collegecandy.com: It’s no secret that college students across the country are spending a lot of time protesting whatever is bugging them this week, but apparently they’ve been spending so much time on activism that they’re failing their classes.
An article from Brown University interviewed several students who claim they simply don’t have enough time to balance their schoolwork with their attempts to change the world. Ivy League students who choose protesting over their education.
3 comments:
I’m all for protesting and activism to promote change, but unless someone is a professional activist, they need to structure that activism such that they can still go to work, pay their bills, sleep, and eat. I don’t think protesting is a valid reason to request an extension, unless of course you got arrested during the protest or there was some other extenuating circumstance. There could be circumstances where protesting is more important than grades, in which case students could make that call and take the hit to their grades, but that is a choice they’d have to make unless the professor has decided to give extensions for protesters, which would be the professor’s call. I get that the students in this article are passionate about the issues, but life doesn’t stop just because you are busy with something else. I think they need to find a way to be activists but also get their work done and take care of themselves.
I don’t know how I should feel about this article. The author makes a joke at the end about how this could be a headline from the Onion mocking the change-crazed, overly political millennial. And it totally could. But on the other hand I am all for political activism and I don’t want this stereotype to turn the younger generation’s demands for social change into a joke. I worry that since young people are becoming increasing involvements in movements for change that it will start to be seen as a “trend” instead of a serious protest by a group of passionate citizens. Our generations efforts will not be taken seriously when people involved in them lose sight of their priorities, like failing your $50,000 education to organize events. College used to be about having to balance personal health, education, and a social life. These students have to include standing up to systemic oppression and political issues in their planning. But the key word is balance. No one will thrust you as someone who knows what is wrong with our country when you can’t even deal with the problems in your own work/life balance. Yes, you can change the world as a young student. But in all honestly, you’re in an even better place to change the world as a young adult with an Ivy League diploma.
wow, if this article isn't talking about an Onion article, I would be really surprised. I think its great that these students want to get out and support their beliefs, but if it is getting in the way of your school work, I think they've got their priorities a little tangled. especially at an ivy league school like Brown, you think that they would be less forgiving for such excuses. Don't get me wrong, I think that students standing up for what they believe in is really great. College is a great time to find your voice, but college is also a great time to learn. The author of this article brings up the fact that these students are paying great sums of money to learn and they should be using this time to learn all they can. I completely agree with the author, you are going to school for a short time and paying a very large amount of money so you should take this time to learn. If the students cared that much about what they were protesting, I would they they would take this time to become a lawyer or become experts on the subject so that they can be a substantial threat to their cause in the future. The author also points out that when these students go out and get a real job, their bosses won't be as forgiving with the subject as their college is being.
Post a Comment