Current essay analyses from a social and historical psychology perspective the interest and participation of university students at the State University of Londrina, Londrina PR Brazil, in projects which lead to the construction of citizenship. Discourse analysis, employing social representation category, provides narratives with essential theoretical questions for the understanding of the subject, stimulates the debate and constructs strategies to conscience-raise university students to social commitment. Criticism on the manner capitalism system and neo-liberal ideology produce individualism in current society is inserted. The production of meaning, as a result of the interpretation of discourse, analyzes the institution's responsibility in the process of maintaining social exclusion. In fact, the latter is the result of intolerance in the context of diversity and of indifference on issues affect millions of Brazilians.
Citizenship; social participation; university students