San Francisco State Students Reclaim the Quad -- Protest Fee Hikes

It began around noon when students occupied a space in the grassy quad right in the center of campus. Food not Bombs was serving free food to anyone that came to the gathering and it was an opportunity for students to create a space for artistic expression against the fee hikes and budget cuts to the CSU system. Since the fee hikes have been imposed the cost of enrolling in school has gone up each semester making it more and more difficult for students to attend school. The reclaim the quad action followed a teach-in last night in which more than 100 students attended the discussion and lecture on how the fee hikes are affecting students.

In reclaiming the quad students brought drums, made a free-speech platform, and handed out free literature. All of this was an attempt to outreach to students about the severity of the fee hikes and the problems of higher education in California (and in general). While students and faculty shared words about why it is important to create student solidarity and make noise drums raged on throughout the day. The students then went on a march around the quad and ended up in front of the administration building where they demanded "No more fees! No more cuts!" Afterwards, students started yelling and entered the building where they started another drum circle in the second floor of the administration building. They proceeded to march into the quad and continue to spontaneously inform and educate people through guerilla style tactics about the privatization of higher education. In addition, students began to create live art and distribute fliers all throughout campus with statistics on the increase in student fees and information regarding the increase in administrative salaries.

After gathering in the main quad students went on to the Malcolm X plaza where they began to use amplified sound to get the message that students are beginning to organize against the fees. They have been increasing our fees and no student movement has been able to challenge the decision-making of a profit-making machine. By challenging these institutions which were intended to serve working-class students by making education accessible, students are confronting the capitalist system that is denying education to underprivileged communities and lower-income students.

By playing music in the Malcolm X plaza and sharing poetry and loud drum beats the fight the fees campaign launched awareness about the need for militant student action. Professor Solomon, a professor in the Ethnic Studies department, spoke about the prospect of being fired. He is currently one of many lecturers that will not be returning next semester. Ethnic Studies, in particular, has been devastated by the budget cuts and underfunding of the CSU's. All departments are looking at firing teachers and less resources. This will make the average graduation for the CSU student around six years. While the Board of Trustees continue to increase the fees the struggle for affordable and accessible education is a struggle that is not limited solely among students in the CSU system. The UC's and community college system are all experiencing budget cuts and increased fees. There needs to be a student movement that will not just work towards eliminating the fee hikes but fighting for free education and a school system that is run democratically by the students, teachers, and workers that make a school function. The administration must be dissolved because their bureaucratic policies do not empower the students or serve their interest whatsoever.

After the students took the Malcolm X plaza they met once again on the Quad to play some more songs, talk, and hang out. This brought many people together to get to know one another a little better which is rare on a commuter campus where it can be difficult to get to meet your fellow students.