I’m one protest away from becoming a gun-toting NRA member.
On my way to class on Wednesday, I was bombarded with people putting signs in my face, telling me to do things like “cut from the top” and asking me questions like, “what about our future?” I let that slide; the protest was for a good cause.
Honestly, I’d have been out there marching with them if I didn’t have class. Then I wondered, don’t they have class?
It dawned on me that students were skipping their classes to protest a number of different things, one being the need for more classes. Is anyone else confused?
Cal State Fullerton President Milton A. Gordon addressed Gov. Jerry Brown’s call for a $500 million reduction in a state report for 2011–12 on the school’s website in January. He explained that CSUF students would face even more reduced classes and services.
Last year, Gordon announced that undergraduate fees would increase from $3,685 per year to $4,662, admissions would be reduced, salary and hiring freezes would be instituted and furloughs would be negotiated.
According to the school website, last year Gordon wrote that the budget deficit is the largest in the CSU’s history and is a result of the state’s lack of support to the CSU in the face of California’s $26.3 (now $25.4) billion budget gap.
Now, I’m all for freedom of speech. The First Amendment protects our right to peaceful demonstrations, and we should not take these budget cuts lying down.
So don’t get me wrong, I’ve been at the front of marches, and I encourage everyone to fight for what they believe in. But understand who your audience is.
When I see students marching together, standing up for their rights and taking a stand, I feel proud and inspired. When I see students waving signs and hollering on a campus filled with students and faculty who are all affected by the issue, it takes every ounce of self-restraint to keep me from grabbing one of their megaphones and telling them to get out of my face.
Because we know! We all know! I get it, you’re mad, but you’re preaching to the choir.
Maybe it’s just me, but trying to hear a professor lecture over foghorns and shouting got old fast.
Protests are taking place statewide. According to San Jose Mercury News, UC Santa Cruz protesters gathered to spell “Free Education” with their bodies. ABC 7 reports CSU Northridge students protested all of Wednesday and the Associated Press reports students are staging walkouts and rallies nationwide.
It’s all pretty mild so far; let’s try not repeating the 2010 budget cut protests. Last year, the New York Times reported that more than 150 people were arrested after stopping traffic along an interstate in Oakland. At the University of Wisconsin, 16 people were arrested when protesters tried forcing their way into administration offices while throwing ice chunks at campus officers.
Now is that really necessary?
It’s one thing to spread awareness; it’s another thing to disturb classes. Los Angeles Times reported incidents during the 2010 protests at UCLA where human chains blocked entrances to buildings. Way to fight for your public education while disrupting everyone else’s.
And walking out on classes to protest for public education seems a little ironic, doesn’t it? Sounds like a waste of money, much like all the taxpayers’ dollars spent on hiring extra shifts of police to monitor the demonstrations.
Frankly, protesting on campus is counter-productive. Quit telling students and quit skipping class. Missing classes hurts no one but you. Take your protest to the regents, the state legislature, our governor, anyone else. Write letters! March peacefully! Just not here.
Complaining about budget cuts to the students and faculty affected by them is like protesting U.S. occupation by marching around Afghanistan.
We know. We’re in the same boat. Please stop yelling at me
