Almost a year after last March’s “Day of Action” protests, in which an American Indian studies associate professor broke her arm, the trial for the students who were arrested has still not begun.  They appear in court today for a pre-trial hearing. CSUN students Anthony Garcia, Jose Gomez, Justin Marks and Jonnae Thompson and Los Angeles Valley College student Angel Guzman are charged with failure to disperse the scene of a riot or illegal assembly, a misdemeanor offense.  Additionally, Garcia… Read more

Students arrested last March during a protest against education budget cuts appeared in court Friday.  CSUN students Jonnae Thompson, Justin Marks, Anthony Garcia, Jose Gomez and Los Angeles Valley College student, Angel Guzman, face charges ranging from battery to failure to disperse. The defendants’ attorneys motioned to postpone the pretrial hearing for February 16, as they hope to resolve the case and avoid going to trial. During prior negotiations, Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich offered to drop charges against… Read more

Political issues were close to the surface at the annual Endependence Day event in the Chicano House. The event, which was hosted by MEChA had performances by Danza Mexica Cuauhtemoc, followed by Ballet Folklorico Aztlan de CSUN and the CSUN Mexican Music Ensemble club on Friday night. “The event is mainly to promote self-dependency,” said senior Jose Gomez, 22, MEChA internal chair. Hip-hop artists Sherman and Olmeca also performed. Various vendors tabled at the event, selling items such as handmade… Read more

Professor Karren Baird-Olson took part in the walkout last thursday, March 4. She described it as a peaceful event until Olson said an officer who moved from the line police had formed in front of the demonstrators pulled her.

On the morning of March 4, Professor Karren Baird-Olson was teaching one of her American Indian Studies classes and gave students a choice to join in on the “Day of Action.” “I had learned through advertising that a demonstration was going to take place throughout the day,” Olson said. Olson then walked and stood in front of the Oviatt Library with her students to listen to speakers talk about the reasons students where out demonstrating. At around 3 p.m. Olson… Read more

Students and faculty discussed the March 4 walk out during Associated Students open forum, which prompted the student government to voice their opinions on the protests. “It’s important to raise an awareness, shout, and then sit at the table and talk,” said Conor Lansdale, A.S. vice president. What we’ve lost as a society is tolerance, Lansdale said. “I feel nothing less than pride of the actions on March 4,” said CSUN student, Justin Marks, during Tuesday’s A.S. meeting. “It’s easy… Read more

In response to Lisa Squier’s letter published Mar. 9: Lisa Squier: I am proud to be an active participant in the walkout.  My participation included classroom interruptions and blocking traffic by sitting in the street. I am also dismayed you didn’t mention the horrendous police brutality perpetrated against unarmed peaceful protesters, including myself, several women who were pushed in the back and Professor Karen Baird-Olson. I’ll ask a simple question: How far do you think the civil rights movement or… Read more

Harrison Leonard Contributing Columnist 1. What did you hope to achieve by disrupting classes, blocking traffic, and being distractingly obnoxious? Can you think of any example in recent history where student protests prompted government to do anything, other than arrest law-breakers? I support your right to non-violent expression; despite how pathetic I found last week’s walkouts. But I would challenge you for next time that the most effective form of dissent is rooted in reason and rational persuasion, not primitive… Read more