"Radical Academia"? Understanding the Climates for Campus Activists

Take an in-depth look at campus activism in the 21st century with this issue of New Directions for Higher Education. Campuses have always experienced an ebb and flow of activism, and the recent displays of student activism on American campuses show that protesters remain a vibrant subculture in American higher education. From rising tuition costs to the need to improve and welcome diversity, activists signal a continued restlessness among the nation s collegiate youth over various issues, expressing their views with a vigor comparable to most periods in American history. The purpose of this work is to dispel the myths that today's activists are either apathetic or radicals determined on disrupting the establishment. It's also a guide to help higher education practitioners better understand the needs, rights, and responsibilities of campus activists. And, it will help readers understand the best paths to not only allowing student voice, but helping direct that voice toward peaceful and constructive expression. This is the 167th volume of the Jossey-Bass quarterly report series New Directions for Higher Education. Addressed to presidents, vice presidents, deans, and other higher education decision makers on all kinds of campuses, it provides timely information and authoritative advice about major issues and administrative problems confronting every institution.

Take an in-depth look at campus activism in the 21st century withthis issue of New Directions for Higher Education.Campuses have always experienced an ebb and flow of activism, andthe recent displays of student activism on American campuses showthat protesters remain a vibrant subculture in American highereducation. From rising tuition costs to the need to improve andwelcome diversity, activists signal a continued restlessness amongthe nation's collegiate youth over various issues, expressingtheir views with a vigor comparable to most periods in Americanhistory.The purpose of this work is to dispel the myths that today'sactivists are either apathetic or "radicals" determinedon disrupting the "establishment." It's also a guide tohelp higher education practitioners better understand the needs,rights, and responsibilities of campus activists. And, it will helpreaders understand the best paths to not only allowing studentvoice, but helping direct that voice toward peaceful andconstructive expression.This is the 167th volume of the Jossey-Bass quarterly report seriesNew Directions for Higher Education. Addressed topresidents, vice presidents, deans, and other higher educationdecision makers on all kinds of campuses, it provides timelyinformation and authoritative advice about major issues andadministrative problems confronting every institution.

EDITORS' NOTES 1Christopher J. Broadhurst, Georgianna L. Martin1. Campus Activism in the 21st Century: A Historical Framing3Christopher J. BroadhurstThis chapter frames campus activism by introducing thehistorical movements that have been important for higher educationsince the 18th century to the present and exploring the connectionsand shared characteristics among these various movements.2. The Role of Graduate Student Unions in the HigherEducation Landscape 17Heidi WhitfordGraduate student unionization efforts have made an indeliblemark on the higher education milieu, as illustrated by theexperiences of students who participated in this movement in recentyears.3. Collective Action on Campus Toward Student Development andDemocratic Engagement 31Adrianna Kezar, Dan MaxeyThis chapter explores the ways faculty and staff work withstudents to support their activism as well as the way students tapfaculty and staff to support their movements.4. Campus-Based Organizing: Tactical Repertoires ofContemporary Student Movements 43Cassie L. BarnhardtThis chapter elaborates on the range of collective actiontactics and organizing strategies that today's studentsinvoke to pursue their ambitions for social change.5. Performances of Student Activism: Sound, Silence, Gender,and Dis/ability 59Penny A. Pasque, Juanita Gamez VargasThis chapter explores the various performances of activism bystudents through sound, silence, gender, and dis/ability and howthese performances connect to social change efforts around issuessuch as human trafficking, homeless children, hunger, andchildren6. Development Through Dissent: Campus Activism as CivicLearning 73J. Patrick BiddixThis chapter traces two decades of published research onlearning outcomes related to campus activism and reports resultsfrom a speculative study considering civic outcomes fromparticipation in campus political and war demonstrations.7. Understanding and Improving Campus Climates for Activists87Georgianna L. MartinThis chapter synthesizes the common themes across chapters inthis volume and argues that campus activists are an integral partof the higher education landscape.INDEX 9