Photo: ABC 7
We all know what happened yesterday. Somewhere around 5 a.m. a group of SF State students entered the Business building on campus and began to empty the classrooms of anything that could possibly barricade a door. Chairs and desks constructed the makeshift dams that blocked the doors from the inside. On the exterior of the building, students chained and locked the doors, and stood shoulder to shoulder for hours on end blocking any entry into the building.
Obviously, classes were cancelled and some (mainly business students and Republican club members) were pissed. News crews came and went, airing their footage over the internet and television. This footage got a lot of attention all over the CSU system, state, and nation.
This was not a group of maniacs taking over a building. It was a carefully planned action, and it worked miraculously well. The only objective of that entire ordeal was to get media attention. Those students knew we weren’t going to get any drastic change right then and there; but the whole thing was so ludicrous, so radical, that no news station could keep their cameras away. This brings national attention to the problem, and puts pressure back on our state legislators. They were just going to keep fucking us until we spoke up, and we finally did loudly enough to attract eyes and ears.
Not only does this send a message to the state, but to the CSU system.
The CSU system needs to stick up for us a little more. Why are we paying so much money for school when not too long ago higher education was free? Shit just isn’t adding up. They saw that we know our stake in this school, and we are paying for its operation. University is an investment in the youth, and ultimately our country and world. We as students see that, but for some reason the state fails to recognize this anymore. We spend a ridiculous amount of money on prison systems in California, and relatively nothing in comparison when speaking about education. Somewhere, something got turned around.
We need to put that message out there. Our needs and demands will not be met until they are voiced, loudly. The state is starting to realize we are passionate about this. The police recognized this as well, that’s why they waited it out for 24 hours, there would have been a riot if they tried any earlier (I hope). Either way, the videos are out, and the news is still hot on the subject. Our state legislators won’t change until we make them. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
I’d call that occupation a success.
