Student apathy has been a common theme in North Wind editorials for years. But this year, the amount of student response to what’s been happening on campus and to what bothers them is inspiring. Whether you agree with the debate or not, we feel that students have done a good job taking initiative with the things that frustrate them about the university. This has included everything from what the usage of the door by the MP should be to whether administration made the right decision in distributing invitations to President Barack Obama’s speech to not feeling like they received enough information after the shooter threat.

Facebook is a great tool in mobilizing students across the university, but we hope that this outspokenness will continue, even beyond our computers. If students feel that the university isn’t doing something right, then they have the ability –– however they choose –– to voice their opinions. We make this university what it is, and if something feels blatantly wrong, then we have an obligation to speak up. The most important part is that when students do speak up, the university listens.

On almost every account, administrators might not have solved the issue, but they certainly have addressed students’ concerns in a public way. Without students’ voices, administration is not held accountable, and we need to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Even though it doesn’t seem like much, a Facebook group is a wonderful step, and we want to encourage students to continue this activism, especially in light of the large and controversial events at NMU this semester. At a school the size of NMU, our voice is important and can make an enormous difference.