Feature Archives

Law enforcement in Santa Cruz, CA this week, launched a 24-hour, spanish language hotline for day laborers to anonymously report abusive employers. FSRN reporter Vinny Lombardo has more. To leave an anonymous report about abusive employers in Santa Cruz, call (831) 420-5997.

La Policia de Santa Cruz, CA. esta semana, empienza a funcionar una linea telefonica, para denunciar los abusos laborales. Esta linea funciona las 24 horas, es en español, y la llamada es anonima. Tu puedes llamar al (831) 420-5597. FSRN reportero Vinny Lombardo tiene mas informacion.

Audio: Download the mp3

The first of California State University Monterey Bay's (CSUMB) three Presidential candidates visited the campus on March 6th. The arrival of the candidates is the culmination of a long selection process begun when Dr. Peter Smith, the University’s only President since its inception in 1994, left the job in early 2005. The three member committee to select the President is now allowing the candidates a chance to articulate their views and present themselves before a final decision is made, following final interviews on March 13.

As is the norm regarding Foundation/Student relations at CSUMB, the students have largely been kept in the dark regarding the selection process. Additionally, the building of social structures that function to disallow the free flow of information from the University to the students is a strong signal that either the decision making bodies are uninterested in facilitating community participation, or actively attempting to conceal its true motives.

As with all issues of governance at CSUMB, the process is marked by a significant debate about the direction the university will go in the future with respect to its founding vision. Founding faculty, reduced in number severely during Smith’s tenure but still retaining positions of great influence within the decision making structure, are deeply concerned with how the new President will respond to the vision statement and its devotion to multiculturalism and representation of the traditionally underprivileged. Read more

see also: CSUMB holds "Funeral for the CSU"

On March 8, more than 100 students held a rally outside the UC Santa Cruz Academic Senate's quarterly meeting to demand the prioritization of the language program at the university. They expressed frustration over lucrative salaries and perks for top-administrators, and excessive amounts of money going towards war in Iraq, while students and workers are told there is a 'budget crisis' that requires cuts to needed programs.

Wednesday's 'Save Our Languages' rally marks a second consecutive year of student protests to secure funding for UCSC's language program. While students noted that the current level of funding has been secured for next year, they continue to struggle to ensure that languages are prioritized permanently and that students are not turned away from classes. They insist the UC is in the midst of a 'priorities crisis,' rather than a 'budget crisis.' Read more and view photos

On the night of March 7, custodians of AFSCME 3299 and their families, along with student and worker supporters, marched to the gates of UC Santa Cruz Chancellor Denice Denton's on-campus home. The more than 200-strong crowd demanded the Chancellor support workers' struggles for dignity and justice, including wage parity with other regional colleges where workers make dollars more per hour for the same (or less) work.

The march, organized by AFSCME 3299 in coordination with MEChA de UCSC and the Student and Worker Coalition for Justice (SWCJ) continues the legacy of labor struggle at the UC Santa Cruz campus. On April 14 of last year, over 1,000 students and workers shut down the campus for the day as a part of a state-wide AFSCME strike for justice. Days later, the workers won a significantly better contract.

In the past year, student and worker solidarity and militancy has lead to significant gains for AFSCME, CUE (clericals), and Santa Cruz County bus drivers, represented by UTU. The struggle continues... Read more and view photos

see also: UCSC Custodians Demand Justice || We Won! AFSCME Recieves Contract After April 14th Strike! || Service Workers Stage One Day Strike Against UC || Special Issue of The Project for Statewide Strikes at UC on April 14th || UCSC Students and Workers ask the new Chancellor: Where Is The Love?

The Santa Cruz Citizens for Sensible Marijuana Policy are seeking volunteer signature gatherers to help place an initiative on November's city ballot that will: (1) Makes investigations, citations, arrests, property seizures, and prosecutions for adult marijuana offenses the City of Santa Cruz’s lowest law enforcement priority; (2) Enables the city to save tax dollars and police resources to be spent fighting violent and serious crime; and (3) Establishes a city policy supporting changes in state and federal laws that call for taxation and regulation for adult use of marijuana.

While we can't fully stop the war here in our city, we can set limits for the drug warriors in our midst. Equally important, we can put our city firmly on the side of ending marijuana prohibition and actively in support of sensible policies for adult marijuana use. We have till April 20th, literally 4/20, to gather 5,000 signatures. Read more

from the calendar: March 11th: Volunteer Petition Drive Kick-Off Event

Stripping down to their skivvies, students at UC schools protested sweatshop-made UC collegiate apparel. Bearing the slogan: “We tried to find sweat-free clothes in our bookstore and this is what we came out with” (i.e. nothing), students highlighted the widespread practice of producing collegiate apparel in factories with poor labor standards.

A few dozen spirited students turned out at UC Santa Cruz ( Photos: 1 | 2, Audio), more than 50 at Berkeley and another 50 at San Diego ( SDIMC Story, Photos, Videos). Protests were reportedly held at Santa Barbara, Irvine and Riverside as well. Regardless of the school, few clothes were to be seen. (protest announcement)

see also: UCSC Students Expose the Naked Truth of UC’s Use of Sweatshops

previous coverage: UCSC students fight for sweatshop free apparel || Creative Activism Raises Issues at Denton's Investiture Friday || Students and Workers Demand a Sweat-Free UC

The purpose of The Project, a student organized newspaper from UC Santa Cruz, is to document and inspire strategic radical actions that are relevant to local, regional, and global socioeconomic justice. We believe independent media plays a crucial role in facilitating dialogue, organizing mass mobilizations, and encouraging daily acts of resistance.

The February 2006 edition of The Project can be found at various locations on and off campus, such as cafes, mailrooms and libraries, and is now available online at Santa Cruz Indymedia. Read more

Front and Back Covers with 16 articles: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16

Previous Issues (2005): The Project: Spring Insurrection || Special Issue of The Project for Statewide Strikes at UC on April 14th || UC Administrators Rolling in Money - the PROJECT March 2005 || The Project has been Digitized (Feb. 2005)