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Just realized the difference between a campus protest and a sit-in after seeing both this semester
We had a group shouting slogans outside the admin building for a week, which just got everyone annoyed. Then, a different group did a quiet sit-in in the library lobby for a single afternoon with clear signs about their specific funding ask. The admin actually sent someone to talk to the sit-in group that same day. The quiet, specific action got a real response where the loud general protest didn't. Has anyone else seen a protest tactic actually work on their campus?
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xena_bailey181mo ago
Guess it's like the difference between a fire alarm going off all day and someone quietly standing in your doorway holding a bill you forgot to pay... one is just noise you learn to ignore, the other you have to deal with to get on with your life. The admin building probably just started closing their windows, but you can't really walk around a person sitting quietly with a spreadsheet. Maybe the secret is to be so boring and specific they can't even complain about you being disruptive.
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xena_bailey181mo ago
Yeah, that tracks. Read an article last semester about a tuition hike protest at another school. They had a bunch of noisy rallies that just got ignored. Then a small group of students did a "study-in" at the bursar's office, quietly doing homework with signs listing exact cost breakdowns. The finance office head came out to talk in under two hours. Makes you wonder why more groups don't try the focused, quiet approach first, right? Seems like being a clear, specific nuisance works better than just being loud.
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