Things are just too quiet here at Notre Dame. Not because we live in God's country. Not because the stadium is empty on Thursdays.

It's too quiet because the students like it that way. Once upon a time, maybe when your parents were in college, students were noisy.

They burned draft cards and buildings to protest the Vietnam War. They chained themselves to trees or barricaded the entrance to administration offices.

In the South, they screamed until they were hoarse for equal rights.

But today's students are quiet, more moderate, more middle-of-the-road.

Don't rock this boat, lest an Abercrombie shirt get wet.

Don't ask a student to protest U.S bombings in Iraq during "Party of Five."

And please don't expect demonstrations on the non-discrimination clause when Nintendo 64 is waiting.

Student activism has been an important part of American history, but the voice is dying. Notre Dame is home to thousands of intelligent, idealistic and energetic people. These people can resurrect the voice.

The injustice exists. The power is here. Students, it's time to be noisy.

Be informed. Technology brings newspapers and magazines and radio stations from around the world into your room.

Read about Colombia or Turkey or the slums of New York.

Know what your elected officials are doing and where they could improve. And please, please, remember to vote. Care about your freedom enough to practice it.

Be opinionated. Controversial topics abound — choose a favorite and take a side. Some quiet reflection and intellectual discussion with other young, idealistic and energetic people will help.

Be passionate. Merely taking a side is never enough. Really care about the issue, especially the people involved.

Care about the sweatshop laborers, the natural disaster victims, the children dying on American streets.

Give up your soap operas for an afternoon to learn about their plight.

Share the information with your friends and donate a week's worth of beer money to save lives.

Channel your youthful energy and idealism into something larger than yourself.

Get involved. There might be an organization on this campus that reflects your interests. Join it. If none exists, start one. Find other passionate people and vow to truly make a difference. Circulate petitions and present them to student government or to the administration.

Flood your U.S. Senator's office with a letter campaign. Remember that a world exists beyond this bubble. Impact it.

No one likes to be outdone by their parents. Students, our parents were loud.

They were on the right track, but we must be louder.

The world is waiting.

The views expressed in the Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

• Too Quiet