The students at my school did this. They negotiated for it, they got it, and they're disbanding their encampment now that they're done.
Not one arrest. No police. The first campus in the UC system to do it.
To the student protestors around the globe:
Your voices made a difference and moved ONE California State University.
Keep up the great work!
You changed things in ONE university already!
Solidarity Comrades!
Boycott Genocide, Apartheid, oppression, discrimination, hate, violence, pollution, & war.
The thing that makes the UCLA shit WILD is like… you’re just one part of a statewide system! You could have (probably) just negotiated a “we’ll look into it” plan, peacefully ended the protests, and then pointed to “sorry, system, we tried” when the students come back in the fall!
Imo demobilising before every point is fully *implemented* is a mistake. But even if the uni bosses break their word, it's a short term morale boost and a medium term warning to other encampments not to prematurely demobilise
In the UC fossil fuel divestment movement, the first campus to do something like this was followed within days by 2 others, and it was the beginning of the end of that fight. Good luck and thanks for taking the lead!
1/3 of my alma maters is doing the right thing on this. Not really holding my breath for ‘SC and Pitt, but this is a very welcome development from UCR. So proud of these students!
I hope this brings about change but I’ve seen how “task forces” are designed to wear down students and ultimately prevent any lasting change at an institution. The university isn’t directly committing to divestment, but delaying a decision & leaving it the board of trustees to make the final call.
The agreement is full of weasel words. The formation of a "task force" to "explore" divestment isn't a concrete action and it provides the university with a delay tactic they can use to kill activist energy and not implement changes. Plus, all decisions are left to the Board. Look at who's on there.
Getting rid of Sabra hummus is a win for culinary quality, but why the fuck do protesters give a shit about an American brand that pretends it's Israeli?