Scarce activism at TCU is alarming as the U.S. faces a potential war
Students shoud get involved on campus
COMMENTARY
Ashley Moore

I was a student at Syracuse University the day the United States was attacked by terrorists.

Many of my classmates were shocked, all were mournful, and quite a few were angered such a thing could happen on American soil. In response, Syracuse students voiced their feelings on campus.

Students throughout the following weeks not only organized prayer vigils and support groups to reflect, but also handed out flyers and wrote chalkings on sidewalks to describe how they felt about America’s national and global position. That was my first experience with campus activism.

But when I transferred here just four months after that terrible day, it seemed as though it never happened.

I know students here reacted to Sept. 11 as genuinely as most Americans did. There were prayer vigils and support groups here, too. But where did all of the opinions go? Why wasn’t anyone voicing how they felt about war and the possible terrorist threats to our nation?

As students at a liberal arts university, we would be expected to engage in critical thinking and constructive dialogues in classes.

But that hasn’t happened, despite ample reasons for it to come about.

At the University of Texas at Austin, 2,000 students joined together in a walk-out to show their aversion to war.

Activism is permeating its roots across a variety of other colleges and universities whether they be public or private, such as Northwestern University, the University of Southern California and the University of California, Berkley.

There is a small number of TCU students in organizations trying to make a difference.

Peace Action has organized several “coffee houses” hosted in The Main to encourage discussion of the current issues our nation faces.

Both College Republicans and Young Democrats discuss the consequences of war at their meetings.

University Campus Ministries last semester hosted a lecture, as well as discussion panel about the “Ethics of War.”

And in early March, there will be a two day National Teach-In to educate students about Iraq and the politics and ethics of war. Peace Action is planning a Walk-Out the next day to demonstrate their aversion to war.

Why do students not participate?

Maybe it is because TCU is a small, private institution with generally conservative students. Conservatism usually doesn’t lead to activism.

But that doesn’t mean it can’t.

Part of being a responsible citizen is participating in that free market of ideas we hear so often about. At TCU, that market is pretty bare.

Ashley Moore is a sophomore advertising/public relations and English major from Houston. She can be reached at (s.a.moore5@tcu.edu).