Student Advocates Plan Fund Drive This Week

Student advocates plan fund drive this week

Ann Arbor’s Student Advocacv Center, facing money woes, has announced a bucket drive fundraiser for Oct. 17 and 18.

The funds will go towards continuing the work of the center, which acts as watchdog for student rights, according to Ruth Zweiffler, co-director. People who work with the center are mostly volunteers, she added, with money going mostly to pay bills like rent and utilities.

THE CENTER recently completed a handbook outlining student rights,' programs, scholarships and grants. The center was also instrumental in bringing to court last year’s black English lawsuit filed on behalf of 11 Martin Luther King Elementary School students.

“We’re also working with groups around the country to try to create a united voice on a national front to raise people’s awareness,” added Zweiffler. “There are hopeful alternatives to fear, anger and discouragement with which schools are sometimes viewed.”

“We’re trying to keep students in school,” Zweiffler explained, adding, “We get all kinds of good news about how effective and wonderful we are, but we barely have our rent and phone bills made.”

THE BUCKET drive will be conducted by public school students, University of Michigan students and parents downtown, in the Farmer’s Market, and in shopping centers. Donations to the non-profit group are tax deductible, she said.

The local center is a member of the National Coalition of Advocates for Students.