University students during the after war period participated actively in activism against issues that affected the society. The author argues that the New Leftist students, the civil rights activists, student movements, and anti war activists all led to development of today’s activists. The New Left students unlike the Old Left were opposed to capitalism and saw America’s position on private property and profit as undemocratic.
Therefore, they took a stand as socialists and they were greatly inspired by black civil activists like Martin Luther King Jr. whose values included equality, justice, freedom, and community. The New Leftist mobilized demonstrations in campuses and the administration’s opposition only served to accelerate their growth. The development of student movements is highly credited to an expansion of the New Left student intellectuals and activists. After the beginning of the Vietnam War, these student movement championed anti-war demonstrations.
The Student Democratic Society (SDS) formed by the New Leftist advocated for individual participation and share in the democratic governance. They also advocated for independence of men and women. The students left their privileges and joined the poor white fellows on anti-racism campaigns. They saw racial segregation and discrimination as senseless because there were white people who were poor as well. They organized for interracial activities for the poor.
These values later expanded with the expansion of the student movement, which took on greater issues. The author develops her theme clearly through history and shows how the groups emerged and issues changed along the way. The fact that the issues undertaken by New Leftist student movements are similar proves that these organizations were connected. The euphoria of growth, the foundational values, and methods of revolt like demonstration show consistency in the development of the thesis. However, the issue of counterculture development in campus in 1960s seems misplaced and does not strengthen the argument.