Student groups under scrutiny

A look at high-pressure student groups

By Andrew R Quinio
From the February 2005 Print Edition

On the busy grounds of Sproul Plaza, dozens of groups seek the attention and participation of eager young students. Some of these groups have raised concerns, for their methods of retaining members have come into question. While these groups cannot necessarily be labeled as “cults,” they can be identified as “high-pressure” groups.

According to the Office of Student Life, groups are identified as “high-pressure” when they isolate a student from family, friends, and other peers. These groups are also characterized by the use of guilt or shame to keep members, as well as the promotion of crises in a member’s personal life.

In the past, the Office of Student Life received complaints about the Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles, the Church of Christ, and at times, the Asian Baptist Student Koinonia.

A member of the Asian Baptist Student Koinonia defended the group: Karen Hong explained that the organization does in fact allow people to leave when they want. “We want to form genuine relationships with the people in our group, but we allow them to leave,” Hong said.

Recently, there have been no complaints about existing high-pressure groupson Berkeley’s campus. Office of Student Life adviser Liz Camacho said that lately, things have been relatively quiet on campus, with no students noticeably succumbing to certain organizations. The lack of complaints, however, does not mean that these groups are disappearing. Sara Solloway, another Office of Student Life group adviser, explained that the only way the administration can really pinpoint a problem with a group is through complaints from parents or peers. If there is no one coming forward, high-pressure groups fly virtually under the radar.

According to a 2002 Daily Cal article, then-student groups adviser Hal Reynolds described why Berkeley students are susceptible to the influences of high-pressure groups. “We have a faculty here that really challenges students’ beliefs, and the community in general embraces an experimental, alternative lifestyle,” he said.

The Bay Area has been known for some of the most notorious cults in the country. The most extreme cases would be the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) and the People’s Temple. The SLA, a San Francisco based–movement, kidnapped and indoctrinated Patty Hearst, the daughter of newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst. The People’s Temple, headed by charismatic leader Jim Jones, was also based in San Francisco. This group and its leader made headlines when they traveled to Guyana and committed mass suicide.

The activities of today’s suspected student groups have been far less extreme. Ken Aoki, student president of the Collegiate Association of Research Principles, said that UC Berkeley has not taken any action against his group, despite past complaints. “For the past year or so, CARP has been pretty much inactive on campus,” Aoki explained.

The Collegiate Association of Research Principles is connected to the Reverend Sun Myung Moon, the Unification Church founder who, according to the Freedom of Mind Center, believes he is the messiah.

The UC Berkeley CARP is less focused on the teachings of Moon. “World CARP is full of really nice people who are striving to build a culture among young people and living for the greater good rather than for only one’s self,” Aoki said.

Still, in a 2002 Daily Cal article, Reynolds advised students to remain critical and open to questioning. Religious groups on campus are not the only organizations that receive scrutiny.

Often, individuals are seen in Sproul Plaza campaigning for Lyndon LaRouche, the perennial presidential candidate who was jailed for mail fraud, conspiracy, and tax code violation. According to a March report by Information Digest, the LaRouche organization has “taken on the characteristics more of a political cult than a political party.” The Washington Post explains that most of LaRouche’s writings and theories tell of impending economic disaster and danger, unless his policies are implemented.

The Patriot spoke with one individual working at the LaRouche table near Sather Gate. “John” said that he was part of a Political Action Committee supporting LaRouche. He explained that one could join if he or she could sing and believed in the cause of LaRouche. After joining, members would be instructed on economics, John explained. He continued to speak of the Fascist dictatorship of the Bush presidency, and gave various criticisms of the Bush administration. John then offered transportation to an off-campus group meeting.

The Office of Student Life encourages students to talk to peers and family members if a college group becomes intrusive or high-pressure. “We don’t want students to be in a situation where they are in danger,” Solloway said.

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