Abel Macias is a lecturer in Chicana/o Studies at SDSU.
A coalition of student organizations and individuals came together over the past few months to plan a student walkout and protest at San Diego State University. The students were protesting the proposed student fee increases being sold as a way to hire more faculty to improve the quality of education. However, there is no guarantee as to how and where that money will be spent including whether it will include hiring full-time faculty. This is a move by the administration and state officials to put more of the financial burden on students for a public education, in a sense privatizing their education by having students pay more for their education to the point to where they are paying for a majority of the their education, similar to a private school.
Students planned their walkout and march to coincide with May Day to show their support for the working class. SDSU students marched to the President’s office to direct their message to the key administrator who supports raising the fee, labeled as a “Student Success Fee.” While some students left to join other students and workers who were beginning a May Day march at a local community college, others decided to stay and occupy the President’s office lobby. This sit-in was impromptu and decided upon on the spot. Future plans include continuing to build on the momentum gained that day to prevent an increase in student fees.
