“People Care Deeply About Politics Here”: Warren Wilson Students Practice Activism
Solie Lawson | Feb. 3, 2026
A paper with the word ‘vote’ written on it at Pew Learning Center and Ellison Library at Warren Wilson College, on Jan 28, 2026 in Swannanoa, N.C. (Echo/Emma Taylor McCallum)
Activism at Warren Wilson College (WWC) looks different for everybody. Many students come from different backgrounds and places with their own structures and definitions of activism. It brings up the question: How do students at WWC primarily practice and view activism?
Gus Larson is a sophomore on the Woodworking Crew. He defines activism as acting in ways of changing the world for specific goal points. Larson believes that being an activist is complex, consisting of both oneself and morals and an eminent need for change. He has taken notice of the activism shown around campus.
“People care deeply about politics here, but there's big differences in goals and strategy, in how we want to achieve our goals,” Larson said. “On campus, I hear about people wanting to change things about their work crews or their living situations or meal plan, and people actively working for those things. I often see activism as something that on campus can fizzle out a little bit.”
They think there are some flaws in the way activism is practiced around campus, and that students on campus are detached from Asheville's issues as a whole. Because of this, students lose connection to systems in the larger world that affect them. Another fault Larson mentions is the presence of performative activism, which also contributes to this disconnectivity. He defines performative activism as activism with limitations and a focus on others’ perception rather than a goal of enacting change.
“I think the root of performative activism is that it's saying ‘I'm so good and morally righteous to have politics,’ when the goal isn't to interpret the world, the goal is to change the world,” Larson said.
Larson practiced activism in high school when he was part of an organization that focused on spreading awareness about Palestine. They have also helped in relief efforts after Hurricane Helene, and he is currently involved with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). He believes that this sense of community in organizations strengthens the impact of protests and activism.
“We need to protect our most vulnerable and fight back against the increasing attacks that we're seeing on all fronts, and I think the strongest way to do that is to build our mutual aid networks and to stand with our community members,” Larson said.
Larson urges those who have the time to join the DSA, not only because it is one of the largest socialist organizations in America, but because he believes students can have a larger voice in an organization when compared to trying to make an individual change.
Olivia Over, a freshman on HVAC Crew, holds a similar opinion to Larson on how activism is practiced on campus. They define activism as taking action against an issue, and she often hears those around her advocating for change vocally, but not applying the action needed. Over feels that she sees a lot of performative activism, especially on campus.
“The most important thing is if you are speaking up against a certain thing, to actually follow through in taking action against it in some way,” Over said. “There's a lot of people who were speaking about how they are against a certain thing, but are not showing up [and] continuing to consume it.”
Over discussed a recent ICE protest that took place in Asheville, noting that many students around her talked about going, but she saw very few of them at the protest. They practice activism by going to these protests when they take place, and also with thoughtful consumption.
“I try to be ethical in the way that I consume, like anytime I find out that some company is giving money to ICE, or Israel, I don't give them my money,” Over said. “I feel like that's not a very common thing, and I think it should be.”
For Jason Miller, the chair of the humanities department and professor of philosophy, activism is using public visibility as a platform to take a particular stance on a particular issue or multiple issues by using strength in numbers and being publicly visible and available. He has not seen activism on campus in a traditional, mass protest way.
“The largest [mass protest] I've seen was in response to the George Floyd murder years ago,” Miller said. “I've always wondered why there's not more. Our students are certainly up for it.”
Miller has been an activist by participating in the Asheville protests, while also being involved in smaller-scale activism such as writing letters to senators and politicians. He has also been involved in city commissions, and holds a passion for taking action to make change.
“There are different ways of indicating that the public is upset or in support of or not in support of certain policies,” Miller said. “I engage in both the louder and quieter versions of protests.”
On campus, Miller notices the dichotomy between those who are politically aware and seek to make a difference, and those who are entirely overwhelmed by our current political climate and therefore do not take action for change. He thinks that both these stances have their positives and negatives, but the main issue is the separation of these two stances. He believes if these two positions find a middle ground it could be productive.
He thinks the process of being a fulfilled activist is to avoid political burnout by taking breaks when action and awareness start to weigh heavily on mental health, and that by doing so, activists can maintain their strength.
Activism is a broad term for Larson, Over and Miller, with each sharing different approaches to make change not just politically, but with smaller, less well-known issues. They all mentioned some issues around activism, such as performative activism, and those who are simply drained by the current political climate. Those challenges can be faced with awareness of oneself and mental state, and through that, intentional application of action so that true change can be made.