Activism
continued from page 1
show support for or disapproval of
the protesters.
“It was an excellent opportunity
to see a sit-in,” he said. “To witness
this contest over public space, this
was a prime example.”
He said the situation provided his
students a valuable lesson in the
symbolism inherent to all collective
movements.
“It wasn’t just any administration
building,” he said. “It had become a
space of broader global conflict. ...
There’s something in witnessing that,
that you can’t get out of a textbook.”
While Dreiling is active in several
causes himself, he said he under
stands he can’t bring his own politi
cal agenda into the classroom. He
said it’s his job to provide only the
context for his students to under
stand political movements, not to
inspire them to become activists
themselves.
“I don’t believe that what we offer
is a route to some political truth,” he
said. “I think what we can offer is a
set of tools for students to create
their own, more informed and en
riched horizon on social reality.”
Daniel Pope, a history professor
and head of the history department,
has taught a class on American radi
calism for 25 years at the University
and said he has witnessed several
student movements. He also was ac
tive himself in the movement against
the Vietnam War during the 1960s.
Pope said there are two schools of
thought on collective actions. The
first, and the one he adheres to, is
that groups will organize by the
merit of their causes. He said those
who are drawn to activism are then
the ones who most adamantly be
lieve their cause can be successful.
The second school of thought is
based on the idea that activists unite
through causes because they can’t
bond with society, he said.
“Their inability to cope with the
world leads them to protest,” he said.
Even though Pope did not give
much credence to the theory, he did
acknowledge that people are attract
ed to collective movements through
the people they know.
“You can’t say no one is pulled
into things because their roommate
or friend or girlfriend is involved,”
he said.
Pope said the most frequent moti
vation for collective action on cam
pus has been environmental con
cerns. He said the same kind of
fervor for “green” causes that was
around in the 1960s and 1970s is
still prevalent, even if some of the
specifics have changed.
“Oregon is a hot spot for that kind
of environmental consciousness,”
he said.
1 he recent and spirited protests
against international trade can be at
tributed to this respect for the envi
ronment, he said, but also to the
prominence of large Uni vers ty
donors in the issues.
“When you have a visible and
personified target, that makes a re
source for organizing,” he said.
While Pope said all campus
protests have been constructive and
positive, he was troubled by what
he termed an “anti-humanist view”
that he said placed too much em
phasis on animals and trees and de
graded the human life.
He said when he sees protesters de
stroying business and engaging in
eco-terrorism, he believes it’s “dumb
and destructive and kind of hostile.”
Associate political science profes
sor Gerald Berk teaches a course on
political movements in American
history and has witnessed protests
during his years at the University.
The first occurred shortly after he
arrived on campus, and was based
on a dispute about multicultural
ism. Berk said that even though
tempers flared during the protests,
the outcome of the movement was
commendable.
“My first impression of campus
movements and the way the admin
istration handled it was very posi
tive,” he said.
Berk said positive dialogue be
tween students and the administra
tion has continued, but he did note
a lingering break between students
and the administration following
the sit-ins over the Worker Rights
Consortium.
“It seems to me now that if any
thing, the gulf between the adminis
tration and students is growing big
ger,” he said.
2001
(10 Summer
Session
Duck Call/Duck
web
Starts Today!
Register Now for
Summer Classes.
Book Your Summer in Oregon
Summer session starts June 25. Short courses, seminars, and workshops begin
throughout the summer. The UO Summer Session Catalog is here now. Pick up your
copy today in the Summer Session office, 333 Oregon Hall, or at the UO Bookstore. You
can speed your way toward graduation by taking required courses during summer.
University of Oregon Summer Session
http://uosummer.uoregon.edu/
011561
407 West 11th • Eugene • 431-7300
Fuji Regis Comfort Bike
SALE $149 reg $199
Fuji Suncrest Mountain Bike
SALE $799 reg $899
►Fuji Boulevard Mountain Bike
SALE $149 reg $199
While supplies last
Commit to the Environment the Fun Way!