Are student protests effective?

After all our efforts in protest, why do our voices sometimes seem to remain unheard? 

In light of the recent action taken at the James McCune Smith Learning Hub, it is timely to consider the validity and effectiveness of similar protests. Student protests are not a new phenomenon; however, since the 7 October attacks nearly a year and a half ago, the University of Glasgow has witnessed a significant increase in protests by both students and staff. Disapproval of the university’s policies, and its perceived lack of ethics, is evident, but are these actions truly effective?

In considering this question we must first address its context. Direct action protests are a form of resistance that fall under the broader umbrella of civil disobedience. Such actions, whether violent or non-violent, are typically illegal; however, their unlawfulness does not preclude ethical considerations. A defining feature of civil disobedience is that its practitioners believe they are enacting a civic duty on behalf of the entire community. In this way, civil disobedience is inherently public: it amplifies the voice of the people and disrupts the status quo.

Moreover, media coverage of these protests tends to reflect state narratives, ultimately shaping public opinion by appealing to social norms, which are in turn governed by the law. This dynamic can result in the negative portrayal of direct action, which may in fact be a consequence of a systemic oppression of disapproval.

The University of Glasgow has a longstanding reputation as a focal point for student dissent. In 2011, Hetherington House, the building next door to 11 University Gardens, occupied in 2024 by Glasgow Against Arms and Fossil Fuels (GAAF), was taken over from February to August. Students protested against forthcoming austerity measures against students. The ‘Free Hetherington’ occupation quickly became a rallying point for students across Scotland, highlighting how direct action aims to serve the community’s interests. 

This historical perspective makes us wonder: after all our efforts in protest, why do our voices seem to remain unheard?

Despite this, the aftermath of that occupation appears to show few tangible accomplishments and, ultimately, the austerity measures were implemented. Similarly, when the University announced last year that it would continue its support towards the defence sector despite overwhelming calls for divestment  from the student body one was left to wonder whether direct action is actually invaluable or if protester voices are systematically ignored.

We all recall the women’s suffrage movement and its legacy of militancy in the UK. In the late Victorian and Edwardian eras, resistance, often through militant means, was seen as a duty of citizenship in the face of oppressive government practices. The Women’s Social and Political Union, under Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst, famously embraced militancy from 1903 onward. Although it took considerable radical action and decades to achieve success, the suffrage movement’s impact remains undeniable. This historical perspective makes us wonder: after all our efforts in protest, why do our voices seem to remain unheard? Is it simply a matter of resilience, or is there something more insidious at play? Perhaps a deceitful belief that we already possess all our rights, or even that we can disengage from political concerns?

Ultimately, we must not simply consider whether direct action protests are valid in a conventional sense, but why they are undertaken at all. The real impact of these protests may not lie in immediate policy shifts, but in the persistent pressure they exert on an institution that often overlooks dissent. A similar ongoing neglect seems to only reinforce the need for radical action; when traditional channels fail to listen, direct action becomes one of the few ways to induce dialogue. In a system where our voices are repeatedly ignored, the persistence of protest is both a symptom of deeper systemic issues and a vital call for change.

Published 16 March 2025