The rights to free speech and to peaceably assemble were important enough to be included in not the third, not the second, but the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Advocacy on college campuses utilizing these rights has been and will always be an important mechanism for change in our lives, and we at Plattsburgh State have gotten to see just how powerful those rights can be over the last few weeks.
The student body at PSUC has shown that making its voice heard can still be effective.
Student dissent toward the PSUC administration’s response to a student’s racist snapchat has brought about some change, however minor.
SUNY representatives were brought in to hear the students’ concerns and will hopefully come up with ways forward for our campus.
Diversity week panels and events this past week have continued to keep the conversation open, but its a conversation that needs to stay open past that.
With spring break approaching, we need to not let our desire for change fade. Change needs to happen on this campus, but without a continued vocal presence by the student body, it won’t.
We need to stay active, stay loud and advocate for what we believe in.
