Sitting in Stamp Student Union the Wednesday before Spring Break, Daniel Lewkowicz doesn’t seem to fit the activist profile. No buttons. No signs except for the peace sign he wears around his neck. He is in a fraternity. And he attends a university that isn’t exactly known for its student activism.

But his voice is hoarse from a march protesting the eviction of Hurricane Katrina victims the previous day. The following Sunday, March 19, marked the third anniversary of the Iraq war and his week has been full of planning for Jam for Peace, a concert he says aims to “raise awareness about the links between Iraq and Katrina.” Still, if Lewkowicz doesn’t fit the activist profile, perhaps that’s because there isn’t one.

Lewkowicz, co-founder of student activism group Community Roots, and many other student leaders say student activism is growing on the campus. But they also say activism isn’t limited to rallies, protests and politics.

“The future of activism,” he says, “it has to be both social and political. We can’t be depressed all the time but we can’t always be partying.”

That hybridization of social unity and political awareness is what brought nearly 900 students and various student groups, including cultural groups, fraternities and activist organizations, to the March 16 Jam for Peace concert in the Student Union, which featured New York-based rapper Immortal Technique. And it is the focus of what many students see as an increasing mobilization toward student activism.

“There is a strong movement toward [student activism],” said Latino Student Union President Roberto Juarez. Juarez noted such a movement inherently includes student groups. LSU, one of many co-sponsors of the concert event, has become more politically active in recent weeks, as the U.S. Senate has been debating a controversial immigration bill.

Juarez added that issues such as Hurricane Katrina have brought students closer to the forefront of activism.

“With all these different things going on in the world, I think students are starting to pay more attention,” Juarez said.

Paying attention to issues such as the war, hurricane relief and poverty is an integral part of the student experience, according to Kesha Jamaal, an alumna of the university and assistant director of student involvement for the Nyumburu Cultural Center.

While the university has never been known for having a politically active student body, Jamaal said student demonstrations and town hall meetings were common during the mid-1990s – something Jamaal believes will start up again soon.

“College is supposed to prepare you to be critical thinkers, critical of systems and critical of our leadership,” Jamaal said.

While Community Roots and Nyumburu were the main sponsors for Jam for Peace, the event received funding from Student Entertainment Events, something Lewkowicz considers a positive sign.

“There’s not a lot of encouragement on this campus for individual student groups to take action,” he said. Lewkowicz noted a lack of encouragement for student activism may stem from a desire to remain politically neutral, but emphasized the need for support.

“When you’re dealing with issues like Darfur, global AIDS, poverty … as an educational institution … you need to encourage students to take a side,” he said. “This has to be an environment that supports students, not causes.”

Student leaders emphasized activism and politics do not necessarily go hand in hand.

“I choose to be political because I see certain patterns that exist,” Lewcowicz said. “This is a democracy. It wouldn’t be a democracy if we all agreed. People are getting evicted. People are dying … it takes politics out of the issue.”

Jonathan Tucker, president of the university’s Tunnel of Oppression program, which displays various forms of oppression in an interactive exhibit, said it is important to include all sides of the political spectrum when discussing activism. That all activists are liberals is a misconception, he added.

“Activists have been the best people I’ve ever met,” Tucker said. “You’ve got to still take into account that there are people on every side – people I totally disagree with, but they’re still the best people I’ve ever met.”

Lewkowicz emphasized activism does not begin and end on the Capitol lawn.

“You can get [activist experience] from being in a fraternity or sorority,” he said. “Take leadership roles in there. You have to learn to live in a community. It forces you to realize you’re living in a community, in a society and you’re taking from it and giving back to it – that’s key.”

Contact reporter Bethonie Butler at butlerdbk@gmail.com.