Last night at UW-Madison was truly something special — this is the new dominant political and social identity on campus

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42 years ago: 

A few days into it, several thousand protesters marched up Bascom Hill. They cheered thunderously when Professor Williams called them “the conscience of the university.” Then President Harrington and Robben W. Fleming, the chancellor, announced that the faculty would reconsider the school’s draft policy.

 

2008:

University of Wisconsin sophomore Evan Wallach, an intern for the Obama campaign, said the event started as only about a hundred people before multiplying to several thousand.

Wallach called it the “most unbelievable display of enthusiasm and patriotism” he had seen in his entire life. The smaller group sang “Star Spangled Banner” between yells and roars.

“People have taken to the streets with a goddamn American flag chanting ‘Obama,’” Wallach said during the march. “And all that campaign rhetoric will finally be delivered on, and we might actually see a change in this country.”

There appeared to be no one who formally organized the march, as people claimed to have come from surrounding areas, called on by the crowd.

  

 

 

(hat tip to Phil)

Some say student activism is dead, others think it’s found in new ways, like this blog or organizing through Facebook. And a few smugly ridicule students for not being “radical” or “conservative” enough in an ineffective attempt to obscure the dwindling numbers that plague their movement. But one thing is certain from last night: give students a reason, something they truly care about, and you will tap deep into their conscience. It was no protest and there is no draft to oppose like Soglin found in the 60s, but the unmistakable result of the spontaneous and joyous march around campus by ordinary, everyday UW students last night is quite clear: in 2008 the “Obama Democrat” is the dominant political and social identity of students at UW-Madison.

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