should direct the recipients to forward the resolution to the appropriate editorial agent.

Click here to read the letter.

Resolution: UN Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights Violations in Burma

The SSSP approved a resolution urging the United States to propose the establishment of an official investigation by the UN Security Council into crimes against humanity committed by Burma’s military regime.The SSSP sent a letter to the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, urging the United States to propose a global ban on weapons sales to Burma’s military regime.

Click here to read the letter.