2006 Youth Activist Scholarship -- Elizabeth Lipshultz

Elizabeth Lipshultz, graduating from Montclair High School in Montclair, New Jersey, single handedly began a campaign to educate parents and students about the No Child Left Behind Act’s provision that turned student contact information over to military recruiters. After her initial efforts, many Montclair families chose to prevent recruiters from having access to personal information. Once Elizabeth founded Open Your Eyes, Open Your Ears, a student organization dedicated to the cause, it seemed that a majority of local families were choosing to “Opt Out.”

In 2002, President George Bush signed into law the No Child Left Behind Act.

Hidden deep within this law is section 9528, a little-known clause on military recruitment that has no connection to the law’s goal, improving public education. This clause requires that every high school give the personal information of their students to the military for recruitment purposes. If the school refuses, they lose all federal funding. If a parent or student wishes to have their information kept private, they can notify the school with this information. This is called “Opting Out.” Still, all over the country schools are releasing their students names, addresses and phone numbers to the military for recruitment purposes. In most cases, the students and their parents have no idea that this invasion of privacy is occurring, and those who do, don’t understand that they can stop this by “Opting Out.” I see this section as a complete infringement on student privacy.

I found out about this clause during my freshman year. I had just founded OYE OYE Open Your Eyes Open Your Ears, a club at my high school that focuses on educating our peers about national and global issues that aren’t getting the attention they need. The military clause of No Child Left Behind was one of these issues. In 2003, one year after it’s passing, not one Board of Education had a proper policy to address section 9528. My town’s board of education was no different, and the administration at my school had yet to even read the section of the law. Almost every student in the country was blind to the fact that their personal information was being sent to the military without their permission. I realized something had to be done.

After various attempts at reaching the students alone, which resulted in a third of the students “Opting Out” from having their information released, I realized that another step had to be taken. That’s when OYE OYE decided to seek the support of the Montclair Board of Education and create a district wide policy on the military recruitment clause. It took two school years of letter writing, administrative meetings, and board discussions, but in 2004, the policy was properly implemented. The result is what is really important. Eighty-five percent of Montclair High School’s student body said “No” to having their information released. This is a fifty-two percent difference then the thirty-three percent of students saying “no” prior to the passing of a policy. This difference accounts for over one thousand students.

Another example of my activism involving civil liberties occurred during my sophomore year in High School. In November of that year I decided to go down to Miami to protest the Free Trade Area of the Americas. I decided to bring my video camera along for the trip. While in Miami I witnessed a complete disregard on the part of the police and city of Miami for civil liberties. I captured on tape my personal experience in Miami. I was kept out of permitted rallies and forums, witnessed tear gas being used on peaceful protesters and encountered many other actions keeping myself and my fellow protesters from the right to peacefully assemble. When I returned home I created my first documentary on my protest experience in Miami. It is 15 minutes long and includes footage from the event itself as well as interviews from New Jersey youth protester’s who were arrested in Miami and later had their charges completely dropped. The documentary has been shown throughout the state at political art shows, film festivals and forums, and I hope it has been useful in raising awareness about the disregard of civil liberties in Miami during the FTAA protests.

I am an activist for civil liberties because of what I have learned and witnessed. I have been educated about issues like section 9528 of No Child Left Behind and I have witnessed protests like the one in Miami. These experiences have lead me to become a civil liberties activist, they have shown me the importance of fighting for our civil rights. I can not stand by while knowing what injustices to civil liberties are occurring, I must always stand up for my rights and the rights of my fellow citizens.