Feature Archives

On April 5th, Teachers for Class War spoke with Hollister educator and poet Joe Navarro about local struggles, his 1st grade students, poetry and history. An educator since 1994, Navarro is a "literary vato loco," teacher, student and community activist. He also has experience as a factory worker, union leader, author and poet, and a father.

On February 8th, 2010, the UC Santa Cruz judicial affairs office sent approximately 45 emails to various undergraduate and graduate students. The emails present a list of ten of the university codes of student conduct that had been allegedly broken by these students; these emails were identical, all including allegations of theft, destruction of property, disorderly or lewd conduct, among other codes said to have been broken at the November 2009 occupation of Kerr Hall at UCSC. Then on April 7th, 36 students received a resolution stating that they were each responsible for breaking all ten codes and would need to pay restitution. Of the 36 students, seven are faced with not only a restitution of $944, but other sanctions as well, including being immediately barred from campus, at least one suspension, and an expulsion.

On Wednesday, April 7th, dozens of protesters at SF State held a rally in defense of the 11 occupiers who have been charged with over $8000 in fees related to the occupation of the business building in December of last year. The administration is using political intimidation and repression to strike fear into the campus community, especially anyone who stands up and fights back against the budget cuts and the privatization of the university. On April 14th, two women were arrested in a Cesar Chavez Student Center takeover.

On March 21st, students, teachers, workers and other members of the Napa community came together for a rare march through downtown Napa to raise awareness about cuts to education. The marchers rallied on he sidewalk of Soscol Ave for about an hour, where protesters waved signs and chanted slogans such as "What do we want? Education! — When do we want it? Now!"

On April 7th, UC Santa Cruz issued a statement that the undergraduate Community Studies major has been suspended. The suspension restricts new admission to the major for at least two years. Professor and Department Chair B. Ruby Rich notes that, "Community Studies has roots back to the early days of [UC Santa Cruz] and a devoted following among students, alumni, and community organizations." In an interview with campus radio station KZSC, Community Studies Lecturer & Field Study Coordinator Mike Rotkin stated, "I don't want to be cynical, but there's been a number of programs that have been put on suspension in the past, none of them have ever come back."

On Monday, April 5th, dozens rallied at UC Berkeley to protest the university's crackdown on student protests. Over 100 students are facing possible suspension for participating in last semester's protests against budget cuts, furloughs, and tuition hikes -- among them, participants in last November's occupation of Wheeler Hall and last December's Open University.

On March 29th, Teachers for Class War interviewed students and teachers marching up the Central Valley from Bakersfield to Sacramento. They are making their voices heard to protect funding for public education in California, from kindergarten through university. The Teachers spoke with Jenn, Manny, Clay, Naomi, and Jose about why they're marching.