By Zak Weinberg:
September 24th — UCSB faculty participated in a statewide walkout targeted to bring attention to layoffs, furloughs, and increased student-fees. At 11:30, roughly 400 students, professors, and faculty staged a rally in the Arbor that featured poems, speeches, and musical performances.
Ole Today Staff Photo
There were poems from guests, faculty, graduates and undergraduates, but the most noteworthy poet was the final poet of the day David Starkley, who said, “If I believe I’d pray, instead I curse.” He received moderate applause with the lines, “Why do they hate us? Why do they ignore the master plan.” However the most well received lines were, “If they love furloughs so much, why don’t they take one themselves!”
Next on the microphone was Ron Parris, a soul singer and activist who fomented crowd interest with his inciting activist style reminiscent of the 60’s counter-culture movement. “Ain’t no stoppin us now!” He sang.
Ole Today Staff Photo
One speaker stressed history shows the poor treatment and budget cuts are not caused by the recession. She went on to explain the importance of liberal arts majors claiming, “A focus on measurement leaves us with nothing significant to measure.”
The event was organized by Saving UCSB a group in support of Option 4.
Unions represent custodial services, food services, transportation, health and clerical, and student workers, as well as professors.
The primary demands are a return of transparency in the UC system as well as accountability. According to officials, UC won’t explain what they are bargaining for, while canceling important meetings and establishing poor communication between the UC and Unions.
UCSB faces 41 million in budget cuts over the last 6 years, with the entire University of California budget facing 20% cuts this year.
Today, prisons receive more funding than education.
Also, if California taxed oil extraction at the same rate as Alaska, we’d make 4 billion in revenue.
For related news check out: Recession Extends to Campus Jobs
But for something entirely random, check out: Adderall UCSB’s Favorite Study Drug
