Above: California State University Employees Union CSUSM Chapter President Mike Geck
By Jenna Jauregui
Top photo by Aaron Jaffe
Article photos by Jenna Jauregui
Thursday, Oct. 7 marked the most recent Day of Action for the national campaign to defend public education.
Following the March 4 rallies earlier this year and demonstrations regarding tuition increases and slashed funding, activists decided to organize a second date to allow students, teachers, and community members to speak out against budget cuts and other grievances they believe are hurting the public education system in California and the nation. The day was planned specifically to bring awareness to issues surrounding education in light of this fall’s midterm election season.
CSUSM held its own rally in defense of public education during U-hour in the free speech plaza. As students gathered for the event, protest-themed music was played over loudspeakers to inspire emotion and unrest. Students were served free pizza and heard speeches from CSUSM Student Body President Susana Figueroa, CSUSM professor Heidi Breuer, and California State University Employees Union CSUSM Chapter President Mike Geck. The microphone was then open for students at the rally to come and share their opinions.
Figueroa appealed to her fellow students in her speech, reminding them that they have a responsibility to hold state leaders accountable for the promises they make. Students can make a difference and form a legacy by choosing to step up and vote. “As college students, we are often devalued although we work so hard for our education,” she said. “Voting is so easy to do—investigating the issues is the hardest part, but also the most essential.”
Breuer opened her speech by mentioning the millions of dollars in federal stimulus funds that were recently granted to the UC and CSU systems and pointing out that professors are no longer complaining about furlough days. “It may seem like everything is fine now,” she said to the students, “but all is not good!”
She compared the present state of public education to the eye of a hurricane. “We are in the eye of our storm, the storm of public education. We are in the middle of a huge attack… the chaos is coming.” Breuer said that the most pressing issue in the coming election is whether education should be a privilege, privatized so that only those with money can attend school, or a right. “Education doesn’t just benefit you, it benefits the entire community,” she said, “so tell a friend, register to vote, and go vote in the Nov. election!”
Geck advocated in his speech for students and staff to stand to defend public education as a human right. On behalf of the Employees Union, he believes that “students are gifts that keep on giving. They are a worthy investment.”
He spoke in approval of California Governor 2010 candidate Jerry Brown, the candidate endorsed by the Employees Union. “Right now is a critical time in California history, and Nov. 2 is an important date,” he said. “We will either repair what’s wrong in the state and move it in the right direction with Jerry Brown, or follow [opposing candidate] Meg Whitman into an abyss, widening the gap between rich and poor, leaving students without education and heading towards a bleak future.”
One student got up to speak, wanting to present a bipartisan view of the issues facing higher education. He spoke positively of California Governor 2010 candidate Meg Whitman, citing her plan to give billions of dollars back to the CSU system and completely reform the budget, devoting recovered funds to education.
Whether college students decide to vote for Whitman or Brown, the overall goal of the Day to Defend Public Education was to inspire people to research the issues facing the public education system and realizes how their vote can help change state policies to change California’s schools for the better.
