David Halperin's remarks at Campus Progress conference
| By Campus Progress - Jul 13th, 2005 at 10:09 am EDT |
| Also listed in: Campus Progress Summer Blogathon | Campus Progress Blog |
Here's what David Halperin, director of Campus Progress, said at the opening session of the July 13 Campus Progress National Student Conference in DC:
Welcome to the first Campus Progress National Student Conference. There are more than 650 students here, from at least 47 states, and over 150 schools. On behalf of our team, thank you all for coming.
I'm sorry to be late, but which I mean: This conference is about 25 years overdue. It's happening now mostly because of you - because you are one of the most energetic, committed, and progressive groups of young people in a long time.
In election 2004, the increase in 18 to 24 year old turnout was more than double that of any other age group. But that's just one indication of your engagement.
Young people in this room did some amazing things this year. You highlighted danger in Sudan and pressed Congress to do better. You called on big companies and your own schools to treat their workers fairly. You demanded that your schools stop wrecking the environment and move toward clean energy. You stood up against increases in college costs that put an education out of reach for too many young people. You filibustered on your campuses and at the Capitol to stand up against abuse of power and extremist judges. Those are just a few examples where students showed that, if you are determined, you can rise above the professional talking heads and make your voices heard.
If some of us older people start giving you more resources and opportunities, there's no limit to what you can do. That's why the Center for American Progress started Campus Progress. Think of us as a giant megaphone that can amplify your voice and get your message out.
We've planned what we hope will be a great day. President Bill Clinton will be here. Congressman John Lewis will be here, a real American hero from his student days to the present. There are lots of other speakers - activists, writers, artists, your fellow students. And there will be lots of opportunities for you to ask questions and offer your own ideas.
Twenty five years ago I was getting ready to start college, and this country was about to take a sharp turn to the right. This was not because most Americans suddenly decided that they wanted the social agenda of Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson; or because they wanted CEOs to give themselves huge raises while workers lost their jobs; or because they decided they didn't really need health insurance.
The country turned right because of determined organizing and skilled messaging by the right wing.
And, as Washington turned conservative, suddenly our campuses had conservative student papers, conservative speakers, conservative activism. Conservative students were getting money, training, and attention from a national movement.
My college friends and I needed a conference like this back then. Instead, we got Duran Duran, Journey, and Iran-contra.
Today, the products of these conservative campus efforts have grown up to dominate our airwaves and our country.
And now, conservatives are pushing harder than ever to dominate the place you know best: our campuses. They fight to rid your schools of affirmative action and diversity. They lobby for bills that would dictate what can and can't be discussed in your classrooms.
The right wing has outhustled us. It's time to fight back.
It's time for young progressives to start winning the battle of ideas on campus.
It's time we started assisting and promoting young leaders. It's time to reach across our single-issue divides and come together as a progressive movement. Campus Progress wants to work with you and other groups to get these things done.
Campus Progress is five months old. Already, hundreds of students contribute to our web publication, CampusProgress.org. Fourteen student publications operate with Campus Progress support, and we will support more.
Dozens of student groups have hosted Campus Progress speaking programs and film screenings. We're supporting student campaigns on issues from social security to judicial nominations to human rights. And, starting today, Campus Progress runs conferences and training programs to bring together young people, with different interests and backgrounds, so you can learn some things, speak your minds, connect with each other, and build a stronger progressive community.
We hope you will return to your campuses energized to make a difference. You have a real opportunity, right now, to turn the tide. To decide what your generation stands for and how you can bring positive change. To form a new generation of progressive leaders that is better informed, more committed, more diverse, and more united than any generation before.
Now I want to get out of the way, and let some really smart young leaders talk with you. Thank you - this is your day -- have a great one.
Welcome to the first Campus Progress National Student Conference. There are more than 650 students here, from at least 47 states, and over 150 schools. On behalf of our team, thank you all for coming.
I'm sorry to be late, but which I mean: This conference is about 25 years overdue. It's happening now mostly because of you - because you are one of the most energetic, committed, and progressive groups of young people in a long time.
In election 2004, the increase in 18 to 24 year old turnout was more than double that of any other age group. But that's just one indication of your engagement.
Young people in this room did some amazing things this year. You highlighted danger in Sudan and pressed Congress to do better. You called on big companies and your own schools to treat their workers fairly. You demanded that your schools stop wrecking the environment and move toward clean energy. You stood up against increases in college costs that put an education out of reach for too many young people. You filibustered on your campuses and at the Capitol to stand up against abuse of power and extremist judges. Those are just a few examples where students showed that, if you are determined, you can rise above the professional talking heads and make your voices heard.
If some of us older people start giving you more resources and opportunities, there's no limit to what you can do. That's why the Center for American Progress started Campus Progress. Think of us as a giant megaphone that can amplify your voice and get your message out.
We've planned what we hope will be a great day. President Bill Clinton will be here. Congressman John Lewis will be here, a real American hero from his student days to the present. There are lots of other speakers - activists, writers, artists, your fellow students. And there will be lots of opportunities for you to ask questions and offer your own ideas.
Twenty five years ago I was getting ready to start college, and this country was about to take a sharp turn to the right. This was not because most Americans suddenly decided that they wanted the social agenda of Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson; or because they wanted CEOs to give themselves huge raises while workers lost their jobs; or because they decided they didn't really need health insurance.
The country turned right because of determined organizing and skilled messaging by the right wing.
And, as Washington turned conservative, suddenly our campuses had conservative student papers, conservative speakers, conservative activism. Conservative students were getting money, training, and attention from a national movement.
My college friends and I needed a conference like this back then. Instead, we got Duran Duran, Journey, and Iran-contra.
Today, the products of these conservative campus efforts have grown up to dominate our airwaves and our country.
And now, conservatives are pushing harder than ever to dominate the place you know best: our campuses. They fight to rid your schools of affirmative action and diversity. They lobby for bills that would dictate what can and can't be discussed in your classrooms.
The right wing has outhustled us. It's time to fight back.
It's time for young progressives to start winning the battle of ideas on campus.
It's time we started assisting and promoting young leaders. It's time to reach across our single-issue divides and come together as a progressive movement. Campus Progress wants to work with you and other groups to get these things done.
Campus Progress is five months old. Already, hundreds of students contribute to our web publication, CampusProgress.org. Fourteen student publications operate with Campus Progress support, and we will support more.
Dozens of student groups have hosted Campus Progress speaking programs and film screenings. We're supporting student campaigns on issues from social security to judicial nominations to human rights. And, starting today, Campus Progress runs conferences and training programs to bring together young people, with different interests and backgrounds, so you can learn some things, speak your minds, connect with each other, and build a stronger progressive community.
We hope you will return to your campuses energized to make a difference. You have a real opportunity, right now, to turn the tide. To decide what your generation stands for and how you can bring positive change. To form a new generation of progressive leaders that is better informed, more committed, more diverse, and more united than any generation before.
Now I want to get out of the way, and let some really smart young leaders talk with you. Thank you - this is your day -- have a great one.
!
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