Protests need clarity, credibility to be effective

but obama is president now, things don’t have to make sense to change!

in all seriousness, this editorial makes zero mention of the so called myriad of requests the protest was making which were, apparently, unfounded and in too great of number… What did they mention specifically? I can’t argue for or against this editorial because of it’s lack of useable info….

The editorial also seems to equate what they consider a low turnout with a lack of organization. Consider this a fight against apathy on campus, willingness by organizations like the State News to accept at face value the fact that the administration ‘appears’ to be transparent and that things seem equitable just because the higher-ups have said so. They also fail to mention the many other avenues these student groups have taken – not least of which was the ensuing march from the admin building to the Capitol. I’m an advocate of peaceful protest and nonviolent change. These are young activists who, yes, could be more focused at times and yes, sometimes hurt their cause by acting unprofessionally. But echoing the administration’s claim that they don’t matter and that fifty student voices can’t make a difference seems like an awfully self-defeating stance for the State News, no?

You bet they sure do matter! And the fifty or more students who raised their voices in dissent, did the crucial work of representing as students, the voice of a future community leadership, right alongside the other voices at the State Capitol.

Let’s remember that active and participatory democracy requires NOISE, the lifting of voices in speech, chants, songs, and shouts even. It is the necessary traffic of ideas and creeds, a chattering-roaring tide overflowing the muted silences of oppression and stagnation.

In response to the question raised—whether a single grievance or a list of grievances is more effective in bringing about redress, I’d say consider the Declaration of Independence which stated a case for American sovereignty by listing a series of twenty-five grievances against British rule. It was not just one single complaint against the British crown: “…when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security…”

And admittedly, examining the state of American politics today—overwhelmed as it is by mega-corporate lobbies distorting government structures for the common good to the securing and promoting the business interests of an ultra-wealthy elite—it may be hard to recognize the successes of the American Revolution: if indeed a truly democratic political process was then conceived of if not actually installed, what has happened to that American Dream? Maybe that is for us as university affiliates interested in the past, present, and future of the American democratic vision, to reason through.

Noam Chomsky’s [Profit Over People: Neoliberalism and Global Order, 1999] and David Harvey’s [Brief History of Neoliberalism, 2005] give a useful introduction to the greater context in which these restructure changes are occurring, for example at the University and State levels.

It will help us examine the issues better to put a name (neoliberalism) to this larger process and the havoc it consistently wreaks (economic inequality and mass pauperization; civic, cultural, political, and intellectual/artistic life hijacked by the corporate business model; environmental degradation; non-democracy; starkly uneven global wealth distribution), all under the illusion of a “free market.”

Respectfully submitted,

Perry Miller

All you “protestors” here and at the march….you guys make me laugh. It must be nice to have so much free time(and probably mommy and daddy’s money) to take up your little cause and have your little protest. College isn’t free nor is it a right. It’s like everything else in life, you have to work hard to get something valuable. Of course, most of you don’t work so you don’t have to worry about it. In ten years when you all grow up you’ll be just like everyone else, working jobs and raising a family so get over yourselves. You don’t have to take up pet causes and play “activist” to make a difference in this world. Try getting jobs and working hard.

Dear Jim Jones –

We actually don’t have free time… we make time. And as far as mommy and daddy’s money goes, for starters, it doesn’t cost anything to march and let your voice be heard. Second, I work three jobs to pay my way thank you very much.

So perhaps you should stop pretending you know anything about people you spent less time reading about than ripping apart for, to be quite frank, ridiculous, childish accusations that you spent less time thinking about than you spent molding yourself into a good little middle-class worker bee like all your fantasy football chronies at the watercooler.

Jim –

How does blind, blatant. bull%$#^ feel coming back the other way? Do yourself, and everyone else a favor before you decide to get up on your soapbox of misinformed garbage…

Read something beside the sportspage today.

Please, Obama, don’t hurt ‘em.

This is a poorly written article. I am really confused as to what it is arguing. For example, it states: “[groups] attempted to highlight numerous concerns, such as tuition increase and cuts in teaching assistant and undergraduate programs.” If the protest was so unclear, how were you able to extract these messages? Further, you claim that the protest lacked a central focus. With all due respect, if you could not tell the protest was concerned with the state of education in Michigan, then that says more about you than it does the protest. Additionally you claim: “there is no sign the MSU is being negligent toward the protesters.” What? Have they met demands? Are they not disproportionately hacking the humanities due to a “crisis” while at the same time spending over 40million on a new plant and soil science center? That fact is that once this “restructuring” is over there will be NO competitive programs in the humanities. The most absurd part of the article comes at the end when the author laughably states: “It might be wise to direct frustration toward the state legislature.” We recognize the MSU officials are not solely to blame, hence we marched to the state capitol.

The State News is meant to be the voice of the students – those same students that are losing the chance to have the education they were promised when they came to MSU due to the closing of programs.

It is little wonder the State News is seen as a joke around campus and that State News writers are universally laughed at by instructors at MSU due to their shoddy writing style in class.

Your job is to support the students not the administration. What did LAS and her cronies offer you to write this piece of crap?

Dear middle-class white boys of the State News editorial team,

Next time you find it necessary to comment on the the ridiculousness of protests by minorities maybe you should try and understand that we are not all as privileged as you uneducated assholes. Idiots!

I think what they’re trying to say is that rather than just yelling and wanting to preserve your little program how about you learn a little bit about the facts of the situation and the budget and some real numbers and act professionally instead of throwing allegations around, calling the state news “middle-class white boys” and other stunts which expose the disorganized and immature nature of your rant, i mean protest.

If you want to be taken seriously, than get some business students together and show how you can make the budget work to get what you want accomplished under the realities of Michigans economy.

If you do that, i’m on board. I truly wish you luck.

“at the watercooler”

Classic!

TO A “Protester” and “Activist”

I’ll bet you $1000 that in ten years when you finally grow up and get out in the real world (where you have to bust your butt at work to support yourself and your family)you’ll look back and see what a childish poser you are today. You “protest” because you think it’s hip.
And face it, your parents didn’t mind being the little middle class corporate worker bees that you mock in order to provide you with the upbringing that allowed you to go to State. Not to say anything about the state full of hard working taxpayers that subsidize a large portion of the school(whom without, you wouldn’t be able to afford to go here). You’re immaturity shows in the mocking of the lifestyle that has provided your spoiled butt with everything you enjoy today. Live for a couple years(as I have) in some poor, third world mudhole and then see how much you complain about the jobs and companies that provide the money for all you have. You’re little concerns in your little MSU bubble don’t mean squat in the real world.

State News writers = Dumbing down the 21st century one kid at a time

Biggest joke on campus

Jake Abbot – i live in the real world. I work at a university on a wage that is technically below the poverty line – the university is cutting my program – which mean providing for my family will no longer be possible.

Maybe when you remove yourself from your cozy existence you will understand that we are not all as lucky as you.

If it is ‘hip’ to protest against the cutting of high-performing programs while over-paid executives receive pay-rises then sure – call me hip. I call it having a social conscience.

Individuals like you and economist alum (who seem to think that only business students count…) are the reason the US education system is becoming a purely vocational system – god forbid students have to partake in Classics, History, English, or Cultural Studies.

The State news editorial board is a bunch of middle-class white boys – there is nothing wrong with that, but when they call out protesting minorities it does not take Eli Broad to comprehend the inherent crassness of the situation.

Listen to, and understand, our situation before you make broad generalizations about Michigan’s economy, tough times, and how we should just accept needless and short-sighted cuts – when you do I probably wont be on board but at least I will have helped to educate you away from privileged tea-party way of life.

Concerned…you’re the person who decided to pursue a career that pays little. You’re the person who decided to start a family(and the HUGE financial burden that comes with it)knowing your job pays squat. If you want to earn more money, change your job. Don’t complain that you’re underpaid and that society should subsidize your career decision. If it were as valuable as you think it was you’d be paid more. You aren’t paid more because, frankly, you are replaceable and you’re job isn’t of value.

Luck had nothing to do with where I’m at today. I decided to work hard(very hard) to obtain a position that I knew would provide for me and my family. When I decided to have a family I grew up and put their needs before mine.

If your “high performance” programs were so valuable they wouldn’t be being cut. You deciding they have importance doesn’t make it so.

As far as education being a vocational system..in the modern economy is has to be. The Indians and Chinese are kicking our butts not because of their amazing Cultural Studies programs..they are because they are teaching science and math thus pumping out more capable scientists and engineers. Does history, etc have it’s place? Sure…but the balance of an education in this modern economy should be in preparing kids for real jobs in the real world.

As far as your “white-boy” comment..have you ever met anyone on the editorial board? Do you know for a fact, they are all “white-boys”? And don’t you find the use of the phrase “white-boy” to be racially insensitive? What ever happened to judging someone by the content of their character and not the color of their skin? Seems to me you are quick to cry racism yet you just need to look into the mirror to see the real racist.

As explained before(and really, the economics are very easy) the cuts are not short sighted or needless. The economy is in state of collapse. There is little if any money out there and cuts must be made. Much like your personal life, you seem to want everyone else to fund your career choice yet take no responsibility for it. You remind me of a child demanding a new car from an unemployed father..“But Daddy…I WANT it!”

And your little “tea party” comment displays not only your pettiness(and,like your white-boy comment your habit of generalizing people), it shows that you can only resort to name calling as you have no logical points to offer. I am from neither a privileged life of some “white-boy” Republican background. I am simply a responsible, mature adult who works hard and accepts responsibility for himself, his choices, and his family.

Jake – the very idea that to succeed in American society all you need to do is work hard disappeared with Horatio Alger. That was a cultural studies reference there – forgive me – I am not as well versed in Stephen Covey!

I work hard, my colleagues work hard – just because you disagree with teaching and research as a career path is no reason to cast aspersions on other people’s work ethic.

This is not about working hard it is about preserving a well-rounded university education that benefits historians, engineers, teachers, doctors, and scientists alike. That is what people were protesting.

Your close-minded opinion of cultural studies and your xenophobic outbursts show that you clearly do not see beyond dollar signs as to somethings worth – I pity you for this.

As for the programs that are being cut – they are integral to the university, to any university – if you do some research (I can help you with this) you will see that many are ranked highly within the US. They do not need to be cut – they make money for MSU and are valuable in providing a well-rounded education.

I do not doubt you work hard and I do not doubt that you provide well for your family – I sincerely hope you do not suffer the misfortune of losing your job like so many others are in this economy – but once again if you think hard work is all it takes you are ignoring some serious socio-economic issues that the State News editorial board (yes they are all middle-class white boys – and I will point out again the crassness of their comment on protesting minorities) also misunderstood.

Concerned: I’m very sorry to hear of your misfortune.

When i suggested getting business students that was not in any way to imply only those majors count – which would be stupid.

Rather, it was because 99.999% of protesters at MSU are a load of idiots who dont know one solitary fact about the budget or the real (as opposed to desired) political and economic situation facing MSU and the State.

If they’d move their protest to be centered around those realities and offer up useful solutions that address these core and structural problems while preserving their goals, that would make their protest actually worthwhile.

Unfortunately for the “Real” Chicano and Latino Studies, those students have already clearly demonstraited their immaturity in screaming at the Provost et al and probably have helped ensure their program will be (sooner or later) on the chopping block. You dont want to associate yourself and your goals with people on the fringe. I understand its hard to make people care, but if you’re lumped in with fringe elements you wont get anywhere.

It wont be easy but good luck.

Were these the same protesters that showed up on the Capitol last week?

//tinyurl.com/y9pjexl

As much as I hate seeing programs being cut (I wish we could teach more fields instead of taking the axe to programs) in times like this it’s all a numbers game. When your school is strapped for cash, there is no such thing as intrinsic value.

Do all programs have value of some type? Sure. Are they highly ranked and composed of some of the best in the field? Sure. But everything is a numbers game right now, and if your program isn’t pulling in corporate donations/alumni donations or making any money for the university, they’re going to look at it with the green tinted glasses.

Oh, and Concerned:
White doesn’t mean privileged. I don’t know if you’re too far up your own *** to realize this, but I thought I’d just point out the racist in you.