Student activism

Students work to change the world.

Long ago, students in far lands did this too. In Korea, they spoke to a king. In Brazil, they worked for change.

Some students want better schools. In Chile, they asked for more help.

Student activism is when students work for change. They may want social or political changes. Some students protest to improve their own schools. Others march to stop wars or help people.

This work is very old. In the 13th century, students in Europe held actions. In 1519, students in Korea protested to a king. In 1918, students in Argentina led a big movement. They wanted their universities to be more democratic.

In Brazil, a group called the UNE helped change schools. They even helped the country join the Allies in World War II. Later, the military took power. Students kept protesting even when it was dangerous.

In Canada, students have fought for many causes. Some groups worked to raise awareness about social gaps. In 2012, students in Quebec marched because of high tuition costs.

In Chile, students led protests from 2011 to 2013. They wanted more state help for schools. They also wanted to end profit in higher education.

Student activism is when students work to cause change. They might want social, political, or economic changes. Some groups focus on their own schools. Other groups fight against wars or dictators. These movements include people of all ages and races. They come from many different backgrounds. Students often play a big part in winning civil rights.

This way of working is very old. Students in Paris and Bologna took action in the 13th century. In 1519, 150 students in Korea protested to their king. In Argentina, students became a major force after 1900. In 1918, they started the University Revolution in Córdoba. This movement helped make schools more democratic. They even wrote the Córdoba Manifesto to show their goals.

In Brazil, a group called the UNE was very important. It was formed on August 11, 1937. The UNE helped students work together for change. During World War II, they helped Brazil join the Allies. Later, a military coup happened in 1964. The military tried to make students obey them. Even so, students kept protesting in 1966. In 1968, they held the March of the One Hundred Thousand.

Canada also has a long history of student work. In 1964, a group called SUPA grew from a conference. They wanted to change society and help poor areas. In 2012, students in Quebec marched in the streets. They did this because tuition costs went up by 75 percent. They feared they would have too much debt. After an election, the leader promised to fix these laws.

In Chile, students led big protests from 2011 to 2013. They wanted the state to help more with education. They also wanted to stop profit in higher education. Many people in Chile felt things were not fair. This led to many marches and some violence. In China, students have also played a large role. In 1919, 3,000 students gathered at Tiananmen Square. They believed young people are responsible for the future.

Student activism, also known as campus activism, is the organized effort by students to drive political, environmental, economic, or social change. These movements are not limited to a single demographic. They include people of all ages, races, and socio-economic backgrounds. While some student groups focus on the internal affairs of their own institutions, such as demanding disinvestment from fossil fuels, others tackle global issues like wars or dictatorships. Historically, student activism has often been associated with left-wing politics. Beyond mere protest, student groups frequently play central roles in the processes of democratization and the winning of civil rights.

The history of university-level activism is nearly as old as the universities themselves. As early as the 13th century, students in Paris and Bologna staged collective actions. These early efforts were primarily focused on "town and gown" issues, which involve the relationship between the university and the local town. Student protests regarding broader political issues also have a very long pedigree. For example, in 1519, during the Joseon Dynasty in Korea, 150 students from the Sungkyunkwan academy staged an unprecedented demonstration against the king. This protest was a response to the Kimyo purge.

In Latin America, student activism became a major political force after 1900. In Argentina, this movement triggered the University Revolution in 1918. This revolution began in Córdoba and spread across the region. It aimed to modernize universities and promote democratization. The students created the Córdoba Manifesto to express their specific interests in making educational institutions more democratic.

Brazil offers a detailed look at how student organizations can shift political alignments. On August 11, 1937, the União Nacional dos Estudantes (UNE) was formed to unite students across the country. The UNE's political stance changed several times. In the 1940s, the group aligned with socialism. By the 1950s, it shifted toward more conservative values. Eventually, the UNE returned to socialism and joined forces with the União Metropolitana dos Estudantes. The UNE was highly influential in the democratization of higher education. During World War II, they successfully pressured President Getúlio Vargas to join the Allies. However, after a military coup in 1964, the UNE was outlawed. Despite a regime that used terror to ensure student subservience, students continued to protest in 1966. This led to the March of the One Hundred Thousand in June 1968, which was the largest protest organized by the UNE.

In Canada, student activism has taken many forms through various organizations. In the late 1950s and 1960s, the New Left movement produced groups like the Student Union for Peace Action (SUPA). SUPA grew out of the Combined Universities Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CUCND) in December 1964. While CUCND focused on marches, SUPA sought broader societal changes through grassroots politics. Later, groups like Students for a Democratic University (SDU) were formed at McGill and Simon Fraser Universities. In 2012, the Quebec Student Movement emerged due to a 75% increase in tuition. Students feared that this hike would lead to unsustainable debt. Following the election, Premier Jean Charest promised to cancel the hike and repeal anti-assembly laws.

Chilean student mobilization provides a modern example of activism targeting systemic inequality. From 2011 to 2013, nationwide protests rocked the country. Students demanded a new framework for education, including more state participation in secondary schools. They also demanded an end to profit in higher education. At the time, only 45% of high school students studied in traditional public schools, and most universities were private. These protests reflected a deep discontent with Chile's high level of inequality. While many marches were non-violent, some involved violence from both protestors and riot police.

In China, student activism has been a significant factor in modern history, often fueled by nationalism. In 1919, the May Fourth Movement saw over 3,000 students from Peking University and other schools gather at Tiananmen Square. This event is considered a vital step in China's democratic revolution. More recently, in 1989, student-led protests in Tiananmen Square ended in a government massacre of thousands. This event significantly impacted the reputation of the Chinese Communist Party. Throughout these eras, many students have maintained the belief that young people carry the responsibility for the future of the nation.