All eyes were on the University of Missouri and their football team as they spoke out about the racial and religious harassment is handled on their campus. African Americans from the football team, with the support of their coach and white football players, refused to return to practice until the University implemented changes to their policies regarding hate crimes on campus. The school was set to lose well over $1 million if the football team refused to play its upcoming game against Brigham Young University.
On Monday, Nov. 9, the president resigned.
It wasn't solely due to the football team, however. The Missouri faculty planned a walk-out in support of student activists. With the combined efforts of the football team, the faculty and students, it finally came to the administration's attention.
Across my travels through the dreaded internet comment section, I have seen many arguments will complain that colleges are supposed to expose you, not protect you and that overly PC culture is preventing college students from facing the "real world."
In my view, college campuses should certainly expose one to the realities of the real world, but do so in a way that does not alienate certain students. A college campus should be a safe haven for everyone to grow and learn about their interests - but, it is exceedingly difficult to do so if you are the repeated target of harassment, racial slurs, or discrimination. When students speak out and protest, it might not necessarily lead to real policy change, and it certainly will not change everyone's minds. Still, students' expression of their first amendment rights in the form of campus-wide protests allows their peers and their administration to recognize that certain students are uncomfortable with current practices, and perhaps the school could benefit by listening.
If you have ever been harassed or felt unsafe on campus due to your race, religion, gender or sexual identity, no one has the right to say you do not feel the way you do. Your voice, your vote, and your presence can lead your school into becoming a better place. Non-violent protests, sit-ins, walk-outs and civil disobedience are not useless. The students taking part in them are not bored, lazy rich kids who are looking for something to get offended in. All of the above mentioned have been monumental in getting a dialogue started about a series of issues that students are passionate about, and that's all you can really hope for.
