Many colleges and universities in the US lead or pressure their students to agree to be surveilled through portable phones.

The best way for students to resist this is not by hacking the system, but by confronting it. "No, I won't install your app — nonfree apps cannot be trusted." Better, "No, I won't carry a smartphone — the nonfree operating system cannot be trusted." Or do as I do: "No, I won't carry a portable phone — they track people's movements and can listen all the time."

Best of all, organize a group of students to make such a statement together.

When you do that, don't be belligerent in tone. Chances are it never occurred to the staff that surveilling people was an injury to their rights. You must be firm, so don't add anger to that.

Be proud that you are standing up for freedom. Even if you lose, you can be proud of trying.