While student protest is an integral and rich part of UW-Madison’s history, some believe protesting has become a routine example of fanatical liberalism on campus. It seems like there is a different protest every day and too many issues to keep track of. The results of the 2016 election cycle have spurred marches for various causes all across the nation, as the Trump presidency continues to provide a limitless stream of controversial policies and scandals.
About two weeks ago I witnessed my first on-campus protest as a student at UW-Madison when students gathered at Gordon’s to voice their disagreement with University Housing’s mandatory meal plan policy. I listened as the shouting of angry students overcame the quiet murmur of dinnertime conversation and watched as they marched, unified, through the crowds of people trying to buy food. But this time, that was all I did — I watched.
Especially following the 2016 presidential election, participating in events like the Women’s March or the March for Science felt like an obvious choice. After arriving on campus, things felt different. The protesters at Gordon’s had all eyes on them. Many people looked confused as to what was happening and some were plainly angry that this event was causing a delay. I couldn’t suppress the thought that the reason I wasn’t chanting with them was
And then February 14,
In the days following the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, the adolescent survivors of the tragedy have risen to almost celebrity status because of their outspoken activism. Their names and faces are recognizable to anyone who has watched the news in the past two weeks. In particular, a Stoneman Douglas senior named Emma Gonzalez has made headlines for her passionate, articulate speech made just days after the shooting.
The students of Parkland have shown that protesting and activism are not hobbies. They become reality when something has gone very wrong, to the point where the disruption of daily life is necessary in order to convince others that your cause matters. Recently, more than just protesting for causes, protests have become a way of proclaiming that all people deserve the right to live a safe, fulfilling life.
It is 2018 and we are living in a different world than last year and the year before. Being able to brush off protesting is not only an exercise of immense privilege but also a manifestation of a lack of empathy. Some people have said that the Parkland students are demonstrating the skills of future politicians, but they shouldn’t have to be. No high schooler should ever have to become a lobbyist at 15, 16 or 17 years old just to prove that they have the right to feel safe in their school. They are making a tremendous sacrifice by choosing to dedicate their foreseeable future to activism and are an example to all of us. We owe it to them — and to each other — not to be silent.
Some people are hesitant to participate in student protests because they are afraid of what others will think of them, but the truth is that every movement matters, no matter how small the issue may seem. More than I value my reputation, I value the lives of my classmates. I don’t want to attend a candlelight vigil on Library Mall ever again and that means encountering obstacles while enduring ridicule. Protests are not an example of divisiveness in the U.S. but rather a reminder that it’s important now more than ever to care about your neighbor.
Izzy is a freshman studying political science and education policy. Have you
