Some of my most memorable moments in college were protests. As a member of the Progressive Student Alliance, I remember heading out for a lovely Saturday morning protesting the war. We marched; we chanted; we bonded. We were full of that passion that comes with youth and moral absolutes. I even ended up giving activism training talks to fellow students. While my political stance has shifted a bit since then, I wouldn’t trade these experiences for anything.

Online Students Are Missing Out on Student Activism

Budget cuts and tuition hikes have California students taking to the streets in what’s being hailed as a new era of student activism. College students are notorious for marching with colorful signs to protest this, that, and the other thing. It’s a proud tradition, and online students are missing out.

Great leaps and bounds have been made in the virtual classroom. Students can connect in a myriad different ways. From discussion boards to video conferencing, communicating in the online environment has never been easier. Online students are at a disadvantage when it comes to rallying behind a cause, though. Chat room discussions, emails, even newer social networking platforms like Google Wave–all of these are fantastic for augmenting activism, but it’s the face time that makes the experience.

What’s the Problem?

It’s no secret that online students miss out on extracurricular activities. One the plus side, this lowers overhead for online universities, resulting in savings which are passed on to students. It’s the other side of the equation that many overlook: the college experience. Don’t get me wrong, online education is a fantastic tool, and I’d recommend it for anyone trying to fit a higher education into a busy life. There’s no denying, though, that there’s something that it lacks.

If you’ve got the time and resources to attend a campus-based program, do it. If this is your first degree, then you should most definitely seek out a campus-based program. College is a rite of passage, and college campuses are a hot bed of diversity and innovation. A booth you walk by on your way to the library could end up shaping your entire career–and changing your life.