I'd be inclined to support the students here, but my suspicion of all large institutions causes me to reconsider when I see the United Auto Workers union logo as a backdrop.
I become doubly doubtful when the essential message of the protest comes across as "Hey! You keep paying for me to do this thing I want to do!" but presents itself under the guise of solidarity with the oppressed. Economic advantage and educational consumerism coopting ideals and principles of basic justice just rubs me the wrong way.
OTOH, if living in tents had actually lowered their tuition or democratized our economic system, I'd probably be singing a different tune in support of their efforts. But frankly, I don't see anyone being in the right here.
It isn't just Berkeley. See the Irvine 11 and the Davis Banker's Dozen, as well as video footage of UC Riverside protestors facing cops in riot gear. And those are just the ones I know about.
The UC Master Plan is dead; it will be entirely dismantled in June.
I'd be inclined to support the students here, but my suspicion of all large institutions causes me to reconsider when I see the United Auto Workers union logo as a backdrop.
ReplyDeleteI become doubly doubtful when the essential message of the protest comes across as "Hey! You keep paying for me to do this thing I want to do!" but presents itself under the guise of solidarity with the oppressed. Economic advantage and educational consumerism coopting ideals and principles of basic justice just rubs me the wrong way.
OTOH, if living in tents had actually lowered their tuition or democratized our economic system, I'd probably be singing a different tune in support of their efforts. But frankly, I don't see anyone being in the right here.
The cops were running a "police riot" and afterward running a sort of dragnet to hunt down protesters.
DeleteThe UC system and their pigs were deeply in the wrong.
Psst. It's "Berkeley."
ReplyDeleteIt isn't just Berkeley. See the Irvine 11 and the Davis Banker's Dozen, as well as video footage of UC Riverside protestors facing cops in riot gear. And those are just the ones I know about.
ReplyDeleteThe UC Master Plan is dead; it will be entirely dismantled in June.
I've always viewed Berkeley as the attention starved emo child of Academia, but if the cops really cross the line then they need to be fired.
ReplyDelete