Activism and Protests at Davidson College

Recent Student Activism

Coverage in The Davidsonian

Campus publications, such as student newspaper The Davidsonian, regularly cover events and demonstrations related to student activism and campus issues. For recent and ongoing student activism initiatives, these publications are a useful resource for learning more about these organizations. Digitized issues of The Davidsonian can be browsed and are linked below.

Students protesting in Downtown Davidson for Black Lives Matter

Many long-standing and recently-formed student organizations and working groups are currently engaged in activist work on campus, including but not limited to, the Black Student Coalition (BSC), Organization of Latinx American Students (OLAS), and Davidson Students Demand Action (DSDA).

Examples of recently-formed student activist movements and organizations include:

• Asian-American Initiative, a student working group petitioning for an Asian American Studies program at Davidson.
• Davidson Students for Jewish Studies, a student working group petitioning for a Jewish Studies program at Davidson
• Davidson Students for Just Admissions, an organization dedicated to combating discriminatory admissions policies including preferential legacy admission and Early Decision
• Divest Davidson (also known as Davidson for Climate Justice), an organization campaigning for the college's divestment from fossil fuel corporations
• Ortaculture, a student organizing coalition working to center the needs of marginalized populations on campus through self-advocacy and education​

For information about these organizations and others, browse recent issues of The Davidsonian and local newspapers (such as the Charlotte Observer) and search social media. 

Justice, Equality, Community Student and Alumni Advisory Council

Archives and Special Collections has a great interest in documenting these efforts from student activists and through the Justice, Equality, Community (JEC) Student and Alumni Advisory Council, Archives & Special Collections is apart of an ongoing effort to support student activist organizations in documenting these histories. If you are a student activist and would like to know more about how to document your organization's efforts, please email the department. 

Disability Advocacy at Davidson College

Archives and Special Collections has a great interest in sharing recent student advocacy around disability and disability justice at Davidson College. The following timeline was developed by Anaya Patel (Davidson College Class of 2025) for Dr. Cormier's ANT 224: Disability and Difference course. The timeline project's purpose is described as "to record the history of disability advocacy at Davidson College and create a resource for current and future advocates for disability justice."