It happened in 1968, Student protested for five months to ensure the creation of the ethnic studies department on the San Francisco State University campus, and they succeeded.
SFSU then became the home of one of the most impressive multiethnic colleges in the country, that it until now.
Recently budget cuts have hit SFSU HARD. Many can complain that their school is losing money, that they need to pay double of their educational cost, some classes have been cancelled, but I don't believe they are seeing the reality of the situation. Do they know what it is like to have been pushed to only sign up for eight credits? Have they lost hundreds of classes in the arts and humanities college? Have "Furlough" days taken over? SFSU's ethnic studies department is barely holding on, the same department people bled and fought for in 1968. Minors disappeared because the specific departments can barely fulfill the class requirement for the major. I am not overreacting when I say my school has been hit the hardest in these times of economic depression.
So I cant say I was surprised to find out students took down the business department today (the one department on campus that has had the littlest effect by the cuts).
I mean the building has been COMPLETELY barricaded and a human wall has formed to stop the police from entering.
The protesters have even moved on to other buildings and have pulled all the fire alarms to disrupt the classes and take over.
There's drumming, chanting,yelling, fighting,
Actually I saw a lot of fighting. Even among student against student, mostly because the protesters are very determined not to lie down while these cuts are happening.
I can see both sides of the situation. I mean I would be pissed if someone kept me from going to a final or a final review. Why not go to the classes we are barely being given?
But I also sympathize for the cause. We can't just lie down while our government and the the board of CSU completely screw us over. Why is my education being taken away from me just because I was born during a certain time and our president/Governer sucked/sucks?
I honestly believe the time has come to do something about it.
Though I think directly before finals is not cool, but it does make a splash now doesn't it?
The times sure are gonna start a changin'
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