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The Dartmouth
July 10, 2025 | Latest Issue
The Dartmouth

Student activists discuss campus mobilization strategies

Six student leaders discussed ways to get involved in activist organizations,. discussing their mixed opinions regarding receiving College funding during a panel discussion in Collis Commonground Thursday. Panel members had divergent views on the helpfulness of the College administration to their organizations. Why War, a group formed against the war in Iraq, got its funding through the behest of the recognized College Greens. Clinton Hendler '05 said that while getting funding from the College was easy, the group was restricted in what it could do.

Alston Ramsay '04 from the Dartmouth Review said he could hardly think of any advantages to being funded by the College. Ramsey said that organizations that accept such funds "accept what [they] get" in terms of money and office space.

Marie Choi '06, representing the Asian American Studies Initiative, said that her organization's goal is a long term one. She pointed to the importance of being diplomatic with the administration.

"Don't burn your bridges too fast," Choi said. "Be patient."

Eva Vivalt '05, an activist for a number of causes, spoke about the negatives of acting independently. She said that it's hard to set up information tables and get attention when you are not affiliated with an organization.

The panel also discussed the role of other organizations with similar causes. Co-captain of the women's swimming and diving teams Priscilla Zee '04 remarked on the helpfulness of the national media attention in the fight to save the swimming and diving teams. The team's struggle was recognized by USA Swimming and ESPN. The team was also put on eBay, a move that Zee recalled as a "stroke of genius."

The panelists also talked about staying motivated, especially when there isn't a concrete goal involved. Steven Zyck '04 pointed out that the goal of the Men's Project is a "climate change" or a change in people's minds. He said that in order to stay motivated, the organization has to take a celebratory approach. "It can't just be about anger," Zyck said.

All panelists talked about the importance of the people within their organizations, and Zyck and Ramsay both emphasized the importance of building a social base within the organization. Members of both organizations get together for dinners and parties. Vivalt said it is central to keep people excited and enthusiastic. Ramsay pointed to the importance of freshman recruitment, while Zee said simply, "Everybody counts."