Student Activism in the Academy

“This insightful volume illustrates the sweep of campus activism, spanning the complex issues of race, gender, identity politics, political correctness, and the ubiquity of social media as their main theater. In a political age in search of a compelling narrative for an inclusive democratic ideal, this provocative book captures the diverse voices of student activism.”

Richard Guarasci, President of Wagner College and Chair of the National Board of Directors of The Association of American Colleges and Universities

“DeVitis and Sasso have brought together an admirable compilation of diverse scholars and student activists who explore historical and contemporary approaches to campus activism. The authors quickly push beyond the charity model of doing good for “them” as an objectified group outside of one's self. Instead, they create ways in which an 'I' viewpoint intersects with 'we' perspectives across various identities. Taken together, their model can help us work toward a stronger, more diverse, democracy through campus activism. This is an important book for campus administrators, faculty, and students who seek to provide engaged environments by enabling us to better understand mindful, reflective activism while analyzing such significant themes as social media, sexual violence, neoliberalism, community improvement and beyond.”

Penny A. Pasque, Professor and Department Head of Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development North Carolina State University

Dedication

Preface
Joseph L. DeVitis and Pietro A. Sasso

Part One: Contexts, Conditions, and Struggles

1. The Promise and Struggles of Campus-Based Student Activism
Cassie L. Barnhardt

2. Communication, Dialogue, and Student Activism
Spoma Jovanovic

3. Social Media: Changing Activism for Better or for Worse
Tess Halpern

4. Social Media and Student Activism: Transformative Moments in Recent History
Angus Johnston

5. Freedom of Speech on the Contemporary Campus: A Bridge over Troubled Waters or a Highway to Hell?
Dennis E. Gregory

6. Debating Equality, Neoliberalism, Normativity, and Campus Rhetoric
Peter Halewood

7. Thinking Beyond Political Correctness
Joshua Axelrod

Part Two: Identity, Political Formation, and Promise

8. The Shift from Internationalism to Identity Politics: From Our Oppressions to My Oppression
Michael Soldatenko and Eric Margolis

9. The Legacy of the Campus Living Wage Movement
Ashton R. Cooper and J. Patrick Biddix

10. Women’s Issues and Student Protest
Betsy Eudey

11. Peter Pan Is White Boy Wasted: The Wanderlust of College Men in Protest
Pietro A. Sasso

12. Navigating the Complex Realities of Campus-Based Sexual Violence: Activism and Resistance
Marvette C. Lacy and Terah J. Stewart

13. Black Student Activism: Ongoing Paradoxes and Past Struggles in Higher Education
Victoria K. Malaney Brown

14. Latinx Student Activism: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
Ebelia Hernández and Roberto Orozco

15. Maintaining Equity: Queer Student Community Improvement: Work, Precarity, and Compensation
Cris Mayo, with Joshua Stuart

16. College Students with Disabilities and Their Activism
J. Mark Pousson and Karen A. Myers

Contributors

Joseph L. DeVitis

Joseph L. DeVitis is a retired professor of educational foundations and higher education. He is a past president of the American Educational Studies Association (AESA), the Council of Learned Societies in Education, and the Society of Professors of Education. Dr. DeVitis is the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Two of his books have earned Choice Awards from the American Library Association, and four others have won Critics Choice Awards from AESA as outstanding books of the year, including his most recent book, Popular Educational Classics (Peter Lang, 2016).

Pietro A. Sasso

Pietro Sasso has over 10 years of professional and teaching experience in postsecondary education. As an administrator, his experience is exceptionally diverse, spanning several educational administrative functional areas. As a scholar, he has written and co-edited 7 texts, authored over 35 scholarly publications, and facilitated over 30 national and regional presentations. He is the recipient of the AFA Dr. Charles Eberly Research Award from AFA and is the ACPA Men and Masculinities Emerging Scholar-In-Residence.