Student Activism: Blind Perspective of Studentry and Society

Student Activism: Blind Perspective of Studentry and Society

Education is a human right. While I am looking in the absence, I saw these words on the wall of the university. Way back when I was in high school, I cared about the issues and problems of the country, but it’s only for the sake of my position as photojournalist in my journalism subject. Then, when I entered in the state university, I met different people with their own perspectives and views in different kind of issues. What innervates me is when I met some activists. To be honest, I don’t even know why I admire them so much unlike other people who judge them as narrow-minded. I’m not a student activist nor a member of any student activism group. I’d just met a person where he told me brief information, both negative and positive, about activism because actually it was confusing for me to know if what activism is, especially when my dad told me that I should not join in any activism organization when I go to college. Therefore, I came to the realization and asking myself what’s wrong with them?

Activism is from the root word ‘act’, which means the process of doing a thing or a formal record of something done or transacted. It also comes from the word 'active’ which means involved in the activities of a group or organization and participating in an action or activity. So it means ‘Activism’ is the taking of direct action of a group or organization to achieve a well- determined goal (as cited in Catedral, 2006). And also, to be specific, according to Merriam Webster Dictionary, “Activism is a doctrine or practice that emphasizes direct vigorous action especially in support of or opposition to one side of a controversial issue”. Insertion of the word youth in activism is the involvement of young in establishing the community for social change. There are three types of youth activism. First is where the youth keep themselves in social activism which is organized and led by the older generation. Second is where older people who organized while youth are take charge of all the activities. This is mostly in activists groups which were formed by adults when they were young. Lastly, the type of activism is an organization which is only made by the young people. This type of organization, there is no other influence. It is purely youth driven (Activism Essay, 2010). However, in the Philippines setting, still, there are a lot of people who has misconceptions of youth activism and they don’t know what the genuine roles of student activists in a university and in a society.

In the Philippines, the epitome of youth activism is the student activists of the University of the Philippines. It is a state university where known as many activism organizations. Here, we first heard this chant:

Iskolar ng Bayan,
Ngayon ay Lumalaban!
Iskolar ng Bayan:
Tunay, Palaban, Makabayan!
- Chant of UP Student Activists

This kind of chant is not fresh to our ear. U.P. is for masses- people. According to Rex Varona, he said, "When we (the U.P. students) signed our Form 5 (Registration form), we executed a blood compact with our people" (as cited Catedral, 2006). That’s why when I entered in U.P., I completely understand that it is an institution with big roles and has different functions of the past preserving the power of youth in the society. Otherwise, U.P. also the major rallying point for all kinds of dissent, protest actions, and social criticism. According to Salgado, Social Philosopher, Student Activism will have become concerned more than just petty problems and also have developed eager awareness of society, environment, government, and human rights (as cited Catedral, 2006).

U.P. is about offering oneself for the nation. The responsibility of university is not only around campus as well as for the nation. However, Louie Montemar, chairman of SAMASA (Sandigan Para sa Mag-aaral at Sambayanan) and Norman Camay of the People's Service Corps - UP [a social service oriented organization] agreed that there's a gap between UP students and masses. The reason why majority of student disengaged from the masses are lack of enthusiasm and participation. Many individuals live with their quiet life, thinking they're not affected of what was happening to the general public. Then, if they only realize that they could learn and reach out with "others", majority of student could be active in many issues despite their elite origins (as cited in Catedral, 2006). The reason why some students don’t want to be involved and participated in this kind of organization is because of their belief that when you are one of the activists group, some people will look at you as narrow minded and rebel.

Many people in our country have misconceptions when they heard about ‘Youth Activism’. They will describe student activists as noisy and petty as well as the stereotyping when it comes to their physical appearance, activists describe like this. They are long hair, rugged I-don't-care-what-you-think outfits, public outcry, politics, scandals, strikes and what-have-you (Catedral, 2006). Whereas, on the other hand, many people couldn’t see what’s behind youth activists, they didn’t ever appreciate activists with raising their placards, walking in the middle of the highway, under the heat of sun with hazy and sweat throughout of their body just to become the voices of our university and society contrary to the political, social and economic issues, also in the environment and human rights. According to April A., a blogger, “But student activism is more than just the rallies and demonstrations being held. It is more than just the placards being raised, more than just the voices being exhausted, and even more than just the sweat being vigorously spent. It is something much more abstract, something only an open-minded person can fully grasp. Student activism is that beacon of hope for the people calling for societal change.”

In settling the minds of people’s misinterpretations about Activism, I know it’s hard for them to fully understand if what was the significance to the university and to our nation of youth activism is, just like what we have said, we cannot please everybody’s standpoint. However, in the context of this paper, what I want to clarify for the people, especially for those who came from the university that has youth activism, to know the important role of the youth activists in the university and society, that they don’t deserve the judgment of others based on their physical manifestations and being rebellious group of youth, but what they only deserve is appreciation, respect and admiration.



References:


Activism Essay 2. (2010, 10). StudyMode.com. Retrieved 10, 2010, from http://www.studymode.com/essays/Activism-Essay-2-457586.html

April, A. (2013, July 9). Misconceptions of Genuine Student Activism. Retrieved from: http://a-curiousthing.blogspot.com/2013/07/misconceptions-of-genuine-student.html

Catedral, A. (2006, September 28). Youth Activism & the Urban Filipino Psyche. Retrieved from: http://voices.yahoo.com/youth-activism-urban-filipino-psyche-86027.html?cat=9


Jose, D. (1991, September 4). “The UP Student Movement Revisited”. National Midweek. pp. 9-11.

Lumbera, B. Et al., (2008). Serve the people: Ang kasaysayan ng radikal na kilusan sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas.
Salgado, P.V. (1972). Social Philosophy in the Philippine Context. Quezon City: Santo Domingo Convent. pp.125-131.


Valte, M.R., (1988 ). “UP Student Movement: In search of the right mix”. Diliman Review. (vol. 36, no. 5) pp. 55.