When asked his opinion of college students today during his visit to the University April 12, Ralph Nader did not mince words.
"This generation is redefining 'trivial,'" Nader said.
Nader visited the University two weeks ago to give a presentation titled "While You Were Watching Big Brother, Big Brother Was Watching You: What Students Should Know, and What Students Can Do." In an interview before his presentation, the 73-year-old political activist spoke about what he sees as the problem with young people these days.
"They have less and less knowledge of history, a smaller vocabulary, a shorter attention span and spend too much time looking at screens," Nader said. "You don't see students with books in their hands. They read newspapers less."
Nader is a consumer advocate and three-time presidential candidate. He gained recognition in the 1960s when he released a study uncovering faulty engineering in American cars and has since played a key role in the creation of several non-profit groups and government agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency.
Having built such a résumé, Nader is clearly unimpressed with the so-called "MySpace generation."
"It's going to come back to haunt you," Nader said, referring to the use of social networking Web sites. "Companies are going to Google your name."
Nader said many students have been refused jobs because of the content of their online profiles.
"It's a narcissism students should resist -- and it's such a waste of time," Nader added. "It takes gossip to a new level."
Nader spoke later that night to a packed audience in Old Cabell Hall. University Programs Council member Cynthia Boncella said the organization invited Nader to be part of the Thomas Jefferson Visiting Lecture Series because he embodies the Jeffersonian ideal. Hundreds of students attended the presentation, intent to get a closer look at the tall man with the deep, gravelly voice.
"I came with a group of my friends because he is such a big name, and while we're at U.Va., we might as well take advantage of all the opportunities," first-year College student Liz Green said. "I didn't know too much about him. ... I came in with an open mind."
When Nader -- who has appeared on CNN and "Da Ali G Show" alike -- took the stage, he was met by a standing ovation.
"This is going to be a serious discussion," Nader said. "I'll try to make you laugh once in a while, but we're in serious times."
Throughout the evening, Nader spoke of the fast food industry, the Bush administration, the automobile industry, Don Imus and the tobacco industry, among other subjects. He specifically criticized the apathy of college students.
"Where are you going to be in 20 years?" Nader asked. "Where do you want to be in 20 years? Do you ever talk about that on your cell phones?"
The audience laughed while many reached to turn off their cell phones.
"Your generation is characterized by a propensity to be discouraged and overwhelmed by the problems of the world," Nader said. "Most young generations seem to have this. Yours seems to be more pronounced."
Nader said universities need to provide courses in civic skills, quickly jumping to other topics such as the cosmetic industry, binge drinking and what a Martian would think if he landed on our planet. Some students who had greeted him so enthusiastically earlier that night began to leave the auditorium.
Green said Nader brought up some interesting points but was too dramatic.
"I was interested by it, but I don't know if 'enjoy' is the right word," she said. "For me, he was too extremist in his thoughts."
Nader finished his presentation to another standing ovation -- though it was given by a few dozen students less than earlier in the evening. After most of the audience had left, several fans remained for an extensive question-and-answer session. Naturally, the subject of the 2000 election came up.
Nader, the Green party's candidate in the 2000 presidential race, garnered 2.74 percent of the popular vote in the hotly contested election. Many say Nader was responsible for the defeat of Democratic candidate Al Gore.
"The brightest minds in the country fall prey to this thought process," Nader said. "They will agree we all have a right to run for office, but somehow the two parties have a great right. ... Did Gore own my votes? I somehow filched them? How about the votes he took away from me?"
Nader said he was treated as a second-class citizen for exercising his First Amendment rights.
"That kind of mindset destroys the ability of an electoral process to change itself, reinvent itself," Nader said.
Nader delivered a number of messages during his address, including the importance of civic skills, leaving a legacy and the power of students determined to make a difference.
By the end of the night, there was a clear divide among the audience members. As Nader had converted the question-and-answer session to an open forum to welcome announcements and personal commentary, some students chattered excitedly about upcoming political rallies, petitions for civic skills courses and Earth Day activities. Others had already vacated their seats.
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