10 Best Colleges for Social Activists

  1. Columbia University
    Students at Columbia University have always been outspoken and bold, fighting for what they believe in. This is especially evident when looking back at the protests and demonstrations that took place on the New York City campus as students rallied against racism, prejudice, and community damage. In fact, when it seemed that student demonstrations took the nation by storm in the 1960s, Columbia University was at the forefront, fighting against the school’s involvement with apartheid supporters in South Africa. Students made the news again in 2007 when they turned out in droves to decry the university’s invitation of controversial Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to speak on campus. With past and present history of activism, Columbia is one of the most socially active universities in the country.
  2. University of California, Berkeley
    The University of California, Berkeley is often one of the first schools to come to mind when thinking of student activism, and with good reason, too. For much of the 1960s, Berkeley was at the forefront of activism, taking part in some of the most memorable protests and conflicts of the era. In the early 1960s, Berkeley was the site of the Free Speech Movement when students pressed the university to lift the ban on on-campus political activities in order to honor the students’ right to expression and opinion. Later that decade in 1969, Berkeley’s People’s Park saw a student demonstration for land use that turned violent. Today, Berkeley students are still socially active, especially when it comes to local issues, though protests are no longer a common sight.
  3. American University
    With a campus in the capital of the nation, it only makes sense that American University has a reputation for student social activism. In the late 1980s, students protested the naming of the new athletic facility, which was supposed to be named after Adnan Khashoggi, who was involved in the international arms trade. Since 1069, the school’s student-run Kennedy Political Union has taken on the task of regularly inviting key political speakers to visit the campus and talk with students about important issues. Today, AU students often participate in internships on Capitol Hill or take part in some of the school’s international programs.
  4. George Washington University
    The school’s proximity to Capitol Hill undoubtedly plays a role in encouraging a more socially active student population. The fact that George Washington University’s Student Association is devised like the nation’s own government, complete with legislative, executive, and judicial branches, is a good indicator of how involved GWU students are in the government and politics. However, this college is not only involved in politics, but it is also a hot spot for activism and speaking out for the freedoms of all people. The Student Association regularly challenges others to examine their own freedoms through unusual tactics, such as when they used to show a pornographic film in tandem with a discussion about the freedoms to show and view such material.
  5. College of the Atlantic
    T he tiny College of the Atlantic, located on Maine’s Mount Desert Island, is big on environmental issues. This school strives to lessen its environmental impact and the students that attend COA are passionate about reducing the human footprint on the planet. The school was the first to hold a graduation ceremony where no waste was produced due to the recycling and reuse of materials and is currently completely powered by renewable energy. Activism at COA takes the form of caring for the planet, which is a worthy cause.
  6. New York University
    Students attending New York University are no strangers to activism or social causes. NYU students have been known for their protests, demonstrations, and sit-ins, using their education and experience to stand up for their beliefs. In fact, nearly all NYU students are deeply involved in at least some community service and often take part in helping local communities or debating pressing issues. In a city as perpetually in motion both physically and mentally as New York City, it is not surprising that NYU students are constantly on the forefront of social movements.
  7. Claremont McKenna College
    Another California school to make the list, Claremont McKenna College earns its spot as a school with a rich history of social activism due to the throng of future leaders and politicians that make up the college’s student population. Many important figures call CMC their alma mater, including Ken Cheuvront, an Arizona State Senator and supporter of gay rights, and Tom Leppert, the mayor of Dallas, Texas. It is little wonder that the university has thriving Democratic and Republican student organizations.
  8. Princeton University
    Princeton University is full of aspiring politicians, automatically making the student population a politically active one. However, the college has much more in its history than a bevy of future senators, governors, and representatives. Princeton strives to get their students to become involved in politics, organizations, and other clubs to make them more well-rounded individuals. Though there have not been any standout moments of social activism, Princeton’s overall commitment to enrich their students in social issues and problem-solving earns them a spot on the list.
  9. Harvard University
    The best and the brightest go to Harvard University, and many students who attend the school move on to become powerful leaders and politicians. The politically-savvy student population alone earns Harvard a spot on the list as it is not unusual to see students attending rallies or petitioning for change, though the school also offers many formal organizations that address political, social, and environmental issues.
  10. Wesleyan University
    Wesleyan University has been the battleground for many local movements and student activism, reflecting the school’s commitment to nurture independent thinking. Though many of the protests that took place on the Wesleyan campus were over school-specific issues, such as the outcry over the college’s decision to seek affiliation of their radio station with National Public Radio, the university’s tolerance of the protests earns the school a spot on the list.