STUDENTS ON A CRUSADE FOR FREEDOM

Even if you watch the evening news every day, you may not fully understand what is going on in the world. According to students at Park Tudor School and Pike High School, their involvement in Amnesty International during this school year has brought them closer to the news.

"I think that a lot of our population is caught up in their own lives and that (the news) doesn't touch them. They don't know people that are being tortured," said 15-year-old Nancy Johnstone from Park Tudor. "Maybe they do see it for 10 minutes when it's on the news.

"They don't see what they can do about it. And when you don't feel that you can do anything about it, it's easier to just forget about it."

The groups at Park Tudor and Pike High School are trying to do something about the news. Both groups write letters on behalf of political prisoners. In addition, the Park Tudor students have brought a woman from Guatemala to their school to inform students of conditions in her homeland, and Pike has held a concert to publicize human rights concerns.

Amnesty International (AI) is an independent worldwide movement working for the release of all prisoners of conscience _ people imprisoned for their beliefs, origin, race, religion or political ideas _ provided they have not practiced or advocated violence.

Urgent appeals

All AI student groups _ about 2,500 in the United States, with 1,800 in high schools _ learn about prisoners through "Urgent Action Appeals," which the national organization provides. These are brief descriptions of individual cases requiring immediate attention because the prisoner's life is believed to be in danger. The students then research the country in which the prisoner is being held and write a letter to that government asking that the individual be released.

Amnesty International does not allow groups to work for prisoners of conscience in their own country because it believes people can't be impartial about conditions under which they live.

"(Amnesty International) provides all the information," said Pike High School student Sumi Malik, 17. "All you have to do is something as simple as writing a letter. . . . You have a responsibility to ensure that other people enjoy the same freedoms as you do."

"It's an opportunity to make a difference that you wouldn't normally have just by writing a letter," said Mindy Mortlock, 16, of Pike High School. "You can't get a real job until you're 18 or 21, and you can't go out and do real things until then. But anyone can write a letter. Anyone can help to save a life."

A success story

Amnesty International members have seen the results of their letter-writing campaigns. In 1988, a 17-year-old Yugoslavian high school student was arrested for peacefully protesting some of her school procedures. AI learned of her case and launched a campaign. The student was released in 1990.

The AI group at Pike was founded this school year and has about 40 regular members. Park Tudor is still working on establishing its chapter and has about 10 core members.

How can you start an Amnesty branch at your school?

Sumi advises: "Get four or five core members, and then find a teacher who will sponsor you. Then do what you'd do to start any high school club _ go to the administration and fill out a form or whatever it is you have to do."

Once you've received permission to start your new branch, write to the Chicago regional center for materials: AI Mid-West Regional Office, c/o Ruth Barrett, 53 W. Jackson, Room 1162, Chicago, Ill. 60604, (312)427-2060

Mindy says there is a certain stigma attached to being an AI member.

"When I'm out selling candy and people realize what Amnesty is, and they look around at all of us selling candy, they just say _ `Oh well, you're just a bunch of hippies.' "

But Sumi pointed out AI's mission is a conservative one, "since you are trying to conserve life."