So I’m in this class at Northwestern called “Creative Nonfiction: The
Art of Writing for Social Change” along with half the staff in GES. We
were recently assigned homework to write about what writing for social
change is and what it can be.

Besides the traditional reactions and answers, the crux of the
discussion in class revolved around what the end product of such
writing should be. I obviously don’t know the final answer but, more
truthfully, I’m probably disappointed with the common response.

Writing, I guess, is never enough and the crowd I hang out with
doesn’t exactly help with my perception. Most people I fraternize with
have either read the book Mountains Beyond Mountains or have at least
heard of Paul Farmer. But in reality, most people don’t care about
these things, or at least don’t care enough to act.

So I write to you guys asking if it’s just enough to know, to be
informed. We apparently don’t think so since we’re in GES. But what
about our friends here and at other universities who don’t participate
in either local or global issues of development or greater social
equality/justice? What about everybody else? Can we just say that it’s
not for everyone? I know that what winds my clock doesn’t necessarily
float your boat but, the equifinality of our various paths mean there
has to be some basic common denominator, right?

For the sake of universality based on a minimal amount of subjectivity
and prescription, I sure hope so.

- Jeremy Intal, Media and Marketing staff member