Student Activism and the University: Resources, Challenges, and Opportunities

Abstract

No examination of social justice and the university would be complete without a discussion of student activism. As a group, students and youth have historically been important actors by connecting to a variety of social, economic, and environmental justice issues and movements across the globe (Boren, 2001). Students have often been at the forefront of efforts to reshape society, challenging existing structures and social order, and envisioning new futures and lives for their generation (DeGroot, 1998). Within the United States, student activism has a rich history, stemming back to the inception of higher education in the colonial era (Ellsworth and Burns, 1970; Johnston, 1998). Although a variety of social, economic, and political factors have led to the evolution of higher education in the United States, actions that students take continue to significantly shape this evolution and the practices and policies of institutions of higher education. Student activism in the United States has featured a range of political strategies and focal points. Students work hard to raise awareness and bring attention to a variety of social justice issues and how colleges and universities, as powerful institutions, may suppress or encourage social justice and change (Boren, 2001; Ellsworth and Burns, 1970). The university serves not only as a space where students come together to promote and work toward social justice, but also as a prime focus of student campaigns and political attention.KeywordsSocial JusticeFair TradeNiger DeltaStudent ActivismJustice OrganizationThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.