By snoadmin
On Nov. 16, students protested outside of the Chancellor’s office during a Board of Trustees meeting. However, the protest turned into somewhat of a riot with four students arrested and the shattering of a glass door.
Another Board of Trustees meeting was scheduled for Dec. 5 — today. But, as a result of the shattered glass door and how the last protest went, it has been rescheduled to a later date.
The meeting was to address presidential selection and compensation, but due to the possibility of student protests and the lack of a door to the Chancellor’s office, it was postponed.
“We don’t have a building where we can get large groups of people in and out,” CSU spokesman Erik Fallis said.
It makes sense that CSU officials would be worried; but rescheduling the Dec. 5 meeting seems rather pointless.
To begin, SQE promised to “band together and unite peacefully” at the BOT meeting. Now, this may not be too compelling of a reason, but if protesters have stressed assembling “peacefully,” then there shouldn’t be too man worries.
Also, student protests will not cease with a one-month postponement. Presidential selection and compensation is an issue that should and must be addressed. Postponing the matter due to the inability to control who enters and leaves the office contradicts its importance.
CSULB Graduate Student Association president and SQE organizer Donnie Bessom said, “We wanted to make our message clear to the media by speaking at the open meeting in a more somber tone. We were going to ask for amnesty for the peaceful protesters who were arrested on Nov. 16; as for transparency during tuition votes; and to review the police protocols when dealing with peaceful protests.” He reassured that they were not planning a protest.
Lastly, in an Our View published last week, the importance of protests was stressed. They are needed in order for us to progress. How else can people voice their opinions and really be paid attention to? Protests are a cry out for attention, but they need to be. Whether you are for or against student protests, you’re well aware that they are going on, and that’s exactly what they want.
As stated above, student protests in January won’t differ much from possible protests in December. And a missing door won’t be that big of a difference. For the door to even be mentioned as a reason to postpone such an important meeting comes off a bit backward. Essentially, it looks like CSU officials are sidestepping the issue because of the door.
The priority should be carrying out the meeting, regardless of protests, bottom line.
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