If you talk the talk, then walk the walk
Staff Editorial
Issue date: 12/4/06 Section: Forum
Guilford College has a reputation for being a socially conscious school and that is how many of its student would like to think of it. However, a new kind of student has been showing up on campus: the arm chair activist. Arm chair activists are those that, put simply, talk the talk but don't walk the walk. These students are seemingly outnumbering traditional activists that gave Guilford its reputation.
The Princeton Review recently gave Elon University a higher activism rating than Guilford College. The Guilford chapter of Amnesty International had to disband this year due to lack of student interest. The most visible recent student protest were those camping for Oaxaca who intended to camp for 20 days but left after 17, citing disillusionment as their reason. Rather than finding a new approach, Oaxaca protesters packed their bags.
With Guilford's growing student body, is our college losing its identity? Are Guilford students just looking for any cause? It's easy to forget about actual political action with the distraction of schoolwork and when everyone around you is discussing it. It's no mystery why Guilford activist have gotten lazy. Mounting responsibilities appear to leave little time for social change.
This excuse is used by many in and out of college. You can hear former activists throughout the decades saying, "I just don't have the time anymore." Hearing this defense from those years out of college with full-time jobs and families, we shrug our shoulders and think to ourselves, "Well, that makes sense." Can we accept this reason from ourselves at such an early stage in our lives with relatively low responsibility?
Many students came to Guilford College, at least in part, because of its reputation for political activism. Students need to remember why they came to Guilford and what it was they wanted to do here. If you have time to party or go to a movie, you can go to a rally. If you have time to cruise Facebook, you can write an email to your senator or representative. Just because you can't spend 20 hours a week working towards a cause doesn't mean you can't get involved. So get out of those armchairs and back on your feet. Give yourself and Guilford back its much-loved identity.
The Princeton Review recently gave Elon University a higher activism rating than Guilford College. The Guilford chapter of Amnesty International had to disband this year due to lack of student interest. The most visible recent student protest were those camping for Oaxaca who intended to camp for 20 days but left after 17, citing disillusionment as their reason. Rather than finding a new approach, Oaxaca protesters packed their bags.
With Guilford's growing student body, is our college losing its identity? Are Guilford students just looking for any cause? It's easy to forget about actual political action with the distraction of schoolwork and when everyone around you is discussing it. It's no mystery why Guilford activist have gotten lazy. Mounting responsibilities appear to leave little time for social change.
This excuse is used by many in and out of college. You can hear former activists throughout the decades saying, "I just don't have the time anymore." Hearing this defense from those years out of college with full-time jobs and families, we shrug our shoulders and think to ourselves, "Well, that makes sense." Can we accept this reason from ourselves at such an early stage in our lives with relatively low responsibility?
Many students came to Guilford College, at least in part, because of its reputation for political activism. Students need to remember why they came to Guilford and what it was they wanted to do here. If you have time to party or go to a movie, you can go to a rally. If you have time to cruise Facebook, you can write an email to your senator or representative. Just because you can't spend 20 hours a week working towards a cause doesn't mean you can't get involved. So get out of those armchairs and back on your feet. Give yourself and Guilford back its much-loved identity.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Evan
posted 12/05/06 @ 12:30 PM EST
I am very disappointed to read this weak effort by the Guilfordian staff. If the Guilfordian would like to see more activism on campus, perhaps it should expand its definition of what activism means. (Continued…)
Erin Burns
posted 12/05/06 @ 9:55 PM EST
The Guilfordian staff and Oaxaca protestors share a commitment to informing our community, which is the first step towards any kind of advocacy. If members of the Guilfordian staff consider themselves activists because they bring awareness to often-ignored issues, they ought to respect the Oaxaca protestors for their successful informative campaign. (Continued…)
Maria Schellden
posted 3/16/09 @ 10:22 AM EST
Good and interesting article, thanks!
Susan Goatman
posted 3/20/09 @ 12:44 PM EST
Yes i agree with you , and nice news thanks. This realy nice news , i watch for them .
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