2008 Woodie Awards
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER: ...or They Fall for Anything
Maggie Ownbey
Issue date: 9/28/05 Section: Opinion
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If you consider being an activist to mean signing a petition online and forwarding it on to your buddy list-consider this: Cindy Sheehan didn't email President Bush.
She took her protest against the war in Iraq that took the life of her son Casey- all the way to his doorstep in Crawford, Texas.
When he refused to meet with her one-on-one to discuss the issue of pulling our troops out she took the show on the road-destination Washington, D.C.
Our country is in the middle of a war-a war we were misguided by our government into fighting. Add to that Bush's backdoor draft-enforced extensions of duty for our soldiers already fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This war shows no sign of ending soon, recruitment is down and the National Guard troops are being deployed at record levels-raising the fear of a college-age draft being reinstated.
Anybody getting concerned enough to speak out about this-anybody?
"[Activism] is on the decline, definitely," said Vardan Pzdikyan, the Valley College Associated Student Union's Commissioner of Political Affairs. "I think it's the growing distrust in government they have already that's keeping them from doing anything else."
Fair enough. And after all you can learn everything you need online, right?
Last week I went out on campus and to my surprise there was a "free speech table" set up by Students for Peace, I did a few cartwheels. This club is as passionate as any group that has come before them.
SFP President Anitra Wetzel, a 24-year-old social science major, stood handing out flyers and very strong opinions, not only on the war in Iraq but the lack of student involvement.
"Students are [so] worried about their instant gratifications that they don't get involved," said Wetzel. "Maybe it's just the fear of being wrong, fear of not being accepted that goes along with every aspect of school."
Her message to students: "Get involved-speak up and don't be afraid to ask questions."
Yes Virginia, there are outspoken students dedicated to important causes.
"Where are all the student groups?" asked 20-year-old political science major Luis Linares, hanging out at the SFP table. "The Army's here every day."
Back in those tumultuous times known as the 1960s, a lot of Valley students and educators paved the way for this generation to follow: Holding silent vigils-or standing up in the quad and speaking out against an enforced draft that they refused to sign up for and an unjust war in Viet Nam they did not believe in-Students for a Democratic Society comes to mind.
"Valley used to be a hot bed of protest, look around today and you ask where are those students," said media arts professor Joseph Daccurso. "Not just students, the faculty would really stand and deliver."
So you say you want a revolution? Today's students want an evolution-let's hope together with like-minded faculty they can change apathy into activism.
She took her protest against the war in Iraq that took the life of her son Casey- all the way to his doorstep in Crawford, Texas.
When he refused to meet with her one-on-one to discuss the issue of pulling our troops out she took the show on the road-destination Washington, D.C.
Our country is in the middle of a war-a war we were misguided by our government into fighting. Add to that Bush's backdoor draft-enforced extensions of duty for our soldiers already fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This war shows no sign of ending soon, recruitment is down and the National Guard troops are being deployed at record levels-raising the fear of a college-age draft being reinstated.
Anybody getting concerned enough to speak out about this-anybody?
"[Activism] is on the decline, definitely," said Vardan Pzdikyan, the Valley College Associated Student Union's Commissioner of Political Affairs. "I think it's the growing distrust in government they have already that's keeping them from doing anything else."
Fair enough. And after all you can learn everything you need online, right?
Last week I went out on campus and to my surprise there was a "free speech table" set up by Students for Peace, I did a few cartwheels. This club is as passionate as any group that has come before them.
SFP President Anitra Wetzel, a 24-year-old social science major, stood handing out flyers and very strong opinions, not only on the war in Iraq but the lack of student involvement.
"Students are [so] worried about their instant gratifications that they don't get involved," said Wetzel. "Maybe it's just the fear of being wrong, fear of not being accepted that goes along with every aspect of school."
Her message to students: "Get involved-speak up and don't be afraid to ask questions."
Yes Virginia, there are outspoken students dedicated to important causes.
"Where are all the student groups?" asked 20-year-old political science major Luis Linares, hanging out at the SFP table. "The Army's here every day."
Back in those tumultuous times known as the 1960s, a lot of Valley students and educators paved the way for this generation to follow: Holding silent vigils-or standing up in the quad and speaking out against an enforced draft that they refused to sign up for and an unjust war in Viet Nam they did not believe in-Students for a Democratic Society comes to mind.
"Valley used to be a hot bed of protest, look around today and you ask where are those students," said media arts professor Joseph Daccurso. "Not just students, the faculty would really stand and deliver."
So you say you want a revolution? Today's students want an evolution-let's hope together with like-minded faculty they can change apathy into activism.
