Student protestors continue to rally as statewide Day of Action approaches

While most of the college population took advantage of the six week winter break by sun bathing on a cruise or skiing the slopes at Tahoe, other students at schools around the country chose to fight against the impending budget cuts, faculty cutbacks and diminishing classes.

Bay Area news stations eagerly covered the takeover of Wheeler Hall at UC Berkeley, and the occupation at San Francisco State University that led to several arrests. Though highly publicized, these students were not the only ones to make their voices heard. 

Over 1,000 Cal State Los Angeles students waved signs, blew whistles and shouted chants in front of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's downtown Los Angeles office on Dec. 3, 2009. University instructors joined in on the protest that was assembled by a Social Work 478 class. The office allowed a small group of students to meet with the staff to discuss their views and to drop off petitions. 

On Jan. 13, 250 students from Tennessee State University met in Nashville and marched down to Legislative Plaza to address the Board of Regents. In 2009, the school drastically changed how they charged for tuition by eliminating the 12 hour "cap". Students at that university now pay for every unit over 12.

After a $900 million loss in state revenue, the state of Nevada has proposed a 10 percent cut to higher education that follows last year's cut of 12 percent. Hundreds of University of North Las Vegas students walked out of their classes on Tues., Feb. 10 and marched downtown to meet up with students from the College of Southern Nevada and Nevada State College. One memorable sign read, "Get your damn dirty paws off my budget."

Louisiana State University held a memorial service for their budget loss. 150 professors, instructors and students protested the growing crisis directly across the street from the university's 150^th anniversary celebration on Jan. 10. LSU lost nearly $13 million this month. Notices were sent out to over 300 instructors warning them that if more money needs to be cut, they will lose their jobs at the end of the semester. 

In the week before finals, angry San Francisco State University students took over the school's business building to make their voices heard. Their attempts however, disrupted classes and labs that were used to study for finals, causing anger from fellow students and faculty. It has been reported that the building choice was symbolic - cuts had been made in College of Ethnic Studies, the department of women and gender studies and arts and humanities majors more than in any other.

SFSU students continued their efforts on Feb. 11 by dancing in protest of the budgets cuts and to bring attention to the demonstrations against fee increases and cutting classes. They gathered near Malcolm X Plaza, blasted music from a two speaker sound system and danced for an hour and a half. The students chanted "They say cut backs, we say fuck that!" and "Whose university? Our university!" while led by a protest organizer. This action is in response to SFSU President Robert Corrigan's announcement on Jan. 28 that the university's fees will increase by 10 percent and to the school's newly proposed recreation center.

Many schools are treating these demonstrations as a warm up for the March 4 "Day of Action."  At SSU, the Students for Quality Education are calling for a walkout at 11:30 a.m. on that day. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to meet out on Stevenson Quad, read speeches, and listen to others who share their dissatisfaction.

Look for more information on this in the next issue of the Sonoma State STAR.