Our WILPF US Tucson branch is excited to establish a lively and international “twig” at the University of Arizona. This flagship campus branch will provide helpful tips and tricks as we navigate the challenges and successes of starting a group that connects with younger generations—who often come from different backgrounds from many members of our community-based WILPF branches. It is entirely possible to do this! So, take a moment to consider starting a Campus WILPF in your own town.

In Tucson, we have been fortunate to have several faculty sponsors, including Sociology Professor Louise Roth, who has taken a personal interest in our success. Upon connecting with us, Professor Roth highlighted the foundational role of Jane Addams in peace and social justice efforts, including her work at Hull-House, which contributed significantly to the development of sociology in the United States.

For other WILPF members interested in starting their own campus chapters, we recommend approaching the Department of Sociology first. Look for faculty who study community organizing; these potential sponsors will likely be familiar with Jane Addams and Hull-House, even if they are not aware of WILPF—yet.

With valuable support from Professor Roth, we have received enthusiastic backing from her students at the university. We would also like to give a special shout-out to Emily Ricketts from WILPF Tucson, who has not only offered moral support but also has contributed to every one of our Campus WILPF events.

In these challenging times for individuals from other countries in the US, we were pleased to see both US-born students and international students come together for our celebration of the U.N.’s International Day of Peace.

For future Campus WILPF events at your local college or university, consider this food tip: we recently held an event called “Pizza and Peace,” which proved to be a winning combination. Pizza is a great draw (make sure to order cheese-only to reduce waste). Gloria can attest that graduate students eagerly take advantage of a free meal, as she remembers filling her “chipmunk cheeks” at campus buffets. We are brainstorming ways to spread the enticing aroma of pizza across campus to connect more students with WILPF’s peace activism.

Sociology major Ming Chen helped us with our event without even being asked. Chen was excited to learn about the WILPF Peace Train to Beijing, her hometown, which took place in 1995. She is sharing this documentary link about the Peace Train to Beijing with her friends and colleagues at the university.

Our activities have also attracted attention from the University of Arizona’s Wildcat newspaper. We hope to expand our outreach by collaborating with AZPM’s Arizona Spotlight podcast host Mark McLemore, who interviewed Gloria after the Hiroshima Day event in August, as well as with KAMP, the student-run radio station at the university.

For those trying to engage with student-run media, remember that their offices often have limited staffing. One effective strategy is to send snail mail with details about upcoming events. Additionally, arranging in-person meetings to connect with the staff can also be very beneficial.

Our next event will celebrate UNESCO’s International Day of Intangible Cultural Heritage on Oct. 17. We hope to feature a guest speaker from Tucson’s U.N. Center and involve the vibrant Chinese community in Tucson. This event will take place at the Little Chapel of All Nations on the University of Arizona campus. Stay tuned for more updates!