Activism: “Ran by the men, but the women keep the tempo” pt. 2
In my previous article, Activism: “Ran by the men, but the women keep the tempo” pt. 1, I stated how the lifestyle of a student activist is shaped around being a resource and an outlet, on top of being a student.
As a student activist, it is not required for you to be radical if you are not equipped for that life. Not all activism will require you to be in a physical protest, there are several different ways you can perform your activism on a college campus.
One of the first steps is to figure out what kind of change you would like to take place.
How do you do that?
You could become more acquainted with community leaders in the city to get a sense of the disparities that could be changed. You could also consult with professors who teach subjects that are reflecting your mission to get an understanding of certain issues on campus that needs change.
Then you should find an organization on campus that is committed to the same causes you are. If there is not an organization on campus committed to your causes, create one. The more individuals working towards one goal will bring a higher chance of success.
Last, but not least, you should become acquainted with the university’s staff that may work in departments that deals with campus climate and the general welfare of the students. Creating those bonds with the staff early will make it easier for you to turn to them if incidents do arise on campus. Those bonds could be very resourceful for you in your journey to improving your environment.
Those methods are not the only ways to perform your activism and please do not let those methods stop you from pursuing change if you’re not comfortable engaging with people. If all else fails, you could easily write about what is going on and your thoughts for change so others can physically execute those actions or even contribute to them. It is okay to move out of your comfort zone to spark change, many women have done it before you and will continue to do so after you. Remember, all activism doesn’t look the same nor bring the same results, but everything is effective in its own way. It’s better to do something than to not do anything at all.
