In light of the nascent Occupy Wall Street protests in New York City and around the nation, Maggie Henry '14 encourages our generation to work within the system to try to change it instead picketing for unrealistic political goals.

Cornell students should look to the University of Wisconsin protests as examples of responsibily responding to state injustice.

Judah Bellin '12 argues that our "culture of fairness" has led to widespread social ills.

Carolyn Witte '12 critiques last week's Malcolm Gladwell essay on activism in the 21st century.

Law school graduate Rebecca Vernon shares her insights into political activism.

Not too long ago being a college lefty was hip. Back then, standing in front of Willard Straight demanding peace, love and universal health care made you look like an informed leader. Today it makes you look like a prick with too much free time. About 10 years ago reporters began to ask why ours was such an apathetic generation.

The time is ripe to talk about Teach For America. A couple of weeks ago TFA held an on-campus information session. The photos, the data, the stories … the whole thing made me want to stand up and salute something, anything, with a lone tear running down my cheek. On Monday night, I attended an address by Michelle Rhee ’92, D.C. School Chancellor and former Baltimore TFA corps member. Despite the September info-session’s plentiful pizza and pictures, Rhee won the contest for most inspiring hour — ever. She’s amazing, but more on that later.

Fearing for his and his family’s lives, artist and activist Irakli Kakabadze fled from his native country Georgia. Now a visiting scholar at Cornell’s peace studies program and writer-in-residence of Ithaca City of Asylum, Kakabadze spoke last Saturday at the Unitarian Church of Ithaca to emphasize the importance of art and writing as an instrument for peace building.

Kakabadze says he believes artists — especially in countries like Georgia — unmask the unknown situation that is hushed up by the government to the public. They then became well known performers in Georgia and, as a result, victims of attacks from the state government.

People put a lot of weight on last words.

So I’m going to do it too, running the incredible risk of doing something that’s been done before — something that a columnist must never under any sane circumstances do — because I’m in an altered state of mind. Altered, mind you, because of words. I watched the sunrise through the blinds and I have yet to go to sleep and it is all words’ fault.

Under sane circumstances, I myself am fascinated by the idea — what are the last, and I mean the Last, words I want to spend my ultimate breath on? The ones that will just hang there, in the air, until someone opens a window or maybe writes them down and they live on, for a little longer at least?