Universities Weblog

Ah, the 1960s and 1970s: the heyday of student protests. College campuses were notorious for producing activists of all types. Though this behavior has slowed considerably, is it time to again take a stand? Is this one college tradition that should be kept up?

Students at the University of Minnesota think so. Hundreds of students walked out of their classes on April 28, undeterred by the pouring rain, to protest the war in Iraq.

"It's something we're really, really against," said University of Minnesota senior Amy Clute, who joined the protesters on the school's Twin Cities campus.

The students listened to speakers, chanted slogans and held anti-war posters and banners. Two protesters wore President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney masks and dressed in orange prison garb, toting a sign saying, "Try all war criminals."

Though there was one arrest and several citations for disorderly behavior, the protest was mostly peaceful. Perhaps it's not enough to change the behaviors of the people the students protested against, but maybe it's enough to inspire thought.

Have you ever joined in on a protest? During my years as a college professor, I've only witnessed one student protest. I can't help wishing there were more.

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