University of California Berkeley students took to the streets Friday. They protested higher education budget cuts and subsequent tuition hikes. They were so angry that cars were turned over, dumpsters were set aflame and windows were smashed.
Reminiscent of their 1964 protest, Berkeley students rioted. Then they danced, showing you can have fun while making a statement.
Our State Legislature recently agreed to cut funding to higher education by 3.5 percent — and we’ve done nothing.
There were no protests, no demonstrations and no riots. Nothing. We haven’t seen complaints from our student representatives at UOSA. Oklahoma Students for a Democratic Society hasn’t even publicly protested.
OU President David Boren even said he is pleased with the agreement that resulted in these cuts.
None of the people who are supposed to be representing the interests of students are standing up against this. Cutting higher education funding will mean more costs for students and a smaller investment for the future. It’s in the worst interest of the state in the long run and in our worst interest in the short term.
So do something. Protest, get together and stage a demonstration; call or write your representatives.
We aren’t advocating the destruction of property, but voicing protests when the Legislature rules against your interests is a good way of preventing your representatives from behaving this way in the future.
Representatives will act against the interests of their constituency when they feel the issue isn’t salient, when they think they can get away with it. And right now they’re getting away with it.
As active members of a democracy we have an obligation to let those who are supposed to represent us know of our discontent. We need to let them know their behavior is not representative of us.
College students are stereotyped as being apathetic, separate from the political system. When we don’t stand up to act we give these stereotypes more credibility.
If you don’t like what happens, if you don’t like the Regents raising fees instead of tuition, if you don’t like our legislators cutting funding to higher education, let them know. Follow the Berkeley example and have some fun while you’re at it, but don’t destroy everything in the process.
Get out there and make some noise.
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Tiberius 2 years, 2 months ago
With the state's budget in flames, we should be pleased the cut is so much smaller than what is happening to other entities receiving state funds.
TheTroll 2 years, 2 months ago
You know, I imagine most of those rioting students did it for funsies. I mean, hell, if I were given an opportunity to occupy Dale Hall and burn things, I'd be down.
Don't let your angsty teen side come back to you. Tiberius is right, as much money as OK is losing, the cut isn't all that bad.
soonerboomers 2 years, 2 months ago
March 4 is the national day of action for education rights. So, just saying. You may have jumped the gun on this editorial.
William 2 years, 2 months ago
"With the state's budget in flames, we should be pleased the cut is so much smaller than what is happening to other entities receiving state funds."
That's no way to make it right. I think this is a classic mistake of attempting to justify something by saying it could be worse. The cuts did not need to happen. Let us strive for what is right.
borenismyhomie 2 years, 2 months ago
read: our white privilege is TOTALLY being compromised here guys! Let's fight for things that really matter like cheaper text books and a new engineering building!! AHHH LET'S BURN STUFF!!
Yeah, let's strive for what's right...
qm 2 years, 2 months ago
In addition to the fact that our state budget needs to be cut SOMEHOW (would you rather the state troopers be downsized? Maybe social welfare programs?), the tuition hikes in California are HUGE. I'm from California and was admitted to both UC Berkeley and OU. In the end, it came down to a financial decision. I chose OU because of the scholarship they offered, but even without it the OUT of state tuition here is LESS than IN state tuition at Cal, making OU the better financial choice regardless. So when our cost gets even slightly near theirs (which is something like $44,000 a year total to attend Cal's business school, for example), maybe we'll riot. But for now I'm pretty happy that the Oklahoma Legistlature was able to keep the cuts so mild. Because really, higher education SHOULD be the first thing to come out of the budget, as most other things (like the state troopers and social welfare programs I mentioned earlier) are essential for our society and basic human needs.