As a very young child, I was lucky enough to  visit Steeplechase Park just before it closed down in 1964.

The Andy Warhol version of the Pullman strike.

11:00 a.m., November 22, 2009

UCSC student occupiers of Kerr Hall successfully escape arrest during confrontation with police

Earlier this morning, UCSC administrators called riot police to the campus to forcibly end the students’ peaceful occupation of Kerr Hall, the central administration building on campus. The students had been occupying the building to express their anger over the UC Regents’
recent vote to raise tuition by an unprecedented 32%. The escalation and resort to police intervention was a surprise to many, including some faculty members who had attended an Academic Senate meeting on Thursday with Chancellor Blumenthal and Provost Kliger.

Student negotiators appealed for nearly eight hours on Saturday to Blumenthal and Kliger to concede to a single demand of the occupiers, to no avail—the campus leaders refused to take seriously the concerns of students who face incredible financial stress as the cost of their public education will make it impossible for some to continue their studies and graduate. It was after discussions ended on Saturday evening that administrators decided to resort to the blunt use of violence to clear the occupiers from Kerr Hall. In what can only be interpreted as an attempt to secure the element of surprise, the administration created an atmosphere of terror inside Kerr Hall and amongst concerned students, faculty, and workers gathered outside all night long by informing the students that the police could arrive at any moment.

Early Sunday morning, Chancellor Blumenthal and Provost Kliger turned the campus into an effective police state by stationing riot police at all entrances to refuse entry to everyone. In a blatant attempt to create a media blackout as they prepared for the police attack, even a Santa Cruz Sentinel photographer was refused access to the campus for some time. (They had already cut cruznet service, the campus wifi system, in the Kerr Hall area.)

At one point during the confrontation, students and neutral faculty observers were cornered by riot police on an outdoor balcony. As the police advanced towards the students and faculty, one faculty member fell from the balcony, injuring his back. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance. The student occupiers are very concerned about the well-being of the faculty member and denounce the administration’s use of force that caused his injury.

The police cleared the entry leading to Kerr Hall by pushing through the outdoor crowd, at times striking students in the chest with their clubs. Upon entering the lobby of Kerr Hall, they issued an ultimatum to students that they could leave peacefully and be arrested one-by-one outside. The students refused this outright. The police backed-off and offered to let the students leave without arrest through a rear entry to Kerr Hall; this offer was accepted immediately by the occupiers, who cleared out of the building at this moment.

Over 75 students have already volunteered to help clean the space in Kerr Hall that was occupied; there are concerns, however, that the University will refuse this offer in order to exaggerate costs associated with the occupation.

To: UCSC Community
Fr: Chancellor Blumenthal and Campus Provost/EVC David Kliger
Re: Kerr Hall protest ends; cleanup may take days

Early Sunday morning, the occupation of Kerr Hall by students and others that began Thursday ended peacefully when approximately 70 individuals inside the building at that time left voluntarily. Their departure followed a demand from UC police that they vacate the premises or face arrest for unlawful assembly and trespass.

There were no arrests. Students who participated in this incident face possible criminal and/or student judicial sanctions.

Certain areas of Kerr Hall, particularly the second floor, were left damaged and in disarray. It will take much of today to document and assess the damage. The building will not be ready to be occupied on Monday; the second floor may remain closed for days. You can view some images of the damage.

Police reported one injury to a bystander who apparently fell as a crowd of onlookers on the Kerr plaza was dispersing at the request of police.

We want to express appreciation to Student Affairs staff and University police for displaying extraordinary poise and restraint in dealing with such a volatile situation; to Bill Ladusaw, professor of linguistics and vice provost of undergraduate education, and Peggy Delaney, professor of ocean sciences and interim vice chancellor of planning and budget, and others who participated in hours of dialogue seeking a peaceful, non-confrontational end to this incident; and to several other faculty, including Professor Bettina Aptheker, for their efforts this morning to persuade protesters to leave Kerr without further incident.

Most of all, we want to express appreciation to the vast majority of UCSC students, faculty, staff and others who continue to so patiently cope with continued campus disruptions by a relative few. This great university, now more than ever, needs and deserves our collective constructive efforts, not destructive acts.

Meanwhile, here are the latest dispatches I’m getting from various parties regarding the student occupation at Kerr Hall at UC Santa Cruz.

From a supporter:

Dear Colleagues,

Around 10 pm tonight Bob Meister and I went to Kerr Hall because one of his students had asked him to go. We both spoke briefly and encouragingly. There is very little police presence. The students are calm and in good spirits. I personally think it is a good thing they are doing this in this way –very positively– and I am really happy that the Administration has not overreacted. These students want the best for their education and for this campus, and they should be supported and when it is welcomed, guided. I spoke about solidarity between faculty, students, and unionized workers. Bob talked about tuition and fees and accountability.

Tomorrw they will have a rally at noon outside Kerr hall. I plan to go and will speak if asked. I urge you all to go to the rally and to speak if asked, but, at least, to find out who the students are and what they think they are up to.

My view is that our faculty and union efforts –our legal and political efforts — to demand accountability and responsibility from the Regents and UCOP and in different ways from our local administration will not be as effective as they will be when we are backed by a mass movement of students (and their families and networks). And I think that their efforts to occupy and protest and assert will be much less effective than they will be if they have the kinds of understandings and perspectives about the larger system, and about historical protests concerning labor and political rights, that the faculty and unionized staff can help make them aware of.

Hence I urge you to go to the rally, even if briefly, make contact with them, and get engaged in what is happening. I believe it is positive.

Cordially,
Shelly

From the administration:

November 20, 2009

To: UCSC Community
Fr: Campus Provost David Kliger
Re: Update on Kerr Hall protest

Last night, I described a protest that began Thursday afternoon at Kerr Hall. I want to provide an update.

As approximately 150 UCSC workers and I left the building yesterday afternoon, the group of students who had entered Kerr Hall presented me with a list of demands too numerous to describe here. In return, I made a simple request: that they leave exits unobstructed so that people inside could leave in the event of a fire or other emergency, and that they not enter certain areas of the building.

They initially agreed. And, based on those commitments, I agreed to speak again with them this morning.

We’ve now learned that those commitments have not been honored.

Exit doors allowing safe passage from Kerr Hall are obstructed. Some interior areas within the building have been broken into. Based on this, I’ve decided, for now, not to have another conversation with those remaining inside.

As of noon Friday, Kerr Hall remains closed. I understand that some students have left, in part because they were concerned about the actions of others. Those still inside are trespassing and subject to arrest and/or campus sanctions that may lead to suspension or expulsion.

Recent disruptions — including building occupations and actions that blocked access to our campus — have deprived all of us the freedom to enter and use classrooms, offices, and other spaces where we carry out our studies and our work.

We cherish the principle of free speech. Regrettably, these actions go well beyond that.

I have restored my full blog site. Hopefully it won’t crash again. Information about your courses can be found just to the left of this post.

thanks for your patience, Matthew Lasar

Rest in Peace - South of Market, San Francisco

An interesting mural in the SOMA area of San Francisco. Not sure who is being commemorated here.

Podcast part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3:

That Wittgenstein guy. Source: uncyclopedia

Why do we Americans dig this Zen Buddhism stuff? Are we superficial? Profound? And what does this have to do with that Wittgenstein philosopher guy? Bob has the answers, but they’re not pretty.

Previous Bob Mason on Buddhism podcasts here and here. You can comment on this site, of course, or contact Bob with questions here.