Activism and Involvements
Federation of American Scientists
A long-time supporter of many human and civil rights movements, Judith Bregman not only had her hand in a number of professional societies and committees but ones whose focus was activism as well. One such committee was the Federation of American Scientists, a “nonprofit policy research and advocacy organization founded in 1945 to meet national security challenges with evidence-based, scientifically-driven, and nonpartisan policy, analysis, and research” (FAS About FAS). Bregman was especially active within this committee from the beginning.
On December 7, 1941, following the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, the United States declared war on Japan. And just three days later the United States became fully engaged in the second World War. Around that time, the development of atomic energy and bombs was rapidly progressing, and the major world powers were racing to amp up their arsenals in an effort to show who was the most powerful, to win the war. Although they were merely pursuing what they saw as important research, scientists across America began to recognize the level of devastation this energy source was capable of producing when the US bombed Japan in 1945. This act was the catalyst for a new movement in the scientific community.
Prior to the rise in atomic power, activism within the American scientific community was seldom heard of. If there were conversations being had about accountability and ethics, they were not at the forefront. That all changed when more scientists felt the need to speak up, becoming highly active political activists in the debate over control of atomic energy. A group of them who were deeply concerned about the use of science for malice went on to create an organization called The Federation of American Scientists, formerly known as the Federation of Atomic Scientists. In creating this, the goal was to use science and technology for humanity’s benefit.
As a council member of the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), Judith Bregman showed her commitment to a shift in her community. She used her expertise to advocate for a shift from military to civilian governance of atomic resources and projects, to push for secretive nuclear policies to be made public, for transparency in the hopes of avoiding another international conflict that would leave the world in shambles.
Equality Committee of the American Civil Liberties Union
While being a council member for FAS, that was far from Judith’s only brush with politics. Although it’s unclear when exactly she joined, an article published by Physics Today in December of 1978 mentions that Bregman had recently become a member of the American Civil Liberties Union’s (ACLU) Equality Committee. The ACLU is a prominent organization dedicated to “creating a more perfect union — beyond one person, party, or side. Our mission is to realize this promise of the United States Constitution for all and expand the reach of its guarantees” (American Civil Liberties Union).
One thing that I realized while researching Judith’s life as an activist was that only a few years prior to her appointment to the Equality Committee at the ACLU, Ruth Bader Ginsburg had joined the ACLU as well. RBG is one of the most prominent figures in American history, especially in relation to women’s rights, and a part of me wonders if Judith was driven to join the ACLU because she was inspired by the project that Ginsburg was actively working on with them. While there isn’t any explicit evidence of what Judith worked on within the Equality Committee, or when exactly she did, I was able to find out that RBG was also a member of the same committee at the ACLU at one point (exact year also unknown). This is a beautiful little coincidence that was buried in two very different locations that potentially ties these two women together. It was entirely unexpected, and quite possibly one of my favorite bits of information found during my research. It’s not difficult to imagine any woman, especially one who was so hardworking and prominent in her field, to feel drawn to Ginsburg’s agenda. I would not be surprised if Bregman followed along with Ginsburg’s Women’s Rights Project with the ACLU before deciding to join herself.
Association for Women in Science
In a similar vein, the article from Physics Today also mentions that Judith took part in the Association for Women in Science (AWIS). Although the dates are not mentioned for this specific activity either. According to AWIS’s website, the vision behind their work is as stated:
“For individuals seeking equity for women in science, engineering, technology and math, AWIS provides career development, networking, mentorship, and leadership opportunities. In addition, our thought leadership, research, and advocacy benefit all women in science” (About AWIS).
By looking at both the ACLU and AWIS’s mission statements, I think it can be reasonably inferred that there were likely similar motives behind her involvement in both AWS and the ACLU, and maybe even a common theme in the work done at both. I wish that I was able to uncover more information about her activities within each of these organizations, but unfortunately, I was unable to uncover anything further in both Poly’s archives and through external research.
At Poly
Each of these outside activities undoubtedly reflected in her role at Polytechnic and as an educator. In addition to serving in the FAS, ACLU, and AWIS, records indicate that Judith was also bringing her love for activism into the university itself. Not only did she volunteer her time to become Poly’s first-ever draft counselor to support the student body in a time of uncertainty, but she was also a part of the Polytechnic Affirmative Action Committee, demonstrating her commitment to diversity equity, and inclusion during the height of the civil rights movement. It’s easy to see that Judith had a strong drive to work towards equity and representation not only for women and minorities but for anyone and everyone who she felt needed help. From draft counseling at Poly to fighting for civilian control over atomic energy, individual rights to women’s rights, Judith cared greatly and was more than willing to put in the work to enact change. She was an invaluable member of the university and beyond.
