Responding to R. Corrigan's Letter About San Francisco State University Occupation

9 Dec. 2009
Around three in the morning, 12 San Francisco State University students blocked the entrances to business building. They announced their 21 demands that were welcomed by some while mocked by others who think it was not related to SFSU's budget cut issue.

10 Dec. 2009
Police removed the occupiers and business building at the campus was reopened. Robert Corrigan, the university's president, released a letter to address the shutting down of the business building by the protesters, denouncing their actions who he called as "an illegitimate takeover that denied thousands of students their educational rights."

In response to that letter, I wrote this blog:

1st, I do support the SFSU occupation. It's a student demonstration. It's a free speech. It expressed what many students at SFSU felt.

2nd, he said, "More than 3,000 students and faculty were shut out." Didn't Corrigan considered the 250,000 students that were turned away this year alone and also.... hundreds!! of lecturers that were laid off as being shut out??! "Keep them open and not closed..." what a statement! Moreover, what about within the university? We're virtually being shut out because we cannot get into the classes that we need. Think also about the class that should be ran as a small class but now, professors have to take let's say 50 students per class. Don't you think it will shut out the transferred of education? Physically blocking the entrance of our classes is not the only way to shut out things.

3rd, "The protesters also demanded that no disciplinary action be taken against them. If you are going to engage in an act of civil disobedience, then you should have the courage of your actions. Civil rights activists - and I was one -- did not demand immunity; they acted and changed our nation." So? What points are you trying to make here? There was also a rumor that it was not true and made up to make these protesters looked bad. There was no proof for this but even if let's say it's on the demand, I don't think it's bad at all. Why is it bad?

4th, "Barricading a building is not befitting our cherished liberties." And what do you want us to do? We're desperate cause you never listened!! We organized peaceful walk-outs, rallies and protests. What answers did we got??

An increase of fee, cut of classes, last minute cancellation of class, furlough days, building of recreation center and library at the expense of our classes and education.

I myself experienced two of my classes that I registered for this semester were canceled just like that before this semester began and no compensations!! What's more sickening than the sudden cancellations is the fact that they announce a fee increased and giving us only a limited time to pay or we will be dropped automatically from the classes' rosters. Please, define liberties. Define democracy for me, dear Mr. President.

I'm paying more for something a lot less. I'm paying for the building of library that I will never walked into (because it's projected to be finished when I graduate). The same goes with the building of the recreation center. When we're in a dire need for a space for more students, we're building things that we do not need. We need to learn to prioritize. Ask why closing prisons and taxing oil companies were in the demands??!

And even on the Senate meeting that will determine OUR education, we, as students, cannot give inputs. So tell me, what should we do for you to REALLY LISTEN what our opinions and demands are?