Thousands march in Berkeley over UC cuts

[redasheville]

Today, there was a system wide walk out/strike/protest/teach in of faculty, staff and students at the University of California. Over 5,000 people protested at Berkeley, and there is word of a student occupation at UC Santa Cruz (a member of Revleft is likely taking part).

I think this is exactly the kind of activity we need to have happening in the US. I was at a solidarity protest of maybe a hundred students at San Francisco State University (part of the California State University system) today. It was very energetic but was obviously dwarfed in size. The CSU schools are being hammered by budget cuts much like the UC schools, but the faculty union isn't as strong, and there hasn't been the kind of organizing that we'd like to see, but we're working on it.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/09/24/MN2Q19S3FS.DTL

[bcbm]

there is word of a student occupation at UC Santa Cruz

that would be a positive development. i think the occupation as a form of struggle really needs to see a resurgence in the us.

[redasheville]

Agreed. This is the right time to have occupations i.e. when there is a movement behind it.

[Rusty Shackleford]

i was just about to post something about this.

i was at a club meeting when i heard about the dangers that are coming next semester, but nothing of what was going on in the UCs. im glad to see students fighting for their education. there was absolutely no talk of it on my campus though. it is a community college, but one of the larger ones in CA.

next year it will hit even harder apparently. some of the CCs will have to cut their budges significantly, and it would make it even harder on the UC budgets.

in the CC system there has been a fee raise (though not as great as in UCs) and is already affecting the attendance of the poorer of the people. apparently fees are going to be raised by as much as %30. not to mention the outrageous price of books and supplies.

Arizona Bay's post about Wellington University (sorry if i have the name wrong) fee increases and budget cuts also shows that education is in a very threatened position and is not just isolated to new zealand or usa but even in the balkans students were taking action earlier this year. i commend all of those who took action, regardless of how effective.

[redasheville]

Word on the "street" is that there is an occupation at Berkeley, as well. If there is still stuff going on tomorrow I'm going to head over there in the morning.

[bcbm]

Can any more substantial information be passed on? I'm not a student, but perhaps some of those who are here could get in touch with those organizing occupations elsewhere to launch something more widespread and coordinated? Would certainly be interesting.