Activism in Higher Education: Empowering Students’ Voices

By Grace Harris

In recent years, the political state of our world has rapidly declined. As young people face the complex issues of the modern world such as war, climate change, and political unease, it is easy to become disenchanted with society.

Many students feel a need to get involved in activism in ways such as raising awareness for humanitarian crises or campaigning for better disability inclusion. However, there are still many students today who do not engage in activism, which I believe damages both our society and their development as individuals. It is vital that students use their voices to demand a better world for those who cannot demand it for themselves. As well as providing us with an academic education, university provides us with the opportunity to gain a social and political education. A key example of dedicated student activism on our own campus is the QUB Palestinian Assembly.

One issue this group draws attention to is student tuition fees being “funnelled into arms companies.” Although Queen’s has pledged to divest from companies listed by the UN Human Rights Council as carrying out listed activities in relation to Palestine, links with other problematic companies remain.

I asked participants why students should be getting involved in activism, one member responding, “Students are in a unique position, they have more free time than the rest of the world.” As to why they felt being involved in student activism is so important, particularly in relation to this cause, they answered, “in some way, the money I spend goes towards killing people, and so I have to.”

I was told the inspiring story of Queen’s students in the 1980s, who named Mandela Hall after Nelson Mandela after he was named a terrorist, showing their support of the Anti-Apartheid Movement.

One member states, “The Student Union has to be bolder than what it is now and come out stronger against genocide and apartheid.”

The QUB Palestinian Assembly endeavour to “mobilise students to get more engaged and take inspiration from student activists in the U.S.” They aim to pressure the University to remove Hillary Clinton as Vice Chancellor and divest from companies which support the genocide. They also want to introduce BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) on campus.

The group has a diverse range of members, one being a U.S. exchange student who participated in the encampments, who feels that the situation in Palestine has, “only gotten worse,” expressing that being involved in student activism is their “way of coping with the grief that we are seeing.”

I strongly believe that the best way to be involved in activism as a student is to join a group such as the Palestinian Assembly and show support at rallies and protests. However, these traditional methods are not accessible to everyone.

One limiting factor is disability; individuals with physical disabilities may be unable to attend protests due to inaccessibility. Mental health conditions can also be a barrier, especially for those who find high-intensity situations overstimulating.

One must also consider those who cannot afford to put their education at risk by potentially facing issues with the authorities. Even non-violent protest comes with its risks.

Luckily, there are many ways for young people to participate in activism and express political opinion, so everyone has an opportunity to get involved. I strongly urge students to take this opportunity.

Studies have shown that “across the globe, younger generations have become steadily more dissatisfied with democracy” [1], and many students are discovering new ways to combat the problems we are seeing.

Social media has become an extremely powerful tool for enacting social change. TikTok is a platform being used increasingly as a tool for young activists. TikTok creator Vi (@hi.itsvi) is an example, using her platform to advocate for those with disabilities and raise awareness of the problems they face.

Many TikTok creators have participated in Operation Olive Branch, a movement which promotes liberation and raises money to help families evacuate Gaza.

Traditional journalism is also a good way to spread important information and highlight corruption in groups and individuals. Even more individual actions, such as educating yourself and those around you or donating to relief organisations, are admirable acts of activism.

It is clear students need to make the best of our free time by getting involved in activism, in all its different forms. As future leaders, it is our duty to shape a just future, free from violence and prejudice. No one is going to make these changes for us, and I look forward to seeing the positive impacts that young activists in our generation create.

[1] R.S. Foa, A. Klassen, D. Wenger, A. Rand and M. Slade, “Youth and Satisfaction with Democracy:
Reversing the Democratic Disconnect?”, Cambridge, United Kingdom: Centre for the Future of
Democracy, 2020.