From James D'Angelo, Northwestern Chapter Leader:

"Social Security? Why now? Who cares?" This is a normal response to one of my almost daily rants about Social Security reform here on Northwestern's campus. Whether I am yelling at the Rock (a central location here on campus) or holding a Social Security workshop on personal retirement accounts or just explaining my passions to a random student on our way to class, I almost always get the same reaction. It's rarely disagreement though. It usually just consists of a sigh and a bad excuse for why they don't have time to listen to me. I don't give up there though. I push forward and get every last person to hear me out, if only for a little while.

The general response is, "Wow, really?" The problems with the current Social Security System are generally unknown. "It's going to be bankrupt when I retire?" and "The current system disproportionally hurts minorities?" and "There's a better solution out there?" are common reactions.

The key here is that the system's impending bankruptcy is not the only issue that gets students' attention. In fact, it tends to be the least convincing. The current system has a lot of other shortcomings, from poor return on investments to an inefficient incentive system to an unfair tax burden on young workers, all of which really do turn heads. Budget problems and solvency issues often do nothing more than confuse or bore students, but startling facts provide motivation for all types of students. For example, 1 in 3 young black males are paying into a system that they won't live to benefit from. Explaining this side of Social Security, and other shortcomings similar to it, has convinced many students.

This is only half the battle though. Students are willing to acknowledge the problem but have almost no hope that it can be successfully changed. This is where chapters of S4 have come into play. Students do care, and S4 helps our generation work towards positive, long-lasting change in the way of personal retirement accounts. Specifically here at NU, a lot of progress has been made. We're spreading around petitions, hosting events, and spreading the word. It takes work, but students have taken very well to the reform suggestions here on campus.

Bringing honest explanations into dorm rooms and classrooms around the country can dramatically change this issue. We just need to get the right words out there. It's working here in Evanston. There is no reason why the same thing can't be said about every college town.

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