Visit the current exhibition on the ground floor of Langson Library, Anteater Spirit, and collect your observations on the items from the University Archives exhibited there. How is the exhibition organized, by whom, and for what purpose, do you think? Does it surprise you that these items, including ephemera such as flyers and posters, have been preserved for future study in the University Archives? Are there particular primary sources in this exhibition that you found interesting? What kinds of historical contextualization and other information about the items are presented? And what similarities or differences do you see between the activist history recorded here and the activist history you have started learning about in Prof. Robertson’s lectures? In what ways are the primary sources documents of worldbuilding?
After visiting the Langson library center Anteater Spirit, and observing the University Archives, I found it compelling and inspiring to see the history of activism within our own campus. Organized by both students and faculty, the purpose from what I understood in the exhibit is to show and inspire students from generation to generation on the power and necessity of student voice and activism in not just campus but in society. We are influenced by what we see and what we surround oursleves with, and with such activism seen on campus that bring justice to racial groups etc, we are inspired to involve ourselves with a society and create (worldbuild) a new environment around us that expresses these desires and bring upon a greater good in our campus and for ourselves. One of the most inspiring posters I saw at the exhibit is the "Escape Waygoose Protest" for ethnic students against prejudice education. I find it good and beneficial that the campus features these posters because it reveals to us the care our campus and environment have on students and their identities. It brings awareness to all of us in which the way our education is taught is significant to us and our growth. It is only right we learn and are exposed to truths, therefore these activists in protest bring about awareness to all of us students through the posters they showcase, as to say this concern is not just a one time concern but is something memorable in which we students should live by. In Prof Robertson's lectures, the form of activism he provides is examples from Maoism, in which brings peasantry to rise against prejudice and colonialism. Similarly we see acts of people rising against authoritative figures like mentioned before the poster of ethnic students against racial prejudice in the education system. The education system is a superior factor of control in our campus as our faculty and system is created in a way to embed and teach us certain things in which we students have to follow and abide by. Therefore similar to Prof Robertson's lecture of activism against authoritatives, though this is a different era with completely different setting, we like the peasantry populations in China are inspired to rise against authorities who embed and control our beliefs and the why our life abides by, and with activism and its effects, it is only right students have a say on how our education should be and how we must live our life by- similar to Maoism rising from peasantry to create a world in which they have level of control over as well.
Works Cited: UCI Langson Library Anteater Spirit Exhibit