Planned protests for students of color and sanctuary campus status has sparked the involvement of many people on campus, spiking participation in student activism at DePauw.
Students who witnessed their peers advocating for their beliefs felt inspired. “You get a bigger impression with protests, and you see how much oppression affects people,” said first-year Evan Grathwohl. His personal experience witnessing protests that advocate for minority groups carried a great impact.
These protests have had a ripple effect on first-years by encouraging them to get involved. Upperclassmen expressing views and advocating for change resonated with those who share the same beliefs. “Upperclassmen who led the [Day of Dialogue] protest really inspired me by their strength and ambition to make a difference,” first-year LizaMarie Jimenez-Ojeda said.
First-year Megan Haltom was inspired by witnessing protests on campus. DePauw’s provision of transportation to The Women’s March in Washington D.C. allowed her to participate in the Women’s March alongside other DePauw students. With a goal to expand their social activism on a national level, Haltom and others protested for women’s rights.
“I felt like it was my duty to go because I knew it was something I had to stand up for and something I felt so strongly about,” Haltom said.
Social media has an important role in social activism for DePauw students. Through a click, like, or retweet, anyone can voice their opinion and raise awareness for issues that they care about. Simple hashtags such as ‘#BlackLivesMatter,’ ‘#RefugeesWelcome,’ and ‘#YesAllWomen’ have spread all over social media, and were the sparks for escalated social activism across the country.
These hashtags are more than just a slogan. By posting these hashtags on one’s social media profile, it allows people to identify themselves as allies, vocalize their support for the marginalized, and raise awareness to those who are less familiar with issues.
Jimenez-Ojeda uses Facebook as a platform to reach out to other first-year students, particularly on immigration issues. She posts information regarding events held on campus, ranging from dialogue discussions to DePauw’s resources for undocumented students. She wants other students to know their legal rights and to be aware of the events happening on campus and the resources that DePauw provides.
“It is important to show allyship in all communities being marginalized, whether it be Muslims, the LGBT community, or the issue of immigration,” Jimenez-Ojeda said. “To have people deny people’s status and presence in America does not represent what America should represent.”
The election of President Donald Trump has caused waves of activism across the country, with many people of different groups now motivated to solve social issues. “I think that it’s great that people our age are becoming more involved, even if it’s out of displeasure with the government,” Grathwohl said.
Protests on campus have enacted change in the form of better communication across the school community. “[The protests] have enacted some change. But we have a long way to go for advocating for students in every part of the community,” Jimenez-Ojeda said.
Students have seen improvement in communication to work to fix these issues on DePauw’s campus. “It’s important to see that change,” said Jimenez-Ojeda. “It’s progressing.”