A.R.M.S. is a little known resource for students in need. The Advocacy for Resources for Modern Survival, A.R.M.S. abbreviated, is a student center devoted to “assisting disadvantaged students.” Generally that means that they provide “advocacy, information, referral, self-help, and education” to those in need. And in doing so they feel that the people they help today will be active and productive members of society tomorrow.
A.R.M.S. was started in the 1980’s. It was founded on the idea of making a difference in people whose lives were continually worsened by poverty. Most of those involved in A.R.M.S. are women who are “current and former recipients of various forms of public assistance” but all are welcome to join up. A.R.M.S. is actively affiliated with the non-profit organization Survivors Inc. It is dedicated to assisting low-income students both on campus and off. A.R.M.S. is also affiliated with Survivors Inc. Club which is a newspaper based on women’s life struggles, specifically that of poverty. Its purpose is to act as a resource of information to “homeless families as well as welfare recipients in need of housing.”
Today A.R.M.S. is run by Regina Jones the coordinator, Latasha Gorman the assistant coordinator, and Daphne Armand the staff assistant. A.R.M.S. does more than hand out information however, as Regina Jones attests when she says “we go down to the Statehouse for budget hearings… we go to represent those who for whatever reason can’t represent themselves.”
Jones, who is also a full-time student, is going to graduate at the end of this semester with a bachelors in Legal Education with a minor in Women’s Studies. She is planning on going to Simmons to earn her masters in Social Work. She is also the mother of three daughters. And she herself is a recipient of public assistance due to a hearing disorder. She became involved with A.R.M.S. in the 80’s and owes her current success to the student center, “because of A.R.M.S. I have become empowered.” She says that the original founders are “not only my friends but my mentors.” And they are one of the driving forces that got her to where she is today and where she will be tomorrow.
A.R.M.S.’s role as an advocacy group is centered on domestic issues and local social problems can also extend beyond Massachusetts. While the official position of A.R.M.S. on war is undefined, when asked about the war in Iraq, Jones responded by saying that while we should support our troops the funds for the war might be better spent at home, “They do what they have to do but at the price of who? All that money could feed a lot of people.”
A.R.M.S. also sponsors events around campus. On April 24th they will sponsor a viewing of “Once Upon a Time Welfare Made a Difference” in the Wheatley student lounge. And on May 7th there will be an unveiling of the “River of Protest” mural designed by Dottie Stevens, who was one of the founding members of A.R.M.S.