The face(book) of protest

A little more than 2 1/2 months ago (on Sept. 11), the IDS editorial board reacted to the outcry against the new Facebook news feed by saying: "Forget about war, helping fight hunger or actually communicating with your friends in person. Facebook is all that really matters, right? If you were to create a Facebook group that dealt with issues such as protecting free speech or keeping the government out of religion, would it have 740,000 members? Not likely. But if a new policy is introduced on Facebook that you don't like, then join the revolution!"\nBut while we reacted to a false revolution, the real one was occurring under our noses.\nOn Nov. 20, the Indiana Daily Student ran a story about students at IUPUI criticizing the Indianapolis Black Student Union's demands for a multicultural center and other diversity initiatives on the basis that the student community had not been consulted. This manifested itself in a Facebook group called "IUPUI, We Want Our Money Back!!" -- which, as of Thursday, had 940 members.\nMeanwhile, the Students' Smokefree Coalition began as the Facebook group "PLEASE ban smoking on IU's campus" and has since managed to convene a University task force to examine its proposed smoking ban. This might not have happened if not for the Facebook group's 1,190-plus members. \nWe admire these groups' initiative in employing Facebook to combat the pervasive apathy plaguing college campuses. Facebook is evolving from a means for hookups to a place where students can discuss ideas, rally support and get their beliefs into the public domain. Even the news-feed we once so harshly scorned is proving itself to be a very useful tool: When a friend joins a group, you are alerted and therefore might be informed of the fact that some are taking a stance on some issue (depending on the nature of the group). Friends of friends hear about it and join groups, and you realize you are not the only person who believes what you do. Joining a Facebook group also enables students to hold virtual public forums that increase civic participation in certain cases. While many students don't have the time or inclination to attend meetings, they are still able to voice their opinions from the comfort of their own homes. Facebook is providing students with a way to protest in their pajamas. \nIncredibly, campus politics is alive. It's just on Facebook.\nOK, it's not marching in Dunn Meadow. But Facebook is supplying students -- even the lazy ones -- with a way to get involved. Peer pressure may be a factor of the rapid succession of students joining groups that their friends are in, but at least they are joining. By being a part of these groups, students might become more interested, more involved and ultimately more active.\nFacebook is becoming an important part of the social sphere, and we are grateful. Now, we can stalk and flock.