Students rally to support higher education

What a joke this rally was. I have never seen so many messages at one “protest”. This was ridiculous. I understand times are tough and education is getting expensive and the promise scholarship is gone. But, what do you think these students are accomplishing/accomplished by their “protest” and “march in solidarity”? They lost all credibility when they started using expletives during their “protest”. They were doing nothing but complaining about things, it was extremely disorganized, and had no central focus. How do they expect to get their point across? I guess they thought the most effective way was to walk down Michigan Avenue and yell at the top of their lungs outside the Admin building. Real effective guys. You think you were heard by Simon or Wilcox? They were in their offices on the 4th floor laughing away I am sure at the ridiculous scene being displayed outside. What a joke. Read a book and learn how to orchestrate a successful demonstration that actually has a purpose. Plus it’s not even Simon who has the final say on tuition. Its the Board of Trustees. Guess what guys, they weren’t at the Admin building today. Your chants and raucous today were falling on deaf ears and laughing faces.

Also, in terms of raising tuition. What do you want the university to do? Not raise tuition? Well okay, I guess they could do that, but then we are going to have to find money somewhere. I guess we can stop paying professors, because you know they will keep working here making even less than many already do. I guess we could discontinue out library, because you know, that isn’t important either. I guess we could get rid of police, because we don’t need them either. Well actually we do, after this groups scene today at the capitol, many of them should have been arrested. Don’t talk about or come back with the old argument of “well Simon and wilcox shouldn’t make what they make” You all need to get off your soapbox. They make the decisions, because other people can’t. They make the tough ones. All people who take part in this protest do is complain.

This was a ridiculous scene today and I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw it and when I read about it in the paper. I hope you guys had fun acting ridiculous today and I would actually encourage you to do this again. I always like a good laugh.

Also, I probably shouldn’t bother asking, but I will. How are you going to follow up with your “protest”? I will let you ponder that one, as I am sure you guys didn’t think that one through.

What a joke…

whoever wrote that “what a joke” comment is a fool. obviously simon and wilcox and the board of trustees didn’t hear the protest. that’s what the media is for. just because they didn’t hear it doesn’t mean they didn’t hear ABOUT it and that’s just as effective. the word is getting out that the administration is wasting its money building a campus in dubai rather than retaining its deaf ed. program while the government is spending money funding a war abroad rather than the education of it’s own people. you want to talk about a joke (and a pretty sick one at that).

i would be willing to bet that anyone who has the audacity to sit back and criticize a group of students who demand justice doesn’t know how it feels to have to drop out of college a year before graduating because you can’t afford it. don’t you understand that the more expensive education gets, and the less people can afford it, the greater the divide becomes between the rich and the poor? the middle class is disappearing for this exact reason. if you can’t afford to graduate, you’re not going to get a job that pays well, especially in times when it’s hard to get a job at ALL (much less without a college degree).

finally, i would just ask you to look at the bigger picture. the reason there were a variety of messages is because all of these things are related. the budget cuts, the administration, the bailouts, the tuition hikes, the war. open your eyes. at least while people like you sit back and laugh about poverty someone is out there doing something meaningful.

A few things. I am not sitting back and laughing at poverty. Poverty is an awful thing. I was laughing at this groups ineffectiveness. I guess there was some media coverage, albeit only the state news. Your comments about the war are completely irrelevant and I am not even going to go there with you. i can see how the issues they were talking about were related, but when you have literally 8 different issues you are “protesting” about it makes it difficult to become effective.

“what a joke”- thanks for your comments.

its people like you who continue to have faith in failed policies and sit back and let the people in power who “know better” control our university which has allowed higher education to be treated as just another corporation, rather an institute of learning.

“What a joke” you are crazy. You have the slightest idea what you are talking about. For example, you grumble: “I guess there was some media coverage, albeit only the state news” as if the state news is not the appropriate venue for such coverage. What is more, is that if you would have done any research on the event you would have noticed that it was picked up by Detroit Free Press, Lansing State News, and folks I know at the event also did radio interviews. That’s what we call good coverage. Additionally you whine: “Plus it’s not even Simon who has the final say on tuition.Its the Board of Trustees. Guess what guys, they weren’t at the Admin building today” well that certainly is true, but guess what (?): these students have been at every board meeting since early last fall. Get your facts together. I understand it’s really easy to criticize a movement but I have one question for you: what have you done besides condemn movements anonymously online?

It is clear to me you haven’t the slightest clue what effectiveness means when trying to create publicity and generate political pressure. Typing anonymous internet comments does not comport effectiveness. Getting coverage from four different news agencies, a myriad of independant media, and taking the streets for five miles is precisely how one is effectively goes about sending a message.

It is also blatantly clear that you don’t know the issue you’re talking about. the group recognized that the problem is both at the university and legislative levels. In terms of what could be changed at the university level, how about cutting spending on a new $40 million museum? how about closing dubai? how about not disproportionately cutting the humanities? how about taking from the cash cow that is our athletic program, and saving programs that actually contribute to education? how about making students, fauculty, and the community (the groups who make up this university) a legitimate part of the decision process? And yes, how about cutting all administrator salaries? Simon makes more than the damned president of the USA and all she does is destroy a university – sick. Yes this issue is about tuition, but it’s also about budget cuts (and how they’ve been made), privatization, and a legislature that is forever withdrawing funding from public education.

Come down off your high horse you twit.

“what a joke” = 1

“what a joke” = ‘plus’ 1

This rally—like most in the past—was orchestrated and executed primarily by left undergraduate and graduate students. We need the support of left faculty members (we have the generous support of one) on campus to support our struggle and join us in solidarity. To that end, faculty members should join us—Real Chicano/Latino Studies, Undergrad alliance (UGA!), and ALLeft—on March 4th to take the streets and demonstrate again. Your support is necessary and vital to a more successful movement. Where have all the left faculty gone?

Well done to all of those who participated in the rally. This is your right and duty as citizens. I was happy to see security being beefed up throughout Lansing as they prepared for this event. I was also impressed that two seemingly opposite groups were going to share the east steps for this unified display telling legislators to put the citizens first. What a necessary thing for them to see as they embark upon figuring out the next budget, facing a $1.7 billion hole.

I did not participate in this rally, but I did observe it for a bit. As an MSU alum, I was momentarily tempted to join. However, I watched this turn into, from the side of the students, an incredibly disappointing, immature, and alienating display of ignorance. How disheartening, when something with so much potential gets ruined by those kinds of actions. I’m certain the intent was good, but the execution fell apart. I hope there will be more rallies at the Capitol, and I hope they keep getting bigger. Before students attempt that again, though, I hope they go in with clear heads and strong leadership to prevent another breakdown such as the one that happened last night.

I also have to say, as a former student of the MSU J school, I am disappointed this article makes no mention of the debacle which was so disappointing to me.

“Where have all the left faculty gone?”

Why don’t you try inviting Left faculty. Whatever our expertise, we’re not clairvoyant. We can’t support student rallies that we’re not invited to help in the planning, and we can’t attend rallies we don’t know anything about.

Please take this as an invitation, not a criticism. You cannot have a student-led and student-focused event and expect, tell Left faculty nothing about your event, and expect us to magically appear at your rally.

What A Joke is basically correct. I was there last night and heard nothing but a couple legitimate chants by the “students for higher education.” I enjoyed this article by the State News, because they left out all of the distasteful comments and rhetoric being used by the group of 50 (or less) students. I have never seen the ‘race-card’ be thrown out so much. We were there to support the ongoing Tea Party, and since the students were obviously far-left, we were called racists, Nazis, and fascists. Not to mention, the crude F-Bombs being thrown around like the word “the.”

The most outrageous claim by the students:
Student- “Have you ever been on welfare?”
My buddy- “No, I have not.”
Student- “See, you are a racist!”

Overall, the group of undergrads and graduates ruined their own cause last night and this article leaves out the mass amount of negatives about it. Good reporting State News (sarcasm). Please try a little better at it next time.

Oh so you were part of the “1600” students that Ben organized? Where maybe there was what about 20 students there with him. So we still have 30 more than he did.

Hopeful: Just curious as to what debacle occurred?

S.O.S…all fighting behind the security of the internet. Unjack before you are all jacked.

50 students and no faculty against an administration that deems you worthless. Sounds like a waste of time and possibly even a self-defeating effort if the above comments are true.

I agree, the student portion of the rally was a joke. They were disrespectful, obnoxious and just plain brats. It was all about them, the ungrateful little kids. They don’t have a clue…guess what…it’s not all about you — we’re all hurting so pay your own way. My daughter lost the promise award too in her second year but she would never shout over the national athem or pledge of allegiance. All you ungrateful lazy students there last night, please move to Iran.

MLK Jr once stated “The ultimate measure of a person is not where they stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where they stand in times of challenge and controversy.” The students yesterday demonstrated their resolve in the face of an increasing bureaucratization and technocratization of education at all levels – I am proud of each and everyone of you! The question to all you internet trolls is: what are you doing in the face of controversy?? Resorting to 1950s racist divisiveness?? Class antagonisms?? Teabaggers: wake up and realize that what makes us human is not our ability to divide and conquer, to make more money or deny someone else the opportunity and right to a safe and healthy life. What makes us human is our ability for compassion and kindness, to stand together in moments of controversy and demand change. Stop living behind your white-washed walls and ethnocentric idealism. Read a book, engage a stranger and demand that in the year 2010 people should not be denied the right to live and develop – lets strive to improve all of us, not only people with white skin.

Left faculty will not ‘magically appear’ at actions because they are obviously to all the news coverage, fliers, and town halls. They all are invested in their pursuit of tenure, publishing, and mortgages-in the end, it’s self interest over collective interest. You want proof to the above? Look what happened to Music Therapy and American Studies. Quite ironic, that a program (American Studies) core faculty founded on “radicalism” ran away with their tails between their legs. What do you expect from academic activists? I know! A picket fence, two kids, SUV, a dog, a cat, and a sweet 401K!

What you didn’t see on the news, or read in the newspapers, about a segment of the group of the students who were protesting at the Capital building on Wednesday night was that when it was announced that we were going to say “The Pledge of Allegiance” one of the adults with the students yelled out, “That’s not our flag,” after which the students proceeded to chant and carry on during the entire pledge, and throughout the prayer that followed. That, and not the fact that they were there protesting, is what caused the initial tension between them and the rest of the crowd. I attended as a member of the Tea Party, but had told my sons girlfriend, who attends Michigan State, and had lost her Michigan Promise funding, that because she couldn’t be there, I would protest for her concerning that issue. To me, a promise made should be a promise kept. According to the students web site, that was the issue they were there protesting, but it was very obvious that, for a select few, there was something much deeper than that going on that night. When I asked one of the students what group he was with, he screamed in my face, “You fascist, corporate drone.” That’s the only answer I received other than some incoherent rambling concerning his being an “oppressed indigenous.” The police had to escort the students off from the lawn. I heard one tell them that the reason was because they didn’t have a permit to protest. Whatever, the students, and the adults who accompanied them, have to rethink their methods of protesting if they want it to be effective. First of all, you have to be able to articulate what the issue is that you are there protesting and stick to that issue, and, second, you don’t go about intentionally antagonizing those who support your view of that issue.

The debacle, to me, was the students inability to react in a way besides yelling profanities, accusations of racism (how did that even get brought up?!), and allowing themselves to melt into an ineffective noise. Losing your heads with the “masses” might seem right in the moment, but it’s not the way to accomplish what I hoped students were there to do. Albert Parsons used one of my favorite quotes above from MLK Jr.: “The ultimate measure of a person is not where they stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where they stand in times of challenge and controversy.” The students started with good intent. Where they stood in the challenge and controversy that took place on the Capitol steps showed them to be passionate, but when passion devolves into what it did there, nothing good comes from it. That sort of thing only leads to further misunderstanding, as is clearly demonstrated by the comments above.

Also, if you read the LSJ or other reports of this event, it describes this event in more thorough detail. Apparently after I left it was necessary for the polices to physically separate the two groups. How truly sad, for everyone involved.

Here is how the demonstration went happened and there are a few things that people need to understand.

Upon arrival the Tea Party was instantly trying to act as if the entire event was theirs alone, attempting to silence the students by grabbing megaphones and hitting signs. When chants were made like “Tax the Rich!” the Tea Party turned around and personally attacked the protesters. Telling them to “get jobs,” calling them “retards” and challenging their knowledge of history.

At one point there were several latina/o students speaking and several Tea Party demonstrators asked them for their Greencards and Work Visas. One man was even sick enough to say that one girl was an illegal immigrant. This in turn sparked anti-racist chants from the students because the Tea Party’s actions were uncalled for and disgusting.

Eventually, police created a very distinct line that separated the students from the Tea Party claiming they would charge them with trespassing if they didn’t back up. No such threats were made to Tea Party folks who continued to attempt to confront the student protest line.

In regards to students chanting over prayers and the pledge: This was not the Tea Party’s event, it was on public property and the fact that the Tea Party had a religious prayer on the capitol steps is disgusting.

If anyone has any issue with the students, you should talk to the dozens of passing motorists and people on sidewalks that cheered and approved of the message the students were conveying. The message the students were sending was one of a universal need for education and education’s necessity in saving Michigan. The Tea Party was the aggressor in every situation and to be honest, their blatant racism and elitism deserved a hostile response. They want to privatize schools? That is messed up. We all see how privatized healthcare is working out.

This is a personal message to the Tea Baggers; when certain people called our group a bunch of bigots I got upset about this umbrella statement and I defended your right to say what you wanted but because of your actions at the capitol I pray that you meet overwhelming resistance wherever you congregate and that your idiotic and irrational messages are silenced and forever forgotten in history. The patriots who were present at the original Tea Party would be ashamed of your actions and you dishonor their activities and ideals.

Last paragraph: *your group (not our group)

Dear Ms. Julia Child

1. By “news coverage,” do you mean the 15-second snippets of coverage of your march aired after your weekend stroll takes place? Faculty are smart, but we’ve yet to master time-travel. “Fliers?” Do you mean the fliers posted around campus complaining of the lunch budget of a Latino faculty member? “Town halls?” The only town halls getting coverage are right-wing “Tea Parties.” And they’re kicking your ass on media coverage.

You can blame white racist-sexist-anti-immigrant-corporate-capitalists-imperialist media. Or perhaps you can consider the possibility that you’re doing something wrong.

2. By “proof,” maybe you should re-take a freshman writing course to re-learn what “proof” means. Music therapy was cut because it cost the university over quarter-million dollars a year to operate but generated very little income in return (in clients, student enrollments, grants, etc.). The Provost cut the program, with a rubber-stamp committee of largely untenured (and therefore, easily disposable) faculty.

Oh, by the way, I’m sure the Provost gets a good laugh whenever you go charging into Board of Trustees meetings like it’s the Bastille, calling Pres. Simon bad names. Are you so stupid that you don’t even know who’s cutting the programs you’re crying about right now? Pure ignorance! You don’t even know who you should be protesting in the first place.

3. I almost dropped my computer laughing – American Studies “founded on radicalism?” American Studies is the only humanities field created by the United States government to promote American hegemony during the Cold War. It was created as an ideological component to U.S. imperialism, to promote “American values” such as free-markets, capitalism, and consumerism. Same with American Studies at MSU. Been teaching here at MSU for almost 20 years. I can assure you nothing remotely “radical” has ever come from American Studies.

You’re “leftist” ignorance has blinded you to the reality that American Studies was created to promote the very things you claim to protest.

4. Uh, did you know that one of the basic functions of academic tenure is to protect free speech in the advent of another McCarthy-ish, fascist political movement in the United States? Now that’s radical. Do your homework. Or talk to a faculty member so that you might learn something.

5. Lastly…Hey! Have you seen my 401K lately? Definitely NOT “sweet!” It’s more like a 4K these days…but that’s OK. Professors of all political backgrounds make the financial sacrifice to teach young fools like you every day. And I don’t like dogs, and cats makes me sneeze.

It is clear that you’ve complete contempt for the academy and those that teach in it. I think you should leave.

Sincerely,

The Left Professor

Thanks, Left. My only correction is that I am remotely (if not practically) radical and I do like cats. I especially honor those who fought with great dignity and force for our tenure within the University during the last really brutal round of cuts. There were giants then. Peace.