In On Democracy, political theorist Robert Dahl argues that democracy depends on the active participation of citizens. Democratic systems weaken when people disengage, and they endure when individuals see participation as a shared responsibility rather than an optional act. That idea feels especially relevant on a college campus, where students care deeply about the issues that shape their daily lives, yet often feel disconnected from the democratic spaces closest to them.
Furman students are surrounded by political conversations. We analyze systems of government in class, follow national elections, and debate public policy. Yet, the most immediate form of governance in our lives is not national, but local, and for students- on campus. We care deeply about issues that affect our lives. We feel frustration around academic policies, student conduct procedures, Greek life, housing and access to resources. These concerns are real and they matter, but we often hesitate to engage in the systems that govern them.
However, choosing to participate invites us to channel frustration into collective action. Democracy does not begin in Washington D.C. or at the ballot box every four years. It begins in communities, when people choose to show and speak up, taking responsibility for shared spaces. For many of us, campus life is where politics takes its first tangible form.
My experience with Furman’s Student Government Association has taught me that leadership is not about having authority or solutions; it is about listening, learning and striving to represent a collective that is diverse in experience and perspective.
As Student Body President, I have tried to push student government toward greater student involvement in all aspects of student life. I sit in faculty meetings where curriculum and academic standards are discussed, meet regularly with administrators to discuss campus climate, and work to bring student concerns into spaces where decisions are made. I have met with city and state elected officials to advocate for the interests of the Furman student body. These conversations have shown me how essential it is that students are represented in public spaces.
Democracy depends on a collective willingness to participate. There are many ways students can channel their concerns into action, such as serving on university committees or reaching out to administrators. Participation can be as small as voting in student elections, or as big as running for SGA. It can look like asking questions in public spaces or organizing peers around shared issues. These actions may feel small, but together they enact democratic change.
Political theorist Hannah Arendt said that politics emerges wherever people come together to act in common: politics is not reserved for politicians. It happens when students decide that their concerns are not just personal, but instead worth collectively addressing.
Across the country, young people are informed and passionate, yet hesitant to engage in local governance. We are often taught to look upward, toward national leaders and major elections, rather than inward to the communities closest to us. However, it is within these smaller spaces that our democratic habits are built.
Engaging in student government and campus life is not just about improving Furman. It is about learning how democracy works in practice. This can mean learning how to communicate across differences and navigate disagreement. In doing this, it is also important to learn how to accept imperfect outcomes and remain committed even when progress feels slow.
My hope is that Furman continues to be a place where students see governance as something they help shape. I am still learning how best to contribute to that goal. I believe deeply that when more of us choose to participate consistently, we strengthen both our campus and ourselves.
Democracy is not something we inherit fully formed. It is something we build together. At Furman, that work begins when we choose participation over disengagement, turning our concerns into the shared practice of governance.