College Student Activism in the United States

College Student Activism in the United States

Authors and Source

  • Conner, Jerusha; Stannard, Rachel; Upright, Angela

  • Source: "The Bloomsbury Handbook of Student Politics and Representation in Higher Education".

  • Ed. by Manja Klemenčič, London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2024. Pages 404–417.

  • Publication Date: 12 February 2025.

  • Open Access License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).

Introduction to College Student Activism

  • Context: Gen Z has grown up during significant social issues such as mass shootings and climate disasters.

    • Result: A disillusionment with adult political leaders leading to self-driven activism, demanding accountability, and initiating change.

  • **Movements that shaped Gen Z:

    • March for Our Lives (2018): Protest against gun violence.

    • Global School Climate Strikes (2019): Protest for environmental awareness.

    • 2020 Racial Justice Uprisings: Response to systemic racism and inequality.

Higher Education Landscape

  • Types of Institutions in the U.S.:

    • Public universities (lower tuition for in-state residents)

    • Private colleges (generally higher tuition rates)

  • Tuition Costs (2021-2022 Academic Year):

    • Average cost for public college:

    • In-state: 10,38810,388

    • Out-of-state: 22,69822,698

    • Average cost for private college: 38,18538,185

  • Financial Responses:

    • Increased federal loans and increased student employment.

    • Rising costs attributed to neoliberal policies that have reduced government funding for higher education.

  • Student Grievances:

    • Concerns over institutional support and representation regarding race, gender, and sexuality.

Institutional Betrayal

  • Definition: Institutional betrayal is described as "feelings of treason that occur when an institution fails to prevent or respond appropriately to wrongdoings" (Linder and Myers, 2018).

  • Manifestations:

    • We often see feelings of betrayal when an institution does not align its policies with the promises made to students, especially around issues of safety and respect for diversity.

    • Notable examples include institutional responses to racism, homophobia, transphobia, and sexual assault.

  • Impact on Activism:

    • Institutional and generational betrayal serves as a catalyst for student activism aiming to reform policies addressing racial equity, gender equity, LGBTQ+ rights, and campus safety.

Historical Context of Student Activism in the U.S.

  • Early Activism:

    • Harvard College's "Bad Butter Rebellion" (1766): One of the first recorded student protests regarding food quality.

  • 1960s: Often recognized as the peak or "high water mark" of student activism.

    • Civil Rights Movement: Student involvement in sit-ins and Freedom Summer while (e.g., lunch counter sit-ins, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee).

    • Free Speech Movement at UC Berkley (1964): Focused on the rights of students to freely express themselves on campus.

    • Anti-Vietnam War Protests: Significant student-led demonstrations in the latter part of the decade.

  • Activism Trends:

    • Waves of activism every thirty years, characterized by periods of subsidence followed by resurgence (Rhoads, 1989).

    • Recent wave post-2008, escalating in 2015 with a more trendy approach towards activism.

Contemporary Activists: Generation Z

  • Demographics:

    • Gen Z defined as those born between 1997 and 2012.

    • First members graduated college in 2018 and were active around pivotal protests from 2015 onward.

  • Research on Activist Identity:

    • Studies encompass various identities of student activists, often focusing on intersectional issues:

    • Examples of identities researched: Muslim students (Ahmadi et al., 2019), Black student-athletes (Ferguson and Davis, 2019), undocumented students (Chen and Rhoads, 2016), and transgender students (Goldberg et al., 2020).

  • Key Findings from National Studies:

    • Studies by Linder et al. (2020) and Conner (2020) demonstrate various socio-economic backgrounds of student activists, often leaning toward progressive and experienced in multi-issue activism with networks across varied demographics.

    • Average participant identities: Predominantly straight (56%), cis-gender women (68%), students of color (56%), and middle-class (60%).

Pathways to Activism

  • Activism Development in College:

    • College years are critical for political identity formation (Arnett, 2000; Maniss, 2017).

  • Identity Formation:

    • Some arrive with established identities; others grow into these roles through exposure.

    • Routes into activism include family traditions, gradual shifts towards activism, and responses to significant events.

  • Key Historical Moments:

    • Events like the Parkland shooting (2018) and George Floyd's murder (2020) have compelled engagement among many Gen Z students.

Activities and Strategies of Student Activists

  • Types of Activism:

    • Range from "existence as resistance" to "activism consumes life."

    • Common forms include:

    • Social media activism.

    • Educational initiatives (workshops, panels, discussions).

    • Front-line activism (protests, demonstrations).

  • Organizational Frameworks:

    • Established campus clubs: Official recognition and often funded by Student Life Offices (e.g., Black Student Union, LGBTQ+ clubs).

    • External organizations present on campuses (e.g., Sunrise Movement, Turning Point USA).

    • Momentum-based efforts: Grassroots movements often organized spontaneously in response to specific issues.

  • Examples of Successful Activism:

    • Smith College Queers and Allies (Q&A): Campaign led to policy changes regarding transgender inclusivity through organized efforts involving petitions, protests, and coalition-building.

    • Recent University Protests: Haverford College example illustrates effective action from student groups demanding institutional reform in response to racial inequity and other measures (e.g., socio-political demands during class strikes).

Institutional Responses to Activism

  • Response Framework by Cho (2018):

    • Institutions can respond in several ways:

    • Schisming: Stifling activism through indifference or minimization.

    • Appeasement: Engaging with activists superficially while avoiding meaningful change.

    • Co-option: Utilizing student insights without granting real power.

    • Partnership: Collaborative efforts where students share power in decision-making.

  • Challenges to Partnership:

    • Existing power imbalances often complicate the establishment of genuine partnerships, leading to repeated patterns of marginalization.

The Role of Adult Allies

  • Stake of Activism:

    • Adult allies can amplify youth voices, crucial for combating adultism (oppression from adults against youth).

    • Ideal characteristics of an ally: Listens, learns, and provides authentic support without displacing youth voices.

Conclusion

  • Youth Awareness:

    • Student activists recognize their positionality within institutions and society.

    • Institutional changes largely depend on decisions influenced by adult administrators, emphasizing the need for collaborative governance.

  • Multi-Level Recommendations for Higher Education Professionals:

    • Individual Level: Increase visibility and communication between administrators and student activists.

    • Institution Level: Mandatory ongoing education for faculty and staff regarding positionality, power, and privilege.

    • National Level: Encourage partnerships with national organizations promoting equity and inclusion to support networking among student activists.