On Thursday September 4, 2009 the campus of University of California’s Berkeley was congested with students and faculty. As they held their banners high, speeches were made, each speaker projecting their own opinion with rage yet passion. At that time, the recent news of the wage cuts and increased student fees due to the privatization of the school did not sit well with those at UC Berkeley.
A walkout is defined by Oxford dictionary as, “a sudden angry departure, especially as a protest or strike.” The students and faculty participated in a walkout. This extreme occurrence of student activism was used as a tactic to positive change to their university environment. However, was a walkout the most constructive way to make their statement?
Laurier Brantford student, Tanya Oskam disagrees with how the students and faculty at UC Berkeley chose to handle the situation. Believing it was a poor choice of communication, she says, “I think it was a negative way to make a statement, they should have approached the university in a completely different way with better communication with what their fight against.”
Student activism is present in every school community for various reasons, although not all cases are handled in such an aggressive manner. For the most part, student activism has proven to be a somewhat useful way in trying to achieve social change. From a student’s perspective, Tanya says, “I think student activism is okay, as long as it’s handled right. In general I think it can be effective as long there are enough supporters backing you up.” Since the incident at UC Berkeley was handled in a poor and immature manner, this resulted in many students getting arrested.
The root of the problem seems to be due to UC Berkeley beginning to function under a privatized environment. Since the school was run by a completely private education system, whoever running it is permitted to do whatever they wish. In this situation the changes reflected inequitable treatment and racism. “I think that privatization is good…for the person who is running it. It isn’t necessarily good for everyone. Our country should be fairer and community orientated. Privatization promotes self-wealth and a selfish way to run things.” says Tanya.
A lingering question is on everyone’s mind; did UC Berkeley deserve this kind of lashing out? The school responded in an almost graceful manner, not pointing any fingers and trying to resolve the issue in a less dramatic manner. Tanya agrees, “With such a big walkout you kind of have to take a step back and look at the situation and then deal with it then.”
Student activism can either make or break an educational community. It will continuously be an element of every school, whether people like it or not. Students undeniably have a right to stand up for what they believe in, and try to make constructive changes of what has been implemented. If students want change, they will do everything within their power to achieve that change.
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