Students, faculty, call for plan of action

Protection for the university, new student organizations call to arms, walk-outs, bus rides and protests and a message from the president of SF State could all be heard at Thursday's budget teach-in, along with a healthy dose of the blame game.

The event was hosted by the CSU Alliance called "Teach-in: Reclaiming Public Education Amidst an Economic Crisis," held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Jack Adams Hall, filled with as many as 300 students, faculty, staff and concerned citizens, sought to unite the people that call SF State home.

CSU Employees Union Chapter President, and one of the events organizers, Russell Kilday-Hicks said, "There is at least one silver lining, the economic crisis has brought this campus together."

Kilday-Hicks said that "all of us are, in a sense, trustees of this great public entity," adding that it is everyone's responsibility to do what they can to keep it alive.

Members of Student Unity and Power, a month-old student-run group that meets weekly to develop political strategies that will give students, teachers, and workers more power, were at the Teach-in handing out fliers and talking to students interested in their efforts.

SUP is a coalition of students trying to organize a united front against governments and administrations that have continually gutted our education," said Francis Mead, 23, a student and member of SUP. "This isn't just an education issue," she added, "social services are also being cut."

Mead and fellow SUP members were at the teach-in to increase awareness of the new student group, inform students about SUP's weekly meetings, and spread the word about its efforts, in conjunction with City College of San Francisco students, to form a walk-out on March 12, and march to the steps of City Hall.

Shawna Eiermann and Inez Viera, both 20, came to the sit-in to learn more about becoming involved in activism events such as the walk-out. The theatre majors were inspired by their Ethnic Studies 100: Introduction to Ethnic Studies class.

Eiermann said the class has taught them "there's a fear of doing these little things," such as attending events like the teach-in. "Coming makes it more real," she added, but the women's newly found ability for activism makes them "not want to be so afraid anymore."

The teach-in's Emcee, California Faculty Association Chapter President Ramón Castellblanch spoke of the recently passes California state budget in his introduction speech, something he implied was defiantly worth being afraid of.

He talked of how $213 million dollars being cut from the CSU system is in direct violation of the Higher Education Compact, an agreement with the CSU and Gov, Arnold Schwarzengger to increase the general funding for the CSU for the next several years.

He also noted the proposed new spending cap, which would take state revenue and "put 3 percent away in a rainy-day fund, which is fine, unless it's a rainy day."

SF State President Robert A. Corrigan also attended the event, asking students of the university, which he called "the campus that believes the most in social justice and equality," to start a letter-writing campaign.

"I want you so send to whatever chair or department head you have an e-mail about the courses or services you didn't get. I want you to copy that to me." He added for students to please keep e-mails short, succinct and as precise as possible.

"Don't send me a three page e-mail," he said, but "I want to know, the chairs want to know, and the deans want to know."

Student representative Jerald Reodica believed none of Corrigan's words were heartfelt or useful. He said he did not think Corrigan could identify with a student's personal struggles or "the immense pressure on faculty and staff."

He added that Corrigan and the SF State administration is part of the problem, and that "merely sending a fax to the governor claiming your allegiance to the CSU Alliance, or an email to President Corrigan and the deans, has yet to produce an empowered campus community."

Instead, Reodica believes calling for protests, sit-ins, walk-outs, and an effort to "build a movement that demands accountability and transparency from our administration," is what needs to be done.

SF State community outrage with CSU cuts

Student speakers brought heartfelt proclamations about the CSU budget situation Thursday in a budget teach-in at Jack Adams Hall.

The teach-in, organized by the CSU Alliance, discussed the newly signed state budget, the CSU budget situation, the affects on SF State and a call to action.

Last week, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger cut $66.3 million to the CSU for 2009-10 and included an additional $50 million cut, depending on the size of the federal stimulus package.

"I'm pissed!" shouted a passionate Jasmine Leblanc, an Africana studies major. "They're trying to take the one thing we have? Our education? You all need to be pissed!"

Seven students expressed their outrage at the budget cuts and its effects on SF State and all of California.

"Every year the situation gets worse," said Jackie Mendez, an Ethnic Studies graduate student. "It's eating at us and weakening us. We are all affected by this - teachers, faculties, students and administration. We have to understand that we are all interconnected in this crisis."

Between 2007-2008, the CSU lost over 450 lecturers according to the California Faulty Association. SF State lost 108 lecturers.

Alberto Luna, a history major, urged SF State to build a community alliance.

"We must start to create a trust here," said Luna in regards to the lack of community on campus. "As students, we have to reach out to them and unite for a common cause."

The student speakers advocated all to pursue a common goal - get involved and do something.

Francis Mead, a member of Student Unity and Power, called upon students to engage in direct action suggesting the "need for radical movement against these cuts."

SUP, a radically minded organization of students dedicated to building a militant movement for liberating education, is organizing a walk out March 12 as a "stepping off point" to build against the struggle, said Mead.

Lenny Goldberg, executive director of the California Tax Reform Association, urged students to take their anger to the ballots for the special election May 19, in which Schwarzenegger asks to permanently cap state spending, among other measures. The spending cap is "like a stray jacket to California's future," he said.

Leblanc insists on action.

"They're taking power from us," she said. "Start getting mad. Wake the hell up SFSU and let's get involved."