San Francisco State University Students Walk Out!

Today, on April 26 students met at 10:00 AM in the middle of Malcolm X plaza at San Francisco State to protest the privatization of public education. Students began to gather and political fervor was felt in the air. As more students started arriving a few organizers began to speak through bullhorns encouraging students to gather and prepare for the walk out. For a few weeks leading up to this moment students had been organizing a student walk out in protest of the increase in tuition. At the current rate 1 in 3 students will have to drop out of the Cal State System because they will not be able to afford the current tuition rate. Also, 46% of alumni are now graduating with debt and EOP (Educational Opportunity Programs) has been drastically cut by the current administration.
Students began chanting, “the students united will never be divided” as they marched towards the center of campus. Once there was more momentum students began to file out of class and join the crowd. Estimates suggest there were about 500 students earlier in the march. Soon afterwards, the students went inside different buildings to encourage students to walk out by chanting repeatedly, “Walk out!” Some students walked out of classrooms and the energy of the protestors was really lively and inspiring.
As the students went from the Humanities Building to Burk Hall and later the H.S.S. building it was apparent that the students would not be satisfied until they got the attention of the administration. However, the administration seemed uninterested in listening to any of the demands by the students so the protestors went to Malcolm X plaza before rallying once again just outside the administration building. Some of the chants include, “Fewer classes, Higher Fees, The CSU is run by thieves.” It was clear that many students felt that those in charge care very little about keeping education affordable. Originally, the cal state system was implemented to allow affordable education for working-class students. Now, it is nearly impossible to handle a full schedule of classes and par-time jobs that will cover the cost of going to school.
At the highest point of the protest there were about a thousand students marching all demanding lower tuition and a concern for the welfare of students. Also requested by the students were more classes and better resources. Some students even suggested free education and equal access to all. Students questioned the cal state system which has been accused of mishandling 1.2 billion dollars. California is the 5th largest economy in the world, wouldn’t it be possible for them to cover the cost all of students tuition?
Instead of building more prisons, California should invest in their students instead of denying them access. Once the protestors regained energy many of them stormed into the administration building with a full drum circle asking “Where is Corrigan?” They were referring to President of SF state, President Robert Corrigan, a figure that was no where to be seen during the walk out. Not only has he repeatedly denied to speak with students but he is barely visible on campus. Students had a hard time finding his office when they entered the administration building and discovered that the police or some other forces had locked the fifth floor in an attempt to prevent it from being occupied by the demonstrators. Inside the administration building things heated up because no one addressed the demands of the protestors.
“This is the first of many rallies to get the administration to understand we are serious,” one of the guest speakers said as students sat down in the main lobby and discussed what to do next. Altogether the walk out and protest was a glimpse into many of the problems our society faces today.