Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox.
Subscribe to our newsletter here.

Headlines today are alarming, and the news has become a constant topic of conversation. People often talk about how upset they are with what’s happening in the world with national politics. I hear it in restaurants, in classrooms and in conversations with friends.

But on campus, this outrage rarely turns into action.

Problems haven’t gone away, but students now seem to accept these issues for what they are rather than fight for change. When democracy is challenged, as many believe it is today, it should be met with immediate resistance.

I’ve noticed a sense of hopelessness among students. Many feel as if there is nothing they can do to create change. The most outspoken groups now primarily discuss issues online. This shift reflects the culture we live in but doesn’t leave much room for productive discussion.

Last year there was a large “Hands-off Protest,” in regards to President Donald Trump’s policies. Students and faculty all gathered to argue for what they believed to be right. This year, I haven’t seen a protest of this nature.

You don’t get to choose when campus protests appear in front of you. This is what makes them so effective, especially compared to their online alternatives. Online discourse makes it easy to forget there are real people behind the screen. Seeing people gathered together in-person shows how deeply they actually care about the issue at hand.

Young, college-aged people have the power to create significant change in the world, as seen in movements such as the Civil Rights movements and the fight for women’s rights. The protests in the ‘60s and ‘70s saw students who were not afraid of the repercussions and discrimination that they may face because they believed what they were fighting for was unequivocally right. In the ‘70s, Syracuse University saw the anti-war strike, along with the Syracuse 8 boycott against athletic discrimination.

Today, I don’t see that same fervor.

With upcoming midterms this fall, students have the chance to vote and take democracy into their own hands. Just like the changes we’ve seen in the past, protesting and taking a real, in-person stand can influence results. Online discourse is great, but students must show how much it means to them.

It isn’t enough to just talk about how upsetting things are among your friends. This doesn’t mean that it isn’t difficult. It takes courage to put yourself out there. It’s hard to go onto campus and speak out about what you believe in front of all your peers. It can feel embarrassing and intimidating.

The current political climate definitely plays a role in this. Polarization is everywhere, which makes speaking out feel risky. Students worry about being labeled, misunderstood or attacked online.

But, change itself is difficult and inherently uncomfortable. If students want to see real change, their beliefs must be backed by real action, rather than passive support. If something feels wrong, the response cannot stop at frustration. It’s time to break out of the comfort zone and take meaningful action through protest.

Complaining about these issues while doing nothing to address them only contributes to the cycle, especially on a campus of politically engaged students. Posting an Instagram carousel on your story isn’t enough. If people want to see real change, they have to be willing to act in the real world.

Drew Zundell is a sophomore majoring in broadcast journalism. He can be reached at djzundel@syr.edu.

Published on March 16, 2026 at 10:33 pm