Our generation, and college students in particular, are perceived to be apathetic. The people I have met in my four years at UW-Madison have shattered that perception.

Most students care about the issues and many are active in various student organizations. In fact, when compared to the rest of the country, students appear to be more active and informed than the general public. It is encouraging to see students active, involved and informed. But this activism should not end with the receipt of a degree.

With the conclusion of the academic year comes the end of many activities we associate with it. Interestingly, studying does not seem to be the only thing that gets left behind. When I go home for the weekend, I find myself distracted from the issues in the news and more concerned with my family’s affairs. This seems to be even more true in the summer.

Coming back to school is like reconnecting to an alternate reality. Catching up on the latest news and events when coming back to Madison makes me realize how different life is outside the university.

Even when I make the effort to watch or read the news at home, something is missing. That something is interaction with other students. We draw the connection from the news to our personal lives through discussion and debate with our peers.

This is an experience that no matter how hard we try, can be difficult to recreate at home.

Home has become an interesting place after four years in Madison. People there too often seem to be disconnected from the large issues we engage in in our classes at the university. Don’t think I’m talking only about my parents or my family—this is a wider phenomenon.

Sometimes if I try to bring up serious topics, my interest gets passed off as youthful exuberance. Is there something about the aging process that disconnects you from the bigger picture?

However, there is hope for those of us who do not want to give in to becoming another mindless, inactive member of society. There are countless organizations, both with and without political affiliations, where like-minded people join together to work on a problem or just discuss things. Many of these organizations are in desperate need of volunteers.

Although many people say they do not have the time to volunteer or join organizations, there are ways to stay active even if your time is limited. One of the most rewarding experiences is to write letters to Congress. One letter can speak for thousands of people. You can let your congressional representative know your position, and in return you can find his or her reason for voting a certain way.

The very least you should do is stay informed and vote. The voter turnout in this country is embarrassing compared to what it is in other democracies. The reasons given are usually that it’s hard to be informed enough to make an intelligent vote, or that partisan bickering turns people off to politics. People should not buy into these excuses. After all, it is only a few times per year.

As Americans, we are only ever called on to do one thing—that one thing is to vote. It is a duty not to be taken lightly, so wade through the information, use your common sense against the political spin and make your way to the polls.

Grassroots activism is more difficult while away from campus, but the extra effort is worthwhile. It is never too late to start, and the rewards are many. Perhaps most important is the shift from feeling powerless to feeling that your actions make a difference.

Too many people from my hometown have isolated themselves from feeling powerless by avoiding topics that provoke such feelings. The result is a false complacency caused by obliviousness. If too many buy into this, there will be fewer people working to change the root cause of the powerless feelings.

Things will inevitably change. The direction depends on the future activists and who chooses to be a part of that activism.

Charles Campbell ([email protected]) is a senior majoring in biology with a certificate in environmental studies.