Occupy CSUN grows with help from Chicano studies instructor

By Katherine ONeill
December 5th, 2011
Section: News

Empty tents line the grass at occupy CSUN while participating students hold a meeting with the administration Friday afternoon. Photo Credit: Katie Grayot / Daily Sundial

A Chicana/o studies instructor asked his classes to join Occupy CSUN Thursday night and camp with protesters, making the total number of participants over 80.

Gerard Meraz, Chicana/o studies instructor, said students need to stand up to the hardships and crisis their families continue to face on daily basis.
“We have our own occupy,” Meraz said. “It is part of our history and time and (we) need to be aware of what’s going on even if they haven’t been on the front-line in downtown.”
Meraz said the main point of his classes joining the occupy movement is to learn how to hold public dialogue and establish a clear message.
“Whether it’s the fee hikes, gay rights, women rights, you need to learn how to refocus your argument,” he said.
Some students chose to join forces with the movement to provide support to friends and other participants.
“We just thought of our friends who can’t be here because of financial disability,” said CSUN student George Martinez.
Martinez said he believes there tends to be “power in numbers” and if more people raise awareness to their friends and colleagues, change will eventually come.
Some of the Occupy CSUN movement organizers were surprised to see more participants.
Ashley Luke, an organizer of Occupy CSUN, said she hopes for the best with the unexpected growth.
“It makes us (organizers) motivated to go after the issue to bring around some type of change,” she said.
With the recent 9 percent tuition increase, which will take affect in Spring 2012, some students are becoming more involved and inspired to bring an end to the continual fee increases.
“This is a state university, we shouldn’t have to pay for our education,” said Adriana Futalca who has been camping at Occupy CSUN for over two weeks.
“We are paying more for less,” she said.
Martinez said he was informed of the different committees which are supporting the movement and is thinking of joining one.
“It is crucial to take action if we don’t like something and want it to change,” Martinez said.
Police and school officials have not granted the movement permission to camp out and occupy the space because the administrators’ are concerned about the safety of people living in tents, Luke said. However, movement leaders hold regular meetings with school administrators.
“I guess they feel for us and don’t mind our encampment movement,” Luke said.
Marvin Stern, CSUN alumni and activist who joined Occupy L.A. the first day it formed, said he wants to witness the movement of Occupy CSUN grow.
“If people are not able to assemble peacefully, then we failed as a nation. We are trying to speak for the 99 percent who are not able to afford education, who have lost their jobs, and who lost their homes, their future is oblique,” he said.
Four classes participated in the one-night stay; CHS 100 Chicano Culture,  two classes of CHS 111 Chicano + The Art and CHS 155 University Writing.
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  • Sanchez

    Have any of you ever read Fahrenheit 451? I doubt it. Thats the reason why you preserve all subjects regardless of topic.

    • BigMac

      I am aware of the work of Ray Bradbury. I don’t understand your point. Could you elaborate?

  • Vlad

    Chicano’s(not all), as blacks(not all) [of this generation] have been conditioned by the Progressive Liberal Establishment to look to government as the provisor of needs, wants, and opportunity .  For more than a generation, the Democratic Party has “promised” favored constituency groups “largess from the public treasury” for votes.

    Today’s angst is the confluence of energy between the “overpromises” and the pushback from “others” who’ve been asked to foot the bill. The Rich, and Businesses are leaving California in droves, as a result of the Democratic Legislature going to the well one time too many. California is rated 50th in the nation, as being business friendly.

    The rich should DEMAND the implementation of Socialism. At least then, there would be a fairer(less Progressive) burden on them for the continued demand for more.

    Occupy insists on demanding that their needs and wants to be served. With the downturn in the economy, the ponzi scheme as been exposed. The well is dry.

    Collapsing “our system” is the desire of those who envision an egalitarian utopia. History has shown, that what would take place, would be the implementation of totalitarian rule, with the ”Elite” taking [by force] what they need, keeping most of it for themselves(and Party loyalists) with “the people” living(and dying) from hunger and re-education.

    Vlad  

    • Ilovecosima

      Over half of Americans are at or below the poverty line, Vlad.

      • Vlad

        Reminds me of being your age, during Jimmy Carter’s Presidency. Almost identical circumstances, with identical (bonehead) policies being pursued.

        This will be remedied next November.

  • Tatiana

    Occupy CSUN (anything for that matter) has nothing to do with Chicano/a Studies.

    • BigMac

      Then why is a professor of Chicano/a studies sponsoring Occupy CSUN? And it still begs the question.

      • David the small-L libertarian

        Chicano/a Studies and/or MEChA has never missed an opportunity to join a protest at CSUN.  They’re pretty much dissatisfied with everything.  They’re all “entitled” just like Futalca.

        • old glory

          Actually, Chicano/a studies was getting their thunder stolen by another group. So if you can’t beat them join them. 

  • BigMac

    I understand that learning about different cultures is a good thing. But in all seriousness, what do you do with a degree in Chicana/o Studies?

    • Oh Yeah

      You become a professor of Chicano/a studies and advance the field of study.

      • http://worldwithinsight.com/ Kyle Greggory

        You learn about the struggles of underrepresented people (whether they are latino/a or not), and how to advocate for more just policies and how to effect change, I’d suppose. I’m not even in the discipline and I know this. Come on, people! These comments just provide further evidence of the need for ethnic studies.

    • David the small-L libertarian

      You teach it to someone else. But you have to get a teaching credential to do even that.  You can also write great anti-America books like CSUN Professor Rudy Acuña.

  • David the small-L libertarian

    So the “occupiers” are asked by CSUN administration to plan their leave and  Professor Meraz makes camping out with them a class project.  Does anyone think Meraz will be admonished for such behavior?

    I doubt it.

    “This is a state university, we shouldn’t have to pay for our education,” said Adriana Futalca who has been camping at Occupy CSUN for over two weeks.

    This statement is illustrative of the problem: She’s “entitled.”