Stressing clarity in activism

Discussions about the role and presence of activism at the College have found a new focus following the “mic check” attempted by a handful of audience members at Larry Summers’ lecture on Thursday. This action was not only disruptive but also disrespectful, and it diminished the opportunity for meaningful discourse at the College. Moreover, the protest, which lacked a clear objective, was not conducive to furthering dialogue on any particular issue. This is not necessarily because the issues raised were not compelling, but because the form the protest took detracted from the protesters’ intended message. As a result, Thursday’s mic check has ignited frustration about the protesters’ methods and motives rather than sparking productive debate. Continue Reading »