Cyber Activists

By Kate O’Loughlin

When a famous political philosopher offers to give you an exclusive lecture, you’d expect students might be able to give Gallery a miss for once and listen. Recently Noam Chomsky gave a talk on the Obama era and York was amongst 12 universities privileged to receive a live video link up to the event, pain-stakingly arranged by the University’s Palestinian Solidarity Society.

The event was of international political significance, but it also offered an insight into the nature of student political participation closer to home. A small room in Derwent was provided for York students to view it – expectations were low all along! But, in reality, the turnout was even less than had been provided for. The room remained half empty for the entirety of the talk.

But should we be more optimistic about the political awareness of York’s students, and say half full?
Students have long had a reputation of not wanting to squeeze a little politics into their lifestyles. But given the nature of the lecture, maybe it is excusable – a mammoth two and a half hours including a question and answer session.

But if we are apathetic, if we don’t care that much, why do we always kid ourselves that we do? Ok, so going out drinking might be on the whole more fun than listening to Noam Chomsky discussing international affairs, but why don’t we just admit it?

Online we all seem to think we are political animals. A Facebook Event for the Chomsky lecture received no less than 125 students confirming themselves as guests.

A quick click saying that you’re planning to go to an event means you can be apathetic in politics but radical in your profile page. We like to appear intellectually curious and politically ethical in other people’s news feeds – who cares if you don’t actually show up?

The tone of the lecture was quiet, Chomsky himself attired in a jumper and jeans. It reflected its earnest socialist message which championed the downtrodden Palestinians, oppressed by Israeli power bolstered by US support. The modest nature of the lecture was itself resistant to the arrogant political tactics and might of the world’s only superpower.

But is this exactly what puts students off politics? Unfortunately, it seems York’s students are more attracted to typically American displays of power and grandness rather than truthful declarations of injustice and policy. Most of us tuned in to the US elections last year and watched the hyped BBC showdown with Britain’s “most hated” man, BNP leader Nick Griffin.

Chomsky suggested at the lecture that protest against US-British support of Israel should be directed at the military industry. But judging by the popularity of the BAE stall at the recent Careers Fair, more York students appear interested in working for an arms producer than protesting against them.