Like Pellegrini, Kashani sees campus activism gaining momentum, but he sees it moving in a different direction.

"People are becoming tired of the chokehold liberals and leftism have had on this campus," Kashani asserts.

COCA

Unlike most other campus political groups, the Committee on Central America (COCA) does not protest Harvard policies. Its target is the federal government.

"The primary goals of the Committee on Central America are educational, and the secondary goal is actively showing opposition to U.S. involvement in Central America," says third-year graduate student and COCA activist Douglas M. Brugge.

If COCA targets a higher authority, it also risks potentially higher stakes. Last year, five COCA members were jailed along with more than 500 demonstrators protesting U.S. intervention in Niearagua. COCA also chartered buses for Harvard students participating in a Washington rally last April. Brugge points out, however that most COCA activities are educational and not all COCA members participate in protests.

COCA holds teach-ins, sponsors speakers, and distributes a newsletter to more than 5000 students each semester. Comparing COCA to SASC, Brugge comments. "We put out a lot of information that's extremely important but less visible than SASC."

Alison J. Caplan '86, a member of COCA, agrees. "SASC has a very definite goal and aim. There will always be a COCA but if SASC had its way there would be no more SASC."

Both Brugge and Caplan stress that COCA is designed to appeal to all students who support self-determination for the people of Central America. They acknowledge that COCA's members represent a wide range of opinions. "The diversity of COCA is its strength," says Caplan. "We welcome anyone who is interested to get involved."

GLSA

With AIDS hysteria sweeping the country, the Gay and Lesbian Students Association (GLSA) views 1985 as an important year for educating the community at large. "There's a fine line between activism and education," says Co-President James A. Sanks '85-'87.

"People will be looking to us to educate and comment on the AIDS issue," says Lori S. Stewart '86-'87, the other co-president.

Both Sanks and Stewart favor what they describe as '80s-style student activism: action through education and cooperation. "I don't think our organization has anything to gain by being antagonistic. So long as the administration listens without outright rejection, we're okay," says Sanks.

GLSA members plan to distribute a campuswide mailing this year explaining the new clause in the University's anti-discrimination policy guaranteeing the rights of homosexuals in the Harvard community. They also intend to organize gay tables in various houses, to support Contact, the gay crisis phoneline, and most importantly, to sponsor a major AIDS benefit in the spring.

"Student activism is an all-encompassing word. To create change, to create movement--that's student activism," Stewart says.