Column: The Student Voice roars

Whenever the country reels momentarily from a mass shooting, reform-minded portions of the country waits with bated breath. 

“This time things will be different," they think. "Something will change.” On the heels of the most recent massacre in Parkland, Fla., maybe something finally will.

Students are joining the gun-control discussion at a rate unparalleled to recent tragedies. Survivors from Parkland have come out on television and, through written pieces, plead with lawmakers to do something. Other students are taking notice.

I first noticed the flurry of activism from Andrew Brennen, a student here at UNC. 

“From Vietnam to mass shootings. Student movements throughout history have nearly always organized in response to violence. This moment is no different,” Brennen wrote. 

I agree. Older politicians may be the ones writing legislation, but young people are activating in ways we have not seen since Obama won his first election.

Students are the voice of the future. Although those in Parkland cannot yet vote, they can lift their voices in opposition to the laws in place. Ben Shapiro, of course, despises this suggestion.

Regarding young people and their political involvement, Shapiro wrote that “the whole reason that young people are generally less capable of strong decision-making is that the emotional centers of the brain are underdeveloped in comparison with the rational centers of the brain.”

I understand the point he’s trying to make, but it is hard to reconcile the idea that only people 25 and older should be involved in the policy-making conversation. 

Correct me if I am wrong, but the Parkland students had nothing to do with creating the society in which they live — God forbid they wish to amend it to create an environment where they feel safer. 

It also looks bad for them to condescendingly criticize survivors of a massacre. As Seth Mandel, a conservative, tweeted, “Look, don’t tell young people that they’re too distracted by nonsense and not taking their role as citizens of a republic seriously … and then condescend to them and ridicule them when they speak at rallies about gun control after their friends were murdered.” 

He went on to add that “it’s important they see the message as ‘give us the best you got’ rather than ‘quiet kid.’” 

Mandel is right: you cannot expect students to shut up while criticizing them for being apathetic just because they disagree with you. 

Sadly, this may be the one thing that actually invigorates a new generation of activists. It would behoove the opponents of activist policies to give young people a fair shake, instead of talking down to them. 

“Shut up and wait your turn” is not a winning message for anyone, especially not the students mourning the death of their classmates and teachers. Little has been done to curb mass shootings, and maybe these students will keep up the pressure on politicians until that changes.