The latest attempt by the activists to raise awareness about the injustice of Citigroup is indicative of the trend of activism on campus. An issue comes up, a big balloon is blown up with excitement, only to be burst and dropped three days later.

While the awareness campaign launched by the groups was noble in its cause, the effort and determination to see that cause through is lacking. Groups such as the New York Public Interest Research Group were prepared to ask students for increased funding and yet their presence this year was barley noticeable. The tendency among student groups is to protest issues or bring awareness for a matter of days, then move on to the next issue. The grab-bag and quick-fix method of protest will not produce any positive results.

The last time students on this campus were serious about an issue, people were sleeping in the Quad for weeks and attempting to illegally hang banners in the Carrier Dome, on top of Hendricks Chapel — anywhere they could find. More importantly, the students were focused and dedicated to the issue of joining the Worker Rights Consortium, a human rights watchdog group for corporate factories overseas. They did not stop until people listened. Where has this passion and ardent desire for change gone?

Issues do not need to pertain only to Syracuse. Where is the dialogue on this campus concerning the human rights issues in Afghanistan? Why are people siting idly when there is serious talk within in the White House about designing smaller nuclear weapons?

This country is involved in its most heightened state of military action in more than 10 years. And the campus is quiet.

Universities were once the center and birthplace of protest and social upheaval in a country that derives its strength from the passion of its people. The issues are there. The people are willing to listen, but only if they are given something to open their ears — and their minds.

Published on March 20, 2002 at 12:00 pm