Tag Archives: Hampshire College

Distant issues and proximate opponents: a note on campus protests +

Posted on May 29, 2026 by David S. Meyer

Enemies help activists build movement campaigns. Aggressive or offensive antagonists personify grievances and help unify coalitions of opposition. They provide convenient targets and simplify the story. Think about Donald Trump and advocates for climate action and anti-corruption crusaders and health … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Flag battles at Hampshire College: the politics of diversion

Posted on November 30, 2016 by David S. Meyer

Do you want to talk about the American flag? Hampshire College, in Western Massachusetts has (temporarily) removed the flag from its central flagpole to foster a dialogue about symbols. Upset about Donald Trump’s election, the next day students lowered the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Stanford and the Fossil Free campaign

Posted on May 7, 2014 by David S. Meyer

Stanford University announced that it would work to divest holdings in coal companies from its investment portfolio.  It’s a relatively small blow to the coal industry, which is bracing for some bigger hits soon.  It’s also a big victory for … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Occupation trap in history

Posted on November 16, 2011 by David S. Meyer

Occupation isn’t a new tactic.  Protesters have established permanent encampments to make political claims and support activism many times in the past.  (See our Veterans Day discussion of the Bonus Army.) The camps, dramatic demonstrations of commitment, provide an ongoing … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments