September/October 1994 Issue

Top 10 Activist Campuses

Not all activism is created equal. MoJo takes an opinionated look at the country’s campuses.

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1. University of Oregon:
Lots of environmental activity. Before the 1992 elections, the Eugene campus registered 7,000 of its 15,000 students to vote, enough to replace a weak-on-higher-education incumbent and possibly to influence the defeat of the antigay Measure 9.
2. Brown:
Good mix of environmental, women’s, and diversity groups. The Center for Public Service sponsors student-staffed projects on topics such as AIDS awareness, literacy, and health.
3. University of Wisconsin:
Newly resurrected student government has battled for student rights. Environmental organizations produced a mock ancient forest that was gradually cut down and held an All Species Day on Halloween during which children dressed as endangered species.
4. University of North Carolina:
Birthplace of two national student organizations, the Student Environmental Action Coalition and the Student Coalition for Action in Literacy Education.
5. Rutgers:
Recently held forums on gay and lesbian rights and the death penalty. Very active women’s groups and an affordable education committee.
6. University of Michigan:
Birthplace of the Peace Corps maintains a mix of community service and traditional activism. As many as 40 percent of students are involved. Much activity during elections.
7. University of Colorado:
Activists pushed for curriculum reform, tenure for minority faculty, and housing rights for gay and lesbian couples.
8. CUNY and SUNY:
Massive student strikes protested tuition hikes that price some students out of an education. Diversity issues and curriculum reform have occasioned building takeovers, too.
9. Howard:
Media focus on the Nation of Islam’s presence has overshadowed activism such as community outreach and voter registration. Most frats and sororities require community service.
10. Marquette:
Nil on in-your-face activism and protest, but strong community service. Hosted the 1991 National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness Conference and sponsors an alternative spring break.

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WE CAME UP SHORT.

We just wrapped up a shorter-than-normal, urgent-as-ever fundraising drive and we came up about $45,000 short of our $300,000 goal.

That means we're going to have upwards of $350,000, maybe more, to raise in online donations between now and June 30, when our fiscal year ends and we have to get to break-even. And even though there's zero cushion to miss the mark, we won't be all that in your face about our fundraising again until June.

So we urgently need this specific ask, what you're reading right now, to start bringing in more donations than it ever has. The reality, for these next few months and next few years, is that we have to start finding ways to grow our online supporter base in a big way—and we're optimistic we can keep making real headway by being real with you about this.

Because the bottom line: Corporations and powerful people with deep pockets will never sustain the type of journalism Mother Jones exists to do. The only investors who won’t let independent, investigative journalism down are the people who actually care about its future—you.

And we hope you might consider pitching in before moving on to whatever it is you're about to do next. We really need to see if we'll be able to raise more with this real estate on a daily basis than we have been, so we're hoping to see a promising start.

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