Student activism

A detailed Summary of Student activism

Student activism has changed a lot since 1960's. It has taken on a different lilt than our parents' generation. Many political issues turned from local to global, some don't need an immediate intervention; some others became more crucial for Generation X, while students of the 60s wouldn't worry about them for another 10 - 20 years. There are many factors that affected student activism in 60s and 90s that included political situation in the country and in the world, economical and social status of the students, media control over information such as television, radio, newspapers. Level of education has also changed in the past 30 years. There are other reasons why students are not interested in changing the world any more; apathetic, they became less involved, unless it's affects them directly.

Back in 1960s issue of Vietnam war mobilized many students. They protested against violent pointless war, they united for antiwar demonstrations and rallies; they had a good central idea to fight for. There were "small signs of resistance" throughout the country, but when the students united, the opposition to the war became so "fierce and violent" that the President of the United States was forced to resign. Another social issue s

Students of the 90s are more concerned with being marketable after college than devoting time to political issues. While answering the polling questions only 23% of students in 1960s said that their future job is important because it'll enable to earn a good deal of money. In 1990s on the same question 76% answered that money are more important in the future job. This shows that students now are more desperate economically, more tied into their loans; therefore, they have less time for political activities. Other students feel they may be more effective after college. A 1997 UCLA survey found more students pursuing advanced degrees than ever before. "This really reflects the fact that students are concerned about education as a means to an end. They're very realistic. They know they need college and graduate degree to get a job", told Linda Sax, the director of the survey. In contrast, the majority of students in 60s did not worked, their tuition was paid in full by their parents; therefore, they had more time and energy to be politically active and involved with many student organizations.

There is more optimism then ever before; however, the problem of student involvement is still a large one. Perhaps a solution can be found in the others student non-political organizations, clubs. They could bring more attention to political issues and increase political awareness of their members.

College education system back in the 60s has served as a base for facilitation of alternative thinking. Students were attracted to universities by possibility to be creative, to be unique. In 90s even the method of teaching has changed. There is not much creativity left in scantron. Most classes are lectures rather than seminars. The experiments of teaching

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Approximate Word count = 1193
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Miscellaneous