Throughout American history, student protest has been a proud democratic tradition on our college campuses. Students have been among the first to protest and often are the most influential in advocating for governmental change. In addition, students have fought to uphold the First Amendment rights of freedom of speech, press, assembly and petition.
Many of the issues that have been protested over the past week or so are deeply felt and resonate with a broad segment of society. However, in order to be successful, students seeking a change in government policy will need to articulate the desired essential national policy changes that will most resonate with citizens. This could be something as simple as directing war funds to education and health or as complex as eliminating the death penalty or ending human trafficking.
The first challenge is to articulate the desired policy changes, a task made more difficult in times of political polarization. In addition, the protest goals must be clearly stated in a way that is easily communicated through social media and to a broader public.
Lastly, the protesters must be prepared to accept any consequences of their actions. While the Constitution protects your right to assemble, protesters who cross into unprotected conduct or speech may be subject to arrest and have their activities restricted by authorities. This is why it is critical to carefully review the rules of engagement and have a clear understanding of when you are crossing into protected speech versus when you are engaging in civil disobedience.