Daily Titan: Thursday, March 4, 2010

Page 1

March 4, 2010

Vol. 87 Issue 15

Day of Action

All levels of education unite in protest across California Cal State University students and faculty from the 23 campuses around the state will protest fee increases, budget cuts and furloughs. They will be joined by others from more than 100 different schools representing education ranging from K-12 to doctorate programs.

THURSDAY

3/3/2010

occupation day Prior to ‘Day of Action,’ M.E.Ch.A. rallies on campus and other protesters barricade themselves inside the Humanities building.

10/20/2009

The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton

furlough fest

PROTESTS ESCALATE

In an attempt to establish an autonomous community, students barricaded themselves in a campus building By Laura Barron-Lopez

Daily Titan News Editor news@dailytitan.com

10/13/2009

Photos Daily Titan Archive Students hold Furlough Fest, a three-day campout on campus during the campus-mandated furlough week.

petitioners hit titan walk

9/29/2009

Protesters occupy Titan Walk with flyers, banners and posters in an effort to encourage involvement and participation among CSUF students.

day of opposition

At 2:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, a group of students from three different Southern California universities barricaded themselves in Cal State Fullerton’s Humanities building in response to a university document that stated, “The fact that (literature, philosophy, and fine arts) are traditional parts of comprehensive universities is no longer a strong enough argument to the public.” James Goebel, a 23-year-old philosophy major and one of the students who barricaded themselves inside the building, elaborated on his interpretation of the university document released by Interim Director of University Planning Michael Parker. “Parker stated that education should only be geared toward the global market, that jobs that prepare you for business and communication are easily justifiable, but programs that don’t seem to contribute to the economy are esoteric. So if it’s the case that the university sees us as obsolete or irrelevant, then we take over a building and we run it ourselves. So we essentially want to try and establish an autonomous zone in the university system,” Goebel said. “It is a very idealistic vision, and if you can defend the building long enough and have a community that is willing to engage with the occupation, then you secede from the university.” Among the students from CSUF, University of California Irvine and Claremont Community College (CCC) who were involved in the occupation, were members from the “Elephant in the Room” group. See BARRICADED, Page 2

protest preparation

Photo Courtesy Make believe committee The protesters used tipped-over dumpsters and bike racks to barricade themselves inside the Humanities building.

ASI supports higher education funding

9/25/2009

CSUF students plan and prepare for “The Day of Opposition” against budget cuts, furloughs and a 32 percent hike in student fees.

the elephant in the room

“ASI feels it is important to support the student body, so we are doing a Daily Titan Staff Writers silent protest to support them,” said news@dailytitan.com Kathy Ting-Ting Yu, ASI chief adMembers of the Associated Stu- ministrative officer. “We do want to fight for higher dents Inc. gathered at the Garden Cafe in the Titan Student Union education, but we are doing it by standing unified Wednesday night and doing it in a in preparation for peaceful manner.” the “Mobilization Ting-Ting Yu for Education” said that the ASI protests that will will not be parbe held statewide ticipating in any today. walkouts or proASI members tests. and students gar“If you are nished 200 plain fighting for educawhite shirts with tion and value it, the motto “Rethen why would invest in Higher you even think Education” in of walking out black paint Tuesof classes? Just by day and Wednes– Gregory Washington wearing the shirts day nights. we will stand in ASI chief governmental “This is in officer solidarity,” she preparation for said. tomorrow’s rally Many for higher education and hopefully we’re going to faculty, staff and students make it into a larger campaign for will be attending the the rest of the semester,” said Gregory march in Los AnWashington, ASI chief governmental geles or staging walkouts, but officer. ASI members, who prefer not to ASI memtake a stance on the protest, are wear- b e r s ing the t-shirts as a form of peaceful f e e l protest and will pass them out to students on campus to get them more involved. By Zam Anwar and Brenna Phillips

Students, faculty and staff meet to voice their concerns at the first “Elephant in the Room” meeting.

9/23/2009

Photo By Christa Connelly/Daily Titan Photo Editor Ally Bordas signs a poster outside of the Humanities building during M.E.Ch. A.’s pre-protest for the March ‘Forth’ event.

CSULB buries higher education

CSULB faculty and students helped organize an event to simulate the symbolic funeral of ‘California’s Master Plan for Higher Education.’

This is in preparation for tomorrow’s rally for higher education, and hopefully we’re going to make it into a larger campaign for the rest of the semester.

9/28/2009

Protesters lead a march through campus, interrupting classes and chanting “Hell no, furlough!”

the best way to show their support is to attend classes as usual. “I respect their point of view,” said Rahima Schwenkbeck, 25, a graduate student of American studies. “But I want to raise awareness by attending my classes and hopefully make other students aware by being in class.” Schwenkbeck, who heard about the preparation for the campaign through the school e-mail, said that she was making a t-shirt that she plans to wear to class and to the protest that she will participate in, in LA. Washington feels it is important to maintain the idea behind “Reinvestment in Higher Education” as part of ASI’s mission a n d

have the message extend beyond the March 4 protests. “I want this to be a statewide rallying cry for the rest of the year,” Washington said.


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