In the weeks and days leading up to November 4th, a lot of my friends and acquaintances went missing. They weren’t standing on the endless line at Starbucks, ordering tall skinny vanilla lattes like they usually did between classes. They weren’t sitting in Washington Square Park, brooding about the fact that we still couldn’t sit at a fountain or walk through the arch. They weren’t even cramming for exams at Bobst, which is the NYU home away from home.

So where were they? They were on street corners, handing out pamphlets in support of candidates to undecided voters. They were in offices, participating in phonathons and calling people to persuade them to vote. School and social life were set aside to focus on the election and help influence people.

In those days, I saw an incredible amount of student activism and felt energy on campus that I had never felt before.

Now, with the presidential election almost two weeks behind us, it seems that many students have, sadly, been sobered up from their post-Obama-win high and forced back into the reality of student life. With the election and the hard work that accompanied it over, perhaps they feel that their battles are over, or that the cause has been won. Whatever the reason may be, it’s important to remember that there are always causes worth fighting for.

Now is the time to become active within our communities and find causes that we feel passionate about. If anything, Barack Obama’s victory in this election proves not that the fight is over, but rather, that now is the time of possibilities, to create change and make a difference in whatever cause we are passionate about.

Fortunately, NYU gives students the opportunity to get involved. For those who are strongly dedicated to political causes, NYU has plenty of parties to choose from, whether it be the College Republicans, College Democrats, or even the Socialists. If you can’t decide amongst the different parties, there is the Political Union and Review, a place where people of all political affiliations meet, debate and discuss their opinions.

For those who are terrified of meddling in politics but are dedicated to social justice, the ACLU, Amnesty International, and NAACP all have chapters at NYU. Other famous organizations at NYU through which you can make a difference include Project Sunshine, Operation Smile, and Habitat for Humanity.

If you want to help out but don’t think you have the time or energy to really commit to a cause, there’s a quick and painless way to pitch in. Just swipe an extra meal and give the food to a representative of Two Birds, One Stone, an NYU organization committed to helping feed the homeless and reduce environmental waste. The group takes meal donations, currently from Hayden and Weinstein dining halls, and then transports them to different shelters or soup kitchens in New York.

For more information on these programs or other causes at NYU, click here.

Photo: flickr courtesy of davco9200.