UC Davis students peacefully assemble on the Quad on Nov. 21
Thousands of UC Davis students gathered in the UCD Quad at noon on Nov. 21 for a peaceful general assembly to vote on proposals regarding the police and administration actions against student protesters on Nov. 19.
The general assembly passed the proposal to strike on Nov. 28 by 99.5 percent. On Nov. 28, students will refuse to go to class for the cause. The second proposal was for the UCD police to be banned from the campus. 60.6 percent of those present voted yes, 8.3 percent voted no and 31.1 percent voted that the proposal needs amendments. The second proposal was tabled, not passed.
The voting process was completed in committees of 20.
“One student tallies the vote. They discuss among themselves, vote with thumbs up, thumbs sideways, thumbs down or they abstain from voting,” said facilitator AJ Morgan, a graduate student in history.
Thumbs up meant complete approval, thumbs down meant complete disapproval and thumbs sideways meant voting that the proposal needed amendments, according to Morgan.
The general assembly began with facilitator Muneeza Rizvi’s remarks.
“I have never been this proud to be a UC Davis student,” Rizvi said. “We’re going to open this up with a few words from our friends who were pepper-sprayed and arrested on Friday. Let’s show them some love.”
Several students, such as UCD freshman Ian Le, who were pepper-sprayed, arrested or both stood onstage to speak about their experiences.
Student motivation for attending the general assembly varied.
Many students, such as UCD junior Willson Chang, were there in opposition to the police use of pepper spray on Nov. 19.
“[Police brutality] is not appropriate for our campus […] How is spraying us with pepper spray that’s toxic to us appropriate for us? I was disgusted,” Chang said.
Chang is among those who believe UCD Chancellor Linda Katehi should resign over the issue.
“Obviously she is not fit to be the chancellor of our university,” Chang said.
UCD junior Jillian Pitre wanted to support her friends, many of whom were pepper-sprayed and arrested on Nov. 19.
“I’m here to advocate peace and equality and unity and just have everybody realize that we are one people,” Pitre said. “Let’s work together. I’m hoping that people are more aware of our point that is to protest tuition increases, brutality […] and let people know we aren’t going to let it happen anymore.”
Pitre also belives Katehi should resign.
“I believe that she had the right to come out and stop what was happening but instead she decided to not and hide behind excuses,” Pitre said.
Elias Simko, a DHS graduate and freshman at Sacramento City College, is camping out in central park in protest of today’s politics.
“I’m hoping that we can take the money out of politics so corporations can no longer endorse politicians in order to pursuer profitable or hidden agendas,” Simko said. “The politicians no longer represent the people but they represent corporation interest and when that happens, a lot of bad things happen. I hope that it will spread across the state and we can stop tuition from being raised.”
Other students, such as UCD graduate Adrienne Lazaro, were out to oppose UC tuition fee hikes.
“I’m out here because I’m a recent graduate from UCD. I graduated in June. As a new mother, I am starting to think about the future […] it will be almost impossible for me to send my kid to college,” said Lazaro, who has a 19-month-old daughter.
Lazaro held a sign proclaiming: “Danger: Educated student of color.”
Her sign was among many colorfully illustrated signs held up at the assembly, some of which included ones that proclaimed “Say it, don’t spray it,” “I am here to defend my younger brother’s future” and “Katehi, stop using passive voice and active police.”
The attendees were not limited to student supporters, however. Several students, such as UCD sophomore Benjamin Lewis, showed up simply to observe the movement.
“Some points they make are valid, but some aren’t,” Lewis, who was sitting in a tree, said. “I don’t think Katehi should resign. She’s just doing her job; she had to do something.”
Another such student was UCD senior Jackson O’Brien, who was eating lunch on a lawn near the Quad.
“Mostly I’ve just been having discussions with friends and family about what’s going on,” O’Brien said. “My opinion is that it’s generally good to get people together and speak their minds. The problem is that most people don’t know what this movement is about and they’re just there to rile things up. I don’t think it would help to get a new chancellor put in. I think she should stick this out and deal with the problems she has caused.”
Additional reporting provided by Kelly Goss.
