Unoccupied
Despite strong Occupy Lansing movement, Occupy MSU fails to gain momentum
Erik Zempel, of Waterloo Township, Mich., left, and Mike Tuell, a graduate student, protest Saturday morning on Grand River Avenue during the Occupy Walk. Part of the Occupy Lansing movement, the walk is another effort to bring out MSU students to the join the protest force in Lansing.
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Editor’s note: This story has been changed to accurately reflect that the MSU students associated with the Occupy Lansing movement plan to attend a black power rally on Nov. 2 to support racial equality on campus.
A hashtag symbol — now synonymous with the Twitter revolution and a new, digital form of grassroots organization — is painted on a banner at Lansing’s Reutter Park, set against the primitive tent city of the Occupy Lansing protestors.
Protestors associated with Occupy Lansing, a sub-branch of the Occupy Wall Street movement that has been sweeping the nation’s cities in the past six weeks, have advocated for social class justice and more accountability in America’s corporations. Activists say the movement is in response to a flood of money that has poisoned the political system and destroyed the fundamental values of the U.S. democracy.
In weekends past, hundreds of people from across Michigan have gathered to protest on the Capitol steps. But while colorful signs, tents and the occasional acoustic group occupy Reutter Park, just two blocks north of the Capitol, all is quiet on the MSU campus.
No tents. No chants. No signs. No students demanding change.
Video: Occupying Lansing ...
Occupy Lansing has experienced slow but noticeable growth since the movement’s start in numbers and in organization. It has not stuck in East Lansing or on campus, despite pained attempts from the organizers of the protest to capture the support of the more than 40,000 students that occupy campus and surrounding areas. Students and leaders of the movement cite a variety of reasons for the lack of enthusiasm, including lack of information and little faith in the movement’s weight.
An empty occupation
Occupy Lansing is everything to 22-year-old Lansing resident Ian Eberhart.
His tent in Reutter Park is his home. He has no house, no apartment. He used the last of his money to buy an outdoor jacket. And he’s not planning on leaving anytime soon.
“I honestly don’t know (what would make me leave),” Eberhart said, adding the prosecution of bank executives for the financial meltdown would be a start. “People will stay here until they see the changes that they want to see.”
Some members are planning to stay through the winter, building huts made of wood and canvas in the park, Eberhart said.
Randy Meger, who is one of the founding members of Occupy Lansing, has similar complaints.
“I’m here because I’m a patriot,” Meger said, adding the U.S. treasury was “ransacked” by corrupt members of the government and greedy corporate executives.
The group camping in Reutter Park started off small with just a handful of people and now has grown into an encampment of about 20 permanent tents with more temporary participants showing up for weekend demonstrations.
But students here have yet to be inspired by the movement’s message; so far, there have been no significant demonstrations on campus. An initial attempt to start an “Occupy MSU” movement seemingly failed — a group who identified themselves as students tried to organize a protest three weeks ago at the rock on Farm Lane to coincide with a national “walk out of class” student movement. But the protest, which the group attempted to form via Twitter, never materialized. The group told The State News in a message via Twitter that the group had disbanded because of lack of support and planned to merge with Occupy Lansing.
Further demonstrations have yielded little MSU support. A demonstration by hundreds on the Capitol steps Oct. 15 — the same day as the MSU home football game against the University of Michigan — failed to draw a sizeable number of MSU students, while still gathering support from many different age groups, hailing from cities across the state.
Then, on Saturday, the group suffered another failed attempt to mobilize the campus community. As rain pelted the 16 attendees at the base of Beaumont Tower for a planned student march to Reutter Park, the leaders were left wondering what to do. With meager numbers, the march commenced as planned, starting with only one marcher who was a student.
“Right now, I’m happy but still not satisfied with the progress,” said political theory and constitutional democracy senior Kevin Pietrick, who is heading the effort to mobilize MSU students.
“There just hasn’t really been quite the opportunity (for MSU students to get involved).”
A lack of momentum
Pietrick said several more students joined the march part way to the park. As for the lack of enthusiasm to participate, Pietrick said he thinks there just haven’t been many opportunities to participate and little dissemination of information.
The lack of support on the side of the student body has been surprising to history professor Lewis Siegelbaum, who attended the march Saturday.
“It’s been disappointing,” Siegelbaum said, noting the movement still is in its early stages. “I think the lack of student participation to the extent aIl of us would like to see is partially a result of the sense of (not) being able to get something accomplished.”
Some campus activists not associated with the movement have other theories.
“It’s midterms — students are busy,” said Stephen Wooden, a member of the MSU College Democrats. Still, he’s thinks the movement might gain momentum soon.
“I’m hearing good things from the Occupy movement,” he said.
Organized occupation
What started as a general dissatisfaction of America’s direction has turned into something that looks a lot like the government of the founding fathers.
The Reutter Park camp has adopted a general assembly to make democratic decisions and subcommittees to tackle more specific problems, such as food, cleanliness and shelter. They’ve ratified a Declaration of Occupation — a constitution of sorts that outlines specific points for change — including reducing education debt and repealing the state’s Emergency Financial Manager law, which allows the state government to appoint a manager with the power to override local government deemed in a disaster state.
Pietrick said he hopes the MSU students who join the movement will develop a similar focus.
On Wednesday, Pietrick and other students plan to attend the a black power rally on campus to show support for racial equality on campus, and Pietrick said he hopes to gather more students to attend a full day of occupy events in Lansing this Saturday.
“It’s not like we categorize and separate these issues out. It’s all one big system of injustice,” Pietrick said.
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wagsandpaws
(11/01/11 11:55am)Report
“It’s been disappointing,” Siegelbaum said, noting the movement still is in its early stages. “I think the lack of student participation to the extent aIl of us would like to see is partially a result of the sense of (not) being able to get something accomplished.”
I suspect the lack of participation is that there is no clear demand on the part of the protestors. What we (those of us that work and pay our own bills) see are a bunch of three year olds having a temper tantrum because their big brother seemingly got a big piece of the pie.
SpartyAlumHatesHippies
(11/01/11 3:06pm)Report
Somebody please tell “22-year-old Lansing resident Ian Eberhart” that Bigby Coffee, Potbelly Sandwiches, the MSU Student Union, Plato’s Closet, and countless other Lansing businesses are currently HIRING. Stop camping out and protesting for a seemingly un-named purpose with no true demand and get a job like everyone else. Most of the lansing “occupiers” are convinced they can’t get a job, when in reality, they just can’t get the great job that they want. Act like everyone else and get a job, pay your bills, put some shoes on and quit being a drum-beating hippie, and work your way up like everyone else (including the 1%). I’m proud of the MSU students for not allowing this movement to catch on in East Lansing. Probably because the students are busy studying or working unlike Ian Eberhart. Enjoy your new winter coat hippie.
CurrentStudentHatesJERKS
(11/01/11 6:33pm)Report
When will you people learn that this movement INCLUDES YOU. This is not just a movement for broke, jobless college students…or as you so lovingly call them “drum beating hippies.” This movement is for everyone. Those that are being drowned by the enormous amounts of DEBT we amass in order to get an education. This movement is for the hard working people being forced out of their homes because of the crooks at banks who lent them money KNOWING they couldn’t pay it back. This movement is to protest the Economic Injustice the 99% live everyday, and guess what.. YOU ARE A PART OF THAT!
The 1% control our media, politics, money and future. In America 100% of the people are supposed to make those decisions, not 1%. Who, contrary to your beliefs, didn’t work nearly as hard as us middle class students do. And we do it just to make ends meet.
Go ahead, call me lazy, call me stupid, call me a hippie. But I’m working two jobs, taking 21 credits and on the leadership of 3 different organizations. I work hard despite the fact that I KNOW I will never work off this debt because I am being robbed daily by these corporations. I am a part of the 99% and YOU are too.
Real American
(11/01/11 7:20pm)Report
I am part of the 53%.
Kham
(11/01/11 9:09pm)Report
FoxViewer
(11/02/11 10:19am)Report
Kham…..I am a vet. Are you? I proudly served for 8 years in the United States Marine Corps. And you? Tell us how you serve or served this country. Are you even from this country?
How dare you try to speak for me! Or to align my service to the greatest nation in the history of civilization with those who are doing all they can to destroy our Republic.
OWSers – be careful for what you wish for. You just might get it. If you believe that anarchy followed by martial law, followed by oligargy is preferable to your current way of life, you might want to read some history. Also look at who is behind OWS. Do you really want to follow active marxists and socialists. Leaders of your movement are making plans to ship desenters to “retraining” camps. Those who refuse to be retrained are to be eliminated. Hmmmmm, does that ring a bell with you. If you don’t believe that is exactly what those behind OWS are planning, then you’re not doing your homework. Learn about the goals of your movement before you intise others to follow. WAKE UP PEOPLE!
(BTW IAN ET AL: YOU DO NOT LIVE IN DEMOCRACY. IT IS A REPUBLIC!!! READ YOUR CONSTITUTION AND DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE)
Kevin Pietrick
(11/02/11 2:12pm)Report
This article is full of inaccuracies, falsehoods, and blatant bias. The following is the email I sent to the news editor and editor-in-chief consisting of a list of all of the problems with this article:
“Today’s article “Unoccupied” had a series of inaccuracies and distortions that need to be corrected immediately. First, I would like to say that EVERY activist I’ve talked to who’s been interviewed by the SN has been misquoted or distorted, and their cause has been distorted as well, usually to demean it. I think the tone, title, and subtitles of this hit-piece speaks for itself as to what the intention was for this article. By the way, just how often does the SN run a report on some cause allegedly NOT being supported or active on campus? There’s a million different causes and movements that ACTUALLY don’t have activity on campus, and you decided to run a false piece on how Occupy Lansing apparently doesn’t have any support on campus. That said, you clearly are opposed to it (which is fine) and decided to run a hit piece on it (which is disgusting), but there still needs to be corrections to that hit piece. Frankly, I think you should put in the corrections an apology for running that whole article and for being so unprofessional. Here are the needed corrections:
-In Ian’s first article about Occupy Lansing and MSU, he said that I had said that there had been a previous failed attempt to Occupy MSU that we were now following up on. In reality, HE told me about this previous attempt, that I had NEVER heard of before, and I just said that I had never heard of it before, then he said in the article that I had said this.
-In the first paragraph the offensive and demeaning word “primitive” is used to describe the occupation. If you’re unsure as to why this is offensive, imagine if someone came to your home and called it “primitive.” there are plenty of unoffensive synonyms you could’ve used, but you chose this offensive term
-in the 2nd paragraph it is said that the movement is sweeping american cities. it is in several thousands of cities WORLDWIDE, and to only acknowledge those in the u.s. is an indirect but still dishonest falsification
-In the 3rd and 4th paragraphs, it is said that all is quiet at MSU, and there are “No tents. No chants. No signs. No students demanding change.” Not only does this directly contradict what Ian already knew about a previous attempt to Occupy MSU, but it is completely false on many levels. On Sat. we marched, chanted, carried signs, and definitely demanded change ON CAMPUS, and it was definitely not quiet by any means given our megaphone and simultaneous chants. Furthermore, the assertion that there are “no students demanding change” is the most outrageous thing I’ve ever read in the SN. Not only were we demanding change, but those in the anti-racism protests, and the environmental protests, and every student who has ever attended a meeting of a student group which is demanding change, HAS DEMANDED CHANGE. I think you know damn well how untrue this statement is. By printing that bullshit you demean all of those who have demanded change, and you demean all students in general, helping to portray them as uncaring and uninvolved. You also, as I’m sure you know, take a side on the issue, choosing to tell the student readership the equivalent of “move along, there’s nothing to see here” and encourage them to dismiss it. In my most cynical rants about SN I could’ve only joked that something like that would’ve been printed. You’ve outdone yourselves.
-In the 5th paragraph, “it has not stuck in East Lansing or on campus” is a matter of opinion, given that there are several residents of East Lansing and MSU students who have been actively involved with Occupy Lansing
-The subtitle “an empty occupation” is a TOTAL value judgment, and it is clearly the author’s opinion that the occupation is “empty”. He offers no definition of “empty” in this context, and no argument for it being empty. he just states it prominently as fact and as the subtitle.
-12th paragraph, “But students here have yet to be inspired by the movement’s message; so far, there have been no significant demonstrations on campus” is on one hand false, and on the other another value judgment. the claim that students have yet to be inspired by the movement’s message is clearly false as evidenced by STUDENTS BEING INVOLVED WITH IT, and send any reporter outside of your office on grand river for 20 minutes and ask students what they think of it, and I guarantee there will be several students who have, in fact, been inspired by the message. This should’ve been done before printing a statement like that. The word for that is “research”. “significant demonstrations” is another value judgment. Several told us on Sat. that the numbers we got of people to march in the streets for over 4 miles through the rain was significant. I’d love for the reporter to tell me an objective number of participants in all possible circumstances that would cause him to call it “significant”. If he or any of you can’t provide this objective number, then I suggest you not print that kind of value judgment.
-The 13th paragraph makes several more of these similar value judgments on the size of the participation
-the 14th paragraph has the march referred to as “failed”, which is another value judgment whihc is particularly questionable given that the march did happen, and given the circumstances many argue it was not at all a failure. Prior to the rain reducing our numbers, we had, as the reporter knows, multiple unions and student groups on campus rsvp-ing to show up, the claim that we failed to mobilize the campus community is inaccurate, they were being mobilized, and the rain prevented people from showing up.
-same paragraph, “the leaders were left wondering what to do” makes us seem stupid and fumbling, when in reality we were debating between two set options of what to do (march in the rain or use the time to plan the next actions).
-same paragraph, “meager numbers” is another value judgment
-same paragraph, there was more than one MSU student who was there. when i talked to the reporter he told me that he “talked to everybody who was there” and I was the only student there. First, I don’t remember seeing him there at all, and second, if he was there, then he only THINKS he talked to everyone, because he clearly did NOT talk to MSU students, Kevin Lynch and Noah Saperstein who were there. This is undeniably false and a prime example of the corner-cutting low-quality reporting done by the SN, paid for by our “State News Tax”
-15th paragraph, I am not “heading” the effort, if you were to claim that I was the only accurate way to do so would be to say that I AND Kevin Lynch are co-heading it. Ian could’ve asked if I was heading it, but he chose not to, and instead just said that I was
-23rd paragraph, there is NOTHING about Occupy Lansing or the Occupy movement in general that is ANYTHING like “the government of the founding fathers”. Our process is infinitely more democratic, and I have absolutely no idea how this reporter could think otherwise and make such a bold and unfounded claim.
24th paragrpah, the declaration is NOT a constitution, you could look up the meaning of the word “constitution” to understand this point. Further the EFM law overrides elected local governments when deemed in a “financial emergency” which is different than a “disaster state”the latter refers to a specific instance particularly associated with a natural disaster, and the former is something else that is far more encompassing and subject to the whims of the governor.-Finally, what may be the worst part of the article, the 25th paragraph, you printed “On Wednesday, Pietrick and other students plan to attend the a black power rally on campus to show support for racial injustice on campus”. I told the reporter that we were going to the black power rally to express solidarity with all of the ANTI-RACISM protests on campus, to express our OPPOSITION to racial injustice. Not only is this a disgusting and horrific distortion of what I said, but this is frankly libelous, and I say that term with the full understanding of it’s implications if the correction is not made. Obviously the reporter did not proofread the article, and by the way, if editors don’t proofread, what exactly do they do?
I will post this on the comments section of the article online
We are not the only activist group on campus that is fed up with SN. I’ve talked to members of BSA who are tired of it, I’ve talked to members of Beyond Coal who are tired of it, and I’ve talked to dozens of activists who have been misquoted by you who are tired of it.”
The editor-in-chief has said she will make the correction on the racial injustice sentence, and will do an “investigation” on some other possible corrections. Of course, this correction does not (yet) correct any of the inaccuracies that are used in the article to convey their biased point that, according to them, no one at MSU is interested in Occupy Lansing.
SpartyAlumAgainstHippies
(11/02/11 2:25pm)Report
CurrentStudentHatesJERKS, don’t group myself or anyone else with this movement. As an MSU grad (from both business school and law school) I can tell you that I am well aware of the amount of debt students accumulate to receive their education. I have plenty. What I also have is a JOB (2 actually) and am working 50 hour weeks to pay off these loans. I knew what I was getting myself into when I decided to attend college and grad school, and have no issue with paying off loans that I agreed to pay off. Rather than occupying the steps of a city hall, I am working every day to make those payments (sometimes just barely) but I take responsibility for my actions unlike those standing with their picket signs blaming the banks/schools/government for decisions they made. Moral of the story- don’t take out loans if you are not responsible enough to accept the consequences, and be willing to work your a$$ off to make the payments (be it through a job(s) you love, hate, want, dont want, etc.). Time to grow up. People are hiring, and although a job isnt a career, its a way to pay back loans according to the terms you agreed to. I am part of the 53% that work to pay off their loans, and someday with that work ethic I have learned I hope to be a part of this “1%” of people who WORKED their way to where they are. Grow up, put some shoes on, put down your picket signs and grab a job application.
SpartyAlumAgainstHippies
(11/02/11 3:37pm)Report
And Kevin Pietrick, you have way to much time on your hands. Thank you for wasting 10 minutes of my life with your corrections of every paragraph. It’s the State News. Get a job as well.