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A note to fellow students and workers of CSU Stanislaus
On December 9th, the students, staff and faculty of CSU Stanislaus gathered in the quad to voice their grievances against an administration that uses education as an opportunity to profit at the expense of the students.
On December 9th, the students, staff and faculty of CSU Stanislaus gathered in the quad to voice their grievances against an administration that uses education as an opportunity to profit at the expense of the students. Throughout the course of the rally, attendees discussed the president's incompetence and effects the current wave of fee hikes and class cuts have had on our lives. It cannot be stressed enough that Shirvani and his administrative staff are not acting in the interests of students, teachers, and workers. Where we see an opportunity to make something out of ourselves, he sees an opportunity to increase the size of his wallet. And this is an approach that is being implemented more and more by those who control things. When the level of privatization in our society increases, the quality and depth of our lives decrease. When we take the time to look at the structures that operate around us, it is apparent that those that are set up to create profit for people like Shirvani are expected to be paid for by us, students and workers. They want us to pay for their crisis.
We should recognize something here: that unity creates power. Becoming aware of our role in this struggle is vital to keep up the momentum that gets things done. Coming together to act on our anger gives us a vehicle to realize our collective desires. What we accomplished today as an organized force was something that is not experienced by regular people in today's world: the creation of our own power. It is important to understand that by acting, and by acting with each other, even if we were present for different reasons, we can take back control of our lives.
With love and solidarity,
-Some students and workers from the Central Valley
We should recognize something here: that unity creates power. Becoming aware of our role in this struggle is vital to keep up the momentum that gets things done. Coming together to act on our anger gives us a vehicle to realize our collective desires. What we accomplished today as an organized force was something that is not experienced by regular people in today's world: the creation of our own power. It is important to understand that by acting, and by acting with each other, even if we were present for different reasons, we can take back control of our lives.
With love and solidarity,
-Some students and workers from the Central Valley
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I certainly hate to see fees go up and the wonderful public universities of California, in particular the University of California, Berkeley, become not affordable to more and more students. And I hate to see the quality of the CA Universities go down. The terrible predicament of the Universities of CA, in particular Berkeley, right now, has been highlighted, even, in major news organizations, including the New York Times. The consequences of a national economy in severe downturn and stress (due to many factors, including runaway corporate greed, runaway capitalism, and a government either turning a blind eye or being a part of it), have severely effected California.
In addition, California's legislature, the way the state's government works, including its tax laws, are WAY out of date, highly inefficient, and need desperately to be addressed and changed. To me, this is where you students can use your solidarity and power: to demand that the Regents (i.e. Berkeley Regents, especially) of the University put pressure on the state representatives, from the highest on down, to CHANGE the way CA state government works.
For one thing, Proposition 13 started the gradual slide into really hurting our educational system in this state. The 2/3 vote needed in the CA State Congress to change the way taxes are assessed is backwards and means a small, usually very conservative, faction can hold up meaningful change indefinitely. The CA Constitution needs to be changed in this area.
So . . . if your protests can pressure the Regents, demanding that they help change CA state government and funding (which is where all the major funding has come from for our wonderful universities), I think you could really make headway in saving our great university system (and saving many other things about California). The quality of these universities will indeed go down, sadly, if something isn't done.
In addition, California's legislature, the way the state's government works, including its tax laws, are WAY out of date, highly inefficient, and need desperately to be addressed and changed. To me, this is where you students can use your solidarity and power: to demand that the Regents (i.e. Berkeley Regents, especially) of the University put pressure on the state representatives, from the highest on down, to CHANGE the way CA state government works.
For one thing, Proposition 13 started the gradual slide into really hurting our educational system in this state. The 2/3 vote needed in the CA State Congress to change the way taxes are assessed is backwards and means a small, usually very conservative, faction can hold up meaningful change indefinitely. The CA Constitution needs to be changed in this area.
So . . . if your protests can pressure the Regents, demanding that they help change CA state government and funding (which is where all the major funding has come from for our wonderful universities), I think you could really make headway in saving our great university system (and saving many other things about California). The quality of these universities will indeed go down, sadly, if something isn't done.
We seek of the regents and boar of trustees (the UC Regents are not in charge of the CSU, we have a board of trustees) only that which immediately grants us greater power, or enhances in some way the context in which we struggle. That is to say, we do not seek reform; either of the administration, or of our university. We seek their abolition. Thus our only demands of the administration are those which put us in a better position towards accomplishing what we seek.
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