Hello, this is K. Scott Perry, also known to some in San Diego as the spoken word performer Scotch. I'm currently at Humboldt State University, where we are facing a budget crisis leading to increased class sizes, reduced classes and services, and the firing of faculty and staff, among other things. Co-ordinated action between campus activists, our Associated Student Government, and the Faculty union has begun as of last week. I'm fronting a group out of the sociology department intending to serve as a research arm for our movement as it progresses. I'll bore you with the details if you contact me.

What we suspect, and why I'm using this forum to initiate communication down south, is that our local crisis is part of a systemic crisis. This might be a no-brainer to some, but for the rest, (setting this up as logic for simplicity)...

premise1: federal cuts in financial aid from DC

p2: students have to work more

p3: less 'full-time' students

p4: schools paid less from state since 'full-time' get a lot more $

p5: campuses faced w/ budget crisises

conclusion: our campus is not the only one under assault, in fact, this represents an attack to the institution of public education itself!

supporting evidence:

-k-12 education also assaulted by 'vouchers', 'no child left behind,' etc.

-The far right has always been after public education, viewing it as a 'socialist' program (which it is), with-in our so-called 'free-market'. (consult "A People's History of the US," for starters)

-Bush and co. govern by fiat: taking over administration of public entities like FCC, or PBS, and issuing commands down, these commands reflect the philosophy of bushites, not the different institution's mandates.

-CSU system functions like this: Governator appoints CSU Chancellor appoints school Presidents- our own President Richmond representing our chief obstacle in the current crisis; government by fiat.

We suspect other campuses, and in fact the entire educational infrastructure is under assault. Again, a no-brainer to some...

While at San Diego City College in 04-05, I worked with Resistencia Estudiantil, an activist group which helped co-ordinate that year's j20 protest, among other projects. One of those other projects was serving as a member of a state-wide coalition of activist groups and student governments organizing against the then current budget crisis (yes, it's a recurring pattern).

I write this as a call to action. If you are a member of Resistencia, know one, or were or know any of our allies at SDSU, or are just yourself a concerned student, educator, or ally, please respond. We need to know if the state-wide network is still active. Are your campuses too, under assault? Does the network need reactivation?

Please ally with us, or point us to our allies if you know them.

peace

one

Scotch is K. Scott Perry

Humboldt State Budget Research Team