A Thoughtful Protest Plan for UC Davis

I am the child of two University of California educated parents and have chosen to follow in the proud tradition of graduating from one of the best public higher education systems in the country, but recent events have changed the dynamic on all U.C. campuses across the state.  Being a concerned U.C. Davis student, I attended a meeting for the organization of the U.C. fee increase protests on the evening of November 23^rd.  As I approached the lecture hall, I could both see and hear the throngs of people.

As we all know, the recent fee increases have sent shock waves throughout campuses across the state.  The meeting was held in order to focus the energy mounting in all of the students hoping for a remedy to this problem.  I entered the large sized lecture hall  and took my seat while hundreds upon hundreds of my fellow students filled the remaining chairs and a good portion of floor space.  Suddenly I knew I was going to be a part of something important.

On November 24th, students stage a "study-in" at UC Davis Mrak Hall.

After much discussion and suggestion from the masses, we, as a student community compiled both a list of demands and tactics for the future.   At the heart of the student demands is a reverse of the increase, by any means possible.  The demands then branch off into several categories.  For the reversal of the increases, an oil tax was a highly favored option, one that has been recently discussed in legislature.

My fellow students have also asked for the reinstatement of the laid off U.C. workers, amnesty for those arrested at the Mrak protest, the halting of the plan to close the Davis Co-ops (a community living facility that has been a significant part of U.C. Davis life for the past several years) and for the chancellor to give her bonus back to the students.  The lecture hall rang with finger-snapping in agreement.

The next thing on the menu was a plan of action for the future.  Students are ready to bring their complaints to the capital in Sacramento.  One student even suggested riding our bikes there as not only a sign of solidarity, but a symbol of our campus and its culture.

On Tuesday, the movement continued with a “study in” in Mrak Hall.  Students spent the day filling the halls doing their homework and occasionally chanting the words that have been ringing through the campus for the past weeks.  “Whose University?  Our university!”  While not as rowdy nor poignant as the past events at Mrak Hall, the students are taking action in any way they can to make a change for themselves and the future of U.C. students.