Since late November of last year, the streets of Kiev have been overrun with protesters feverishly fighting the oppression of not only their Ukrainian government, but alsop arguably the vast reaches of the Russian Federation.

As the nation’s president, Viktor Yanukovych made yet another questionable decision – electing to drop its negotiations with the European Union in favor of tightening relations with Russia – on Nov. 21, a revolution on the scale of the Arab Spring began and was only fueled by the political firestorm to come.

The protests came to a climax this past week, and on Feb. 21 an agreement was brokered to hold presidential elections early, reduce the executive branch’s power and create a new unified government. One day later, Yanukovych was relieved of his duties, and elections were called for May 25.

In exactly three months, from Nov. 21 to Feb. 21, the nation of Ukraine accomplished a full upheaval of their government, saw all of their demands met and were able to provide amnesty for all jailed protesters.

It took them only three months to make national and international history, three months to fight an oppressive regime and three months to gain back their personal freedoms stolen from them.

Three months.

And here, at this University, we seem to move from passion to passion on a daily basis. Last week it was free speech, and God only knows what it will be tomorrow.

The people of Ukraine have maintained two qualities that our student body seems to be completely lacking: motivation and perseverance.

Two weeks ago, the story broke about the Bama Students for Life’s display being removed from the Ferguson Center, and it picked up significant press. People started talking, columns were written, and everyone seemed up in arms. This week, I’ve barely heard anything of it.

A year ago, the Harlem Shake was shut down before it even began. Again, everyone was up in arms. Weeks later, not only had the Harlem Shake been forgotten, but also our dismay at this administration.

In my short two years here at The University of Alabama, I’ve seen a lot of talk on the topic of free speech and how it pertains to our ground use policies, but I’ve seen no action. Frankly, I’m sick and tired of it.

As a collective student body, we need to take these Student Government Association elections as seriously as possible, electing only those who will demand transparency and fight for student liberties, and demand a recall on grounds use and student liberties, so that we can enact exact and overarching revisions to this university’s mentality on free speech.

It’s time for change.

Let’s not let this opportunity escape us this time. It took Ukraine three months, why should it take us two years?

Maxton Thoman is a sophomore majoring in biology. His column runs weekly on Wednesdays.