We can't successfully shut down a major meeting and shock the world every time. Leblanc is a veteran observer of the protest scene. When I was involved in student action in the early '90s, the big causes were freezing tuition fees and protests against the Gulf War. Before that, we pressured corporations to divest themselves of holdings in South Africa during the apartheid era. She believes the issues students organize around today tend to be more complicated.
Students are much more aware of the issues they're protesting against.
They have to be, because the issues today are more complex. They require more in-depth knowledge. You have to know something about science in order to take a position on biotechnology and genetically modified food. You have to understand something about the nature of global politics and the roles played by organizations like the International Monetary Fund to take a stand against globalization. The focus of student activism is shifting largely off campus now.