Adin White
- Title
- Adin White
- Abstract
- This oral history features Chico State student Adin White, former president of the Anthropology Club, whose leadership role ultimately connected him with SWANASA, a recently recognized student organization focused on humanizing and educating the campus community about the Middle East. This interview was conducted for Public History’s Free Speech Oral History Project at California State University, Chico. The purpose of this interview was to document Adin’s experiences with student activism and free speech on campus during the period surrounding Gaza-related demonstrations. The interview begins with an overview of Adin’s involvement with SWANASA and how that involvement led him to participate in a series of demonstrations on campus concerning Gaza. Adin described these demonstrations as deeply empowering, highlighting the meaningful conversations that arose among students with differing viewpoints. He also reflected on his disappointment with what he perceived as widespread student disengagement, noting that many students did not seem invested in or affected by the issues being raised. Despite this, Adin shared that he did not personally feel restricted in expressing his views. He emphasized the support he received from faculty members who encouraged student participation in activism, as well as his appreciation for President Perez’s attendance at multiple events, which he interpreted as signaling institutional support for free expression. The interview then turned to Adin’s broader views on free speech and student activism at Chico State. When asked how activism could be strengthened on campus, Adin argued that dissent and disruption are essential components of effective advocacy. He stated that “you must disrupt the status quo in order to draw attention,” asserting that when established order becomes oppressive, free speech must inherently take on disruptive dimensions. According to Adin, protecting both students and the longevity of free expression requires allowing dissent and making space for disruptive forms of speech. Finally, Adin commented on the Public History class’s proposed monument project. He expressed strong support for the podium-style design, believing it would invite ongoing participation and actively regenerate free speech rather than merely preserve it. In his view, the podium symbolizes a reinvigoration of open dialogue and reinforces the importance of maintaining student voice in public spaces.
- Interviewee
- Adin White
- Interviewer
- Clare Schaefer
- Date Created
- October 29, 2025
- Format
- m4a
- Length
- 28 minutes, 37 seconds
- Library of Congress Subject Heading
-
Cultural centers (Institutions)—California
Student activities
Social activism
Constitutional principles - Copyright
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- Collection number
- Chico State Free Speech History
- Collection Project
- Chico State Free Speech History
- Site pages
- Oral Histories
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