Arcadia England

You may already be familiar with the Protest Board in the Arcadia Center’s Student Lounge. The space was created as an outlet for students – and only students – to engage with subject matter related to our Life of the Mind theme, ‘Protest.’ The space is meant to be a respectful arena for thoughtful discussion and questioning. This blog post will ‘relaunch’ and redefine the goal of the board, so that students may use the space for meaningful exchange and expression. In relaunching the board, it feels appropriate to juxtapose the plight of the UK student protester with that of the US student protester – as both have recently featured in the news media.

In London, students have voiced their anger over tuition fees, and the US has seen racial tensions cause disruption at the University of Missouri and at Yale. In response to administrative inaction over race-driven incidents at the University of Missouri, graduate student Jonathan Butler went on a hunger strike. The university’s football team prepared to strike in solidarity with Mr. Butler, which then precipitated the resignation of the university president.

The power, import and impact of protest is very real, and very germane to students in particular. This is a fact even the leader of the free world has emphasized. Please bear this in mind as you engage anew with the protest board.