With great Power ...

Student Power is a new student coalition that seeks to give a voice to students on issues of equity and justice where they might have otherwise felt powerless.

However, the coalition’s goal of being the voice of the student body gives it a special responsibility when pursuing its goals.

As of now, the coalition has several espoused policy goals. Two of these — gender-neutral housing and greater accountability on the part of the Board of Governors — this board has already praised.

But the coalition uses language with connotations that could be harmful to its cause.

Its focus on words like “power” and “demands,” may hope to convey the urgency and importance of student voices, but it reeks of radicalism and hard-lining.

Commenting on how this coalition operates is important because, for better or for worse, perceptions matter.

The group’s ethos relies on very public displays of activism. These displays of activism, if they’re as public as the group hopes, will draw the attention of the Board of Governors and other policy-making bodies.

Regardless of whether any of these bodies actually listen to the coalition, they will form some of their perception of the attitude and opinions of the student body based on the actions of Student Power.

All else equal, louder voices get more attention.

This is, as the cliche goes, a double-edged sword. Obviously, there is a tremendous potential for positive change.

But with that potential comes the capacity to inadvertently harm system students.

Hostility won’t do much to further the student cause. Nor will aversion to compromise or dialogue.

Furthermore, a mastery of the issues would give Student Power much more credibility. Those interested in the movement would do well to know the issues’ nuances and to avoid dogmatism.

None of this is to say that Student Power will act recklessly or irresponsibly.

But especially now that the Chapel Hill group has joined with other Student Power groups throughout the state to coordinate efforts, the stakes are heightened.

Any group with a voice as loud as Student Power seeks to have, has a duty to be cognizant of how its actions will affect the student body as a whole.

There should be more student input in policy creation.

But unless that input is projected in a constructive way that will actually engage decision-makers, it can be more harmful than helpful.