The sympathetic student is one that protests loudly and always fights to be heard.

I lost some of this post at some point, but one thing that I wished existed for student leaders is a document called “The Sympathetic Student”. Long story short, there are certain things about students that set off politcians, and there are certain things that politicians expect. As such, here is who the sympathetic students

• They’re not entitled, they never say that they “deserve” something unless they are giving something in exchange
• They work during the summer
• If they get student aid, they’re grateful for it and acknowledge it
• They study STEM
• If they don’t study STEM, they acknowledge that education is of a primarily economic nature
• They don’t claim their Quality of Life should resemble those that are working
• They express a want to give back to the country
• They don’t say anything that can be construed to disparage college, the skilled trades, or un-educated work
• They couch recommendations in light of improving the country’s human capital
• Currently, they aren’t international students
• They might work after school, but will never admit to missing a class for any reason, icnluding work

This is not to say that any of these are desirable to have in the profile of the sympathetic or desirable student, but it is what I think I have perceived. I also don’t think this is a comprehensive list.

Thinking about these, this is how students should think about the stories they put forward, or the people they choose to highlight within their advocacy efforts, but it also serves as a place where student unions can think more broadly about subtly and slowly working to change underlying assumptions, by identifying which they’d like to most change, what underlying assumptions lead to that point, and start picking subtly at those assumptions, mostly in media and research, but also occasionally and carefully in meetings.

Ultimately, we should do away with the sympathetic student, as Conservative parties in particular are responsive to students who are unashamed of their positions and demand loudly what is rightfully theirs.