Doesn’t this look like paradise? (Source)

“Uplift our voices!” “DON’T TAKE AWAY OUR VOICES!!”

Students of Santa Clara University raised their voices marching through the middle of campus and the cafeteria on SCU’s Day of Giving (see video below). The protest came after school administration decided to overturn SCU’s student senate’s decision to deny TPUSA―Turning Point USA, a fiscally conservative economics club―from becoming an official club. Many students raised their voices against the administration’s decision to override the students’ decision, and for SCU to become a more inclusive campus, on the day the university promoted itself with the hashtag #AllinforSCU.

Protests and activism are not new ideas to college campuses. From fighting against the founder of the college for having slaves (yes they are protesting Thomas Jefferson, the Founding Father) to UC Berkeley being the center of protests in the 60s and 70s, we have seen many demonstrations throughout the decades. Yes, some may seem insignificant, but they certainly have and still do exist, every time bringing some issues to the forefront.

The doors on the buildings at UC Berkeley only have one handle…to prevent protesters from chaining them. (Source)

But now, these displays of activism are more important than ever. The U.S. has arguably never been more divided through the political climate, seen through the election and the partisan response to it. People seem to have more hate than love to spread. Instead of listening to the other side, we continue to keep our ears shut and live in the bubble by surrounding ourselves with people who have the same opinions. It seems as if there is no way to escape from the spiral of doom.

So what is necessary to fix this large-than-life problem? What can we do to make movements that actually turn people around? How can we spread an idea beyond just a specific group to make an impact on society?

1, Friends.  And not just friends, but friends we are really, really close with. We are often receptive of our closest friends; if they ask us to go with them to dinner or join a club, we will at least give them thought and in many instances will do exactly what they say. These connections are the foundations of protests. By spreading ideas through people who really care about each other, we can create a movement that has significant power. Take a 1960 protest at Greensboro by students at North Carolina A.&.T. for example. This famous sit-in to fight against racial segregation started just by four African-American students who shared the dream of being treated equal to their White counterparts. If they could do it in the 60s, why can’t we do it now?

Actual pictures from the 1960 protest. It was all started by four college friends. (Source)

2, A real understanding of the issues. Skimming books or getting information from Fox News and CNN is not enough to actually understand the issues. Inequality, for example, is not a matter of some people happening to be rich and others were not being as lucky. It is a systemic issue that has evolved over a long period of time, requiring intense research and thought to decipher. Simply put, to start a movement we must know what and how to change something, and when we say “I know” that means we need to understand it inside out.

Income inequality is at an all time high, but why? (Source)

I have the privilege of studying at Santa Clara University, a medium-sized liberal arts university located in California. Here we have close proximity to peers and faculty as we live right on campus and have a low faculty-to-students ratio. In fact, once a professor replied to my email in six minutes. So that checks off Requirement 1 of having a network of close “friends.” SCU also prides itself on “Educating the whole person,” necessitating students to take classes outside of their major and indulge in experiential learning. This philosophy is common in all liberal arts schools, whose mission is to educate well-rounded students. Requirement 2, check. Here we have all the tools for reaching a deep understanding of social issues.

Everyone should be engaged in the social issues. This can be done by keeping up with the news, talking to neighbors, or reading history books. However, to make a movement, to change something, we must take a step further. And who are those in the best position to start a protest which will gain national recognition? Us. Students at liberal arts universities. We have all the tools, skills, and resources necessary, and it is more a question of our interest and motivation than our ability.

We can to take a stand for society. What are we waiting for?

PS: Shout out to Julie Perales for letting me use her footage of the march on SCU’s Day of Giving!!