Board of Trustees Votes Unanimously to Increase Tuition

By Shawmaf Zane Khubba

On July 26, 2012, the Board of Trustees of Montclair State University unanimously voted to increase tuition (including the “elected” Student Trustee Alex Bychkov) by 3.9%, making tuition over $11,000, and increasing the trend of making education a privilege of the wealthy and not a right of citizens of a democracy.

This decision would have passed over in silence—as intended by the administration, who barred students from speaking at their meetings—were it not for members of the student activist group on campus, Students for a Democratic Society, and several of their allies, who voiced their opposition. The activists showed up at the meeting with dissenting picket signs in their hands and black duct tape over their mouths, in accordance with the no speaking rule. They waited as each of the trustees voted until Alex Bychkov, the student trustee, showed his loyalty to the administration by voting in favor of the tuition increase. At this point, the dissenting students, outraged (but not surprised), began to shout: “SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!”. They shouted until the board members adjourned the meeting early and slithered out of the room. Susan Cole, the President of MSU, left the quickest, before any light was cast on her extravagant salary and benefits, which have been increasing just as steadily as our tuition. On her contract for the year of 2011, a $125,000 bonus was justified as an “incentive” for her to stay. Apparently the incentives of our educators are of no comparable import, as their salaries and benefits have stagnated, despite inflation.

About a week following the meeting, several members of SDS, some of whom were not even at the meeting, received a letter from Dr. Karen L. Pennington, rebuking them for their protest and admonishing them that further such actions would result in “disciplinary action”. Moreover, in a comment infused with irony, Pennington informed them that their actions constituted censorship of the board members. Apparently it is not censorship to squelch the voice of students at meetings addressing matters which concern them directly, like where their tuition money is going to be spent.

ANTIWAR RESOLUTION RAISES EYEBROWS, AND PULSES

By Carter Pan-Jacobs

This past Wednesday, the 26th, the SGA Legislature heard a
controversial resolution in which Montclair State's student
government, the representatives of the students' interests, speak out
against the war in Afghanistan, which "celebrates" its eleventh
anniversary on October 5. The resolution was met with strong
resistance by the Student Veteran Association, who read it as
anti-military. The resolution's author, Mark Ludas, defended his
positions, noting that he employed the input of a veteran, Chief
Justice Gil Balanzat, in writing the resolution in order to maintain
neutrality towards the armed forces while directing the disapproval
squarely at the endless war itself.

In a tense back-and-forth, Ludas admitted the validity of the
Veterans' desire to be involved in the writing of such a bill. Rather
than force the issue and see it fail among an increasingly negative
narrative, the resolution was tabled pending collaborative revision
between Ludas and the Student Veterans. "I feel more came out of it
this way than if we'd just pushed through a resolution that left some
people feeling hurt or ignored," Ludas said. "The new resolution will
have even more legitimacy."

Interview with Missa Ferguson

By: Greg Tuttle
Greg: As a commuter do you feel that there are services that could be implemented better?

Missa: Parking is a stick up my ass. I also have terrible food allergies and I can't eat anything on campus (gluten free food). Any service for commuters is not well advertized. There should be some sort of short term parking that doesn't cost an arm and a leg for students who are only on campus for a short period of time. 

Greg: What is the atmosphere like here at MSU?


Missa: It's not as welcoming as it could be. Campus is unattractive, not charming when they're ripping my school apart its not happy. It's like high school but bigger and uglier and I have to pay for it.

Letter from the Administration About the Action Against Tuition Hikes

The informal "NOTES" are by SDS member Aldo Guerrero


 Dear [Insert Name Here]
During the course of the past year you and other members of the student body have shown an interest in University issues, and it is perfectly appropriate to seek to understand and to express views about matters that have an impact on your life. Until this last Thursday, you and a small group of others often identified as SDS, have with few exceptions expressed your views in a manner that was reasonably consistent with University policy, and the University has been accepting and accomodating *(NOTE#1) of your chosen form of expression. However, on Thursday, July 26, 2012, your actions crossed a line and were in clear violation of University policy because they disrupted an important University activity, the meeting of the Board of Trustees, and because they deprived other members of the University community of their rights.


Differences of view and expression of differing views in a University community are completely acceptable. However, it is never permissable to shout down others when they are speaking in order to prevent them from being heard because that action does not constitute the exercise of free and open expression of views, it constitutes censorship *(NOTE#2). Quite simply you do not have the right to prevent the duly elected representative of the students from performing his role in speaking as a member of the Board of Trustees *(NOTE #3), or to prevent any other member of the Board from participation in his or her responsiblities *(NOTE #4). As Winston Churchill said, "Everyone is in favor of free speech *(NOTE #5). Hardly a day passes without its being extolled, but some people's idea of it is that they are free to say what they like, but if anyone else says anything back, that is an outrage."


I encourage you to take the time to familiarize yourself with the University' "Policy and Procedures Concerning Demonstrations and Aseemblies," *(NOTE #6) and if you have any questions about that policy, you are welcome to contact the Office of the Dean of Students to discuss those questions. Please note that any further violation of the University policy will make you subject to disciplinary action.Sincerely, Karen Pennington Pc: Rose Mary Howell *(NOTE #7)


 *1 Yes, they helped us by bureacratizing the process to have the occupation, threatened us with phony security fees, gave us only half of the quad, and refuse to let students speak at BoT meetings


 *2 Because not letting students speak at BoT meetings totally constitutes "the exercise of free and open expression of views." I bet it's also not "censorship."


*3 This guy voted FOR the tuition increase and did not speak out against it.


*4 I don't quite understand how we PREVENTED anyone from participating in "his or her responsibilites." This is the third time we do such an action and they blatantly ignored us to continue their bureaucratic responsiblities. They also blocked 3 students from participating in the tuition hearings.


 *5 Here we go, administrators pretending to be EXPERTS on free speech. Do they expect us to not be "outraged" by the fact that they undemocratically raise tuition every damn year without having students voice out their concerns in every board meeting? What about raising it over a conference call last year without the full board or even the "elected" student trustees being present?


*6 Perhaps in our response, SDS should encourage them to read a book about democracy or something along the lines of "Who Rules the University." lol


 *7 Dean Howell hasn't had enough of us since the "Town Meeting" and SGA elections huh. lol

SDS Protests against Tuition Hikes

On July 26, the Board of Trustees of Montclair State University unanimously voted to raise tuition (including the so-called "elected" Student Trustee Alex Bychkov) by 3.9%... but not without a fight.


The video includes AFT Union President Richard Wolfson speaking against tuition hikes unless the administration considers "managerial cuts" in the administration aka "Chopping from the Top." This is something that SDS has been advocating the entire year in light of Susan Cole's bonus along with other perks (free housing, free car, free housekeeing, free driver, free credit card, extra compensation after her resignation etc.) The FULL contract can be found here.

SDS members along with supporters shouted "SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!" repeatedly to express their disapproval. And as is standard practice with this Board of Trustees, they completely ignored the students and continued with their bureaucratic meeting.

SDS Rallies Against NATO in Chicago

Mark, Maf, and Adam on enjoying the bus ride

By Lisa Grab

Summary

On Thursday, May 17th at 2 am, 12 students from Montclair State University's SDS chapter travelled into New York City to take a 17 hour free bus ride to Chicago. 99% Solidarity and the National Nurses  Union supplied the buses.

The SDS delegation consisted of Adam Cetiner,

Esha, Mike, Jon, and Emily on the bus

Jordan Fullam (adjunct professor), Emily Fox (community member), Lisa Grab, Jon Husarik, Esha Kallianpur, Shawmaf Khubba, Mark Ludas, Mike Pacyna, Thea Stelzle, Leah Stone, and Justin Wooten. The SDSers later met up with their comrade and student from MSU, Brennan McFarlane, who travelled from Washington DC.

The buses finally arrived around 8pm in Chicago. The SDS members gathered their belongings and trekked to the community space where they would be spending the night. Finally, around midnight, everyone was able to go to sleep for the night. 

SDS delegation at the NNU rally on Friday

The next day--Friday--the SDSers went to downtown Chicago for the National Nurses United rally. At the rally, some members went around and did interviews to gain publicity for SDS and to reveal NATO's true intentions as a terrorist organization. Press coverage included Associated Press, National Turkish TV, local Chicago press, and RT. 

After the rally, SDS met up with Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn for lunch at a local cafe. While at the cafe, Bill and Bernadine got to know some of the newer members and caught up with everyone they already know.

Later in the day, SDS travelled to north Chicago to the Left Lounge and attended a lecture about Libya. 

On Saturday, the SDS delegation attended a rally to protest the entrapment of fellow activists and police brutality. Although organized in a short amount of time, the rally was successful and drew in hundreds of protesters taking the streets in Chicago. Specifically, the protest was against the arrests of activists for terrorist charges. These activists were infiltrated by an undercover cop, who suggested making molotov cocktails. When the activists jokingly agreed, they were arrested.

Screen shot from the front page of RT America

Next, SDS attended an anti-capitalist march that lasted late into the night. This march included numerous confrontations with the police, where the police backed down and allowed the protesters to go where they wanted. However, later in the night, a police van hit and injured a protester from New York. 

Mike, Lisa, and Brennan peacefully sitting in front of a line a cops who temporarily blocked protesters from continuing down the street during the anti-capitalist march. The cops later backed down and allowed the protesters to march. 

Lisa speaking at the No NATO rally on May 20th

SDS with banner on the news

Sunday, May 20th was the main rally against NATO. Several thousand gathered in Millennium Park to listen to the speakers. Among the speakers was Lisa Grab, who spoke on behalf of National SDS. At the rally, the SDSers ran into socialist candidate for US Senate, Greg Pason. Pason also travelled from Montclair to be at the rally. Shortly after the rally, there was a massive march, led by US veterans. At the formal end of the march, the veterans returned their metals of "honor." Many of the protesters continued marching, but were blocked off by police. The police pushed groups of protestors and threatened them with the L-rod. Many protesters were beaten in the head. 

Lisa and Mike Marching against NATO

Although the police successfully dispersed most of the crowd, smaller marches broke off and regrouped toward the evening. Everyone met up in front of the Art Institute in Millennium Park, where Michelle and Barack Obama were supposedly having dinner. Protestors gathered outside and chanted, but multiple rows of cops blocked protesters from going near the building. Unable to decide on the next move, the protesters had a general assembly to discuss whether they should march or occupy the space in front of the Art Institution. The final decision was to continue marching, although the final destination was not decided. The marching continued. At one point, a group of cars escorting members of NATO (we are not sure which members) drove through the crowd. Angry protesters yelled at the car, one man punched the window, and another person threw her sign onto their window. After some time, someone led the march north claiming that the protesters should go for jail support. As protesters marched northward, there were less and less bystanders around. Cops in riot gear began to run up from behind and grab and arrest protesters from the back. The crowd of marchers was getting smaller and smaller. Eventually SDS dropped out and returned to the hotel to escape the rain and get rest. 

Monday, SDS spent most of the time relaxing. A group went to University of Chicago to walk around. Another group stayed at the convergence space, where all the occupiers from other cities gathered to catch the bus. At around 10pm, the buses left and SDS returned to New York City at around 3pm the next day. 

Reflection

Overall, I thought the trip to Chicago was a worthwhile experience. While our chapter was not at the forefront of the actual organizing, we played an important role by bringing numbers, creating a visible SDS presence, and networking with other individuals and organizations. 

It is difficult to organize an action that is half way across the country. I think we made the right decision by being in the foreground instead of the background of the operations in Chicago. There will be other opportunities to do more actual organizing closer to home. We successfully were in the foreground and actively sought out the media. We provided a banner for the front of marches when there were no other banners. We wore our SDS pins and many students approached us seeming interested in our organization. One aspect of our outreach that I think could have been better would be to have contact lists for the national SDS prepared so we could actively gather contact info from interested students and youth instead of waiting for them to approach us and then take down their names and numbers in our phones. 

Jon, Mike, Jordan, Maf, and Adam chilling in Millennium Park

The trip to Chicago was also a great experience for the SDS members to bond with one another (especially with the new members) and form connections with others across the country. The trip demonstrated our organization's ability to tolerate one another, share, and look out for each other. Although we split into groups, I think it was for the better as long as no one was by themselves. It is difficult to do as much with a large group and breaking into smaller groups allowed people more freedom. One criticism is that we could have communicated better when we split up into groups. There were several times when it was difficult to get in touch and meet up.

I really enjoyed getting to know some of the newer SDS members. It was really cool watching them grow as people and thinkers and take on positions within the organization. We discovered that Mike was great at leading chants, carrying the US distress flag, and filming the action. We discovered that Maf knows a lot about philosophy and was great at looking out for his comrades. 

We also met some cool people from across the country. Cole was from Washington DC and had a local occupy group on his college campus. Dan had a newly formed SDS chapter in Boston that was not yet connected with National SDS. Moondog was from Vermont and dedicates his life to participating in movements across the country. Anya was an anarchist from Colorado who flew in for the Chicago protests. I was reunited with someone I briefly met at Occupy Vegas--Luis. Luis had an SDS chapter at UChicago and now works with a union in Portland. 

Overall, it was amazing that we got 12 people to Chicago and back safely. We have yet to debrief the trip--things have gotten kind of crazy since the trip because people have been looking for jobs and trying to find money so we can meet up again.  

Next time, I think it would be productive to discuss our goals for the trip beforehand and encourage more leadership in organizing the logistics for the group's travel plans. However, I am pretty sure that everyone learned something valuable.

Senator Menendez Roundtable 5-2-12

By Lisa Grab

Today, Senator Menendez came to speak at MSU. I am not sure who organized the event, but they decided not to tell students until the day before. Hence, only 5 students were in the audience most of which were SDS members. It seems like the School of Economics or Business put the event on because the panel consisted of: the Financial Aid Advisor, the Chair of Economics, two business students, and a grad student (I forget her major). The whole event also had an economic tone (ie: Why fix the education crisis? Because we want to continue dominating the world)

President Susan Cole showed up to introduce Menendez and then snuck out. 

Then, each person on the panel spoke. The Financial Aid Advisor talked about how loans are a worthwhile investment, but we shouldn’t double the rates. Then, the Chair of Economics talked about why he thinks we need to keep education accessible--so America can continue to lead the world. (Not because education is a human right or anything like that... I never thought I would disagree with someone over why education should be accessible, but OK.) After that, Menendez spoke about how he is against doubling rates. The students who spoke talked about how tuition is crippling them, how they have to work multiple jobs, and how they are unsure if they can go to grad school because it is so expensive.

Afterwards, Menendez accepted questions from the audience. I introduced myself and said I was speaking on behalf of NJUS and asked the first question: I appreciate that you are against doubling interest rates on federal loans. However, there’s another bill in the house--HR 4170--that would forgive student loans after 10 years of small income-based on-time payments. If this or a similar bill were to reach the senate, is this a policy you would support? 

Menendez responded saying he needs to know more about how much it would cost the government to forgive those loans. His response was either a politician answer, where he is afraid to commit to saying anything in public that he can’t promise, or his priorities are in the wrong place. Cutting the war budget will pay for any money the government lost with student debt. Keeping rates from doubling hardly does anything. It prevents the student debt crisis from getting drastically worse but does not do anything to fix it. That is why it is important to keep pressuring these politicians to always do more.

After that, Carlo Rossi and Justin Wooten--also in SDS--asked questions. Justin’s question addressed how students in Cuba and Libya don’t have to pay for education. Menendez responded with a typical patriotic answer about how they don’t have “freedom” like we do. (... but what about their free education...?) Justin walked out after his answer to protest Menendez’s justification for imperialism. 

At the end of the event Leah, Carlo, and I did interviews with NJTV. 

#M1GS - May Day 2012

By Lisa Grab

Over 100,000 were in attendance

As many of you know, yesterday was an important and historic day for workers and immigrants all over the world. 

I went into the city to represent SDS with Jordan Fullam, Tobias Fox, Jon Husarik, and Greg. Also representing SDS in various parts of the city were Esha Kallianpur, Thea Stelzle, Bob Whitney, and Justin Wooten; and SDS allies Christian McFarland and Cabo Granato.

We began our day by attending the Free University and listing to speakers about student debt and horizontal education. From there were travelled to Bryant Park and prepared for the march to Union Square. By the time of the march, the weather cleared up. We started on the sidewalks like always, but early on we took the streets. The cops tried to stop us at first, but we kept going around us. There clearly weren’t enough of them there--many were probably trying to “control” the other actions across the city--so we won the streets and stopped traffic all the way to Union Square. As usual, SDS-ers were at the front of the march. 

Jordan and I missed the Union Square demonstration and most of the march. But I was able to catch up with the front of the march to Battery Park down broadway. People on bikes and taxi’s were protesting were in front, followed by us and the rest of the march. There was tension when we reached the Wall St. intersection. One person was arrested for sitting down at the intersection. It seemed like most of the crowd was deterred from breaking through the police barrier because they had a line of horses guarding the “sacred “street. 

At the end of the march, some guy from Occupy announced that there will be an unplanned march to the “People’s Assembly” at an unknown location. So of course, we followed him. About a crowd of 100 came as the first wave of people. We began the GA talking about if anyone heard news from across the world--not something I felt like doing considering how we just conquered the streets and 1000’s more were coming, ready for direct action. And of course, no one really said anything productive and used the opportunity to make their own personal announcements. After a while I left and saw that there were at least 1000 people just waiting around. Clearly someone marched them here and they didn’t know what to do now. It would have been a perfect opportunity to take Wall St. or try to reoccupy, but the GA was too focused on something other than planning direct action. And then the crowds began to fizzle and I left disappointed. 

My reflection:

Overall the day went good. It seems like the occupiers are getting more radical with their tactics. There are more anti-police chants (ie: “NYPD, KKK - How many kids did you kill today”) and less “the police are the 99% too.” The police are not the 99%. They are Bloomburg and the 1%’s private bought off army! Also, the marches take the streets far more often then they did last fall. Action will only escalate from here.

All throughout the day, I was wishing that SDS as an organization could be more prepared for marches like this. Instead of just showing up for solidarity like we have been doing for these marches, we should show up ready to flaunt our name, network with other groups, hand out literature, start our own chants, and--most importantly--try to radicalize the action. 

With just 5 people, we can encourage others to take the streets, lead our own marches or organize direct action when there is a crowd hanging around like there was last night. People are willing to do all of the above, they just need several to take initiative and lead them. 

After we conquered the streets while marching from Bryant Park to Union Square

"Hipster Cop" came out for the festivities.

Dis-Orientation Guide

If text doesn't appear, click here

AFT Local 1904 Day of Action Address--Lisa Grab

Today, I am speaking on behalf of Students for a Democratic Society and New Jersey United Students. Both of these groups advocate for student rights and accessible education, among other causes--all of which are directly connected with the AFT’s struggle right here at MSU. 

On a side note, I would like to mention that today is the day that nation-wide student debt has reached 1 trillion dollars. This too is connected with the workers struggle at MSU--they are all a result of an attack on the public service of higher education. 

Last week, Dr. Cole stood before a small audience of 500 and insulted our vision of education by explaining how this university should be operated like a business. 

A university that is “operated like a business” only serves to mass produce robotic workers rather than create educated citizens. Dr. Cole’s agenda of nontransparent reckless expansion drains not only the students, but also the faculty and staff, of their every last penny. 

A university that is “operated like a business” does not care about its foundations. Attacks on the AFT union at MSU are attacks on higher education itself. If the AFT cannot secure a fair contract, the quality of education will drop. Professors, staff, and students will no longer be able to explore intellectual freedom or expand their knowledge easily. 

Last week many of you saw the tents that we set up in the quad. This weeklong occupation was part of NJUS’s statewide week of action to raise awareness about tuition hikes and student debt. The occupation successfully created an alternative community that offered free education, food, and a place to stay. 

The occupation reminded me how we all need to stick together here at MSU. We are all part of the same struggle. All of our problems here come from the same source--a broken society. To be more specific, we all suffer from a government that values imperialism more than the right of education and basic care for all of its citizens; we all suffer from Christie’s attacks on higher education; and we all suffer from an administration that does not take the voice of the students, workers, and faculty seriously. 

While the separate unions on campus give different groups statewide power, they can only do so much for the problems here on campus. We need to unite with all workers at MSU--all the community here--and we need to learn about one another’s struggle. 

For example, did you know the maintenance workers are suffering borderline racist attacks? They are the only workers who are required to fingerprint every day because the administration does not trust that they are fulfilling their hours. Similarly, you should reach out to others to educate them on your issues with the campus. 

We need to bridge our gaps and stand in solidarity. When the maintenance workers are facing discrimination, when the Sodexo workers are unhappy with their working conditions, when the faculty and staff cannot secure a fair contract-we all need to help one another because so many of our problems come from the same source. 

Let’s unite and fight back!

Occupy MSU / Tent State University

From Monday April 16 to Friday April 20, Montclair State University's chapter of Students for a Democratic Society hosted a week-long occupation on their Student Center Quad.

The setup began Sunday evening as SDS members put up their first tents preparing themselves for a entire week of activism to raise awareness of real issues that affect higher education: tuition hikes, student loan debt, lack of state funding, lack of administrative transparency, student rights on campus etc.

Day 1 of the encampment

The setup of the occupation sparked the curiosity of the general public. Tents, signs, and banners were prominently displayed on the quad as students, faculty, and staff workers came up to the SDS table to receive free food, informational literature, button pins, and student debt stickers (HELLO, MY NAME IS ALDO AND I AM $10,000 IN DEBT). Students were also encouraged to call their state legislators to advocate for two Tuition Cap bills that are currently on the floor of the NJ State Assembly (A2464) and the NJ State Senate (S1569).

As SDS and other students camped out over night, the University Police Department (UPD) patrolled the area every night before midnight.  This was due to the administration’s pathetic little attempt to restrict the ability of the students to protest. Rules were imposed on the occupation such as only being allowed to occupy half of the quad and not allowing anyone to sleep inside tents. SDS and company slept outside of the tents instead, a hilarious loophole that was continuously exposed. Thankfully, the warm weather was on the side of activism.

Despite the restrictions on Freedom of Speech, Occupy MSU received positive media coverage for its protest: (Click)

-NorthJersey.com - Montclair State students join protest of education costs

-NorthJersey.com - Montclair State set for further expansion

-BaristaNet- Occupy Movement Reaches MSU

-BaristaNet - The Occupation Ends at MSU

-The Gadfly - Protesting the cost of higher education

-Montclair Patch - Occupy Movement Hits MSU Campus Today

-The Montclarion - SDS Occupies Quad in Tuition Protest

-The Montclarion Opinion Section - There's a Reason SDS is Occupying the Quad 

-SDS member Aldo Guerrero appeared on camera in News 12 New Jersey. Although it aired on TV, the footage is not readily available for online viewing.

-WMBC also showed up

-And finally, various student journalists and photographers came to observe as well.

Professor Samuels talking about MSU's Student Government

Throughout the week, teach-ins of various subjects were hosted by guest speakers. Here is a list of some teach-ins that took place:

-The Problems of MSU's Student Government by Professor Jack Samuels

-History of American Student Activism by CUNY Professor Angus Johnston

-Marginalized Groups in Progressive Movements by Femvolution President and SDS Member Leah Stone

-Fairness in the Economy by U.S. Senate Candidate for the Socialist Party Greg Pason

-Discrimination in American Law by S.P.E.C.T.R.U.M.S President Alan Akins

-Black Family Discussion by SDS Member Carlo Rossi

-NATO, War, & Imperialism by SDS Member Justin Wooten & Professor Grover Furr

-Animal Welfare 101 by Animal Rights Activist Constance Li

-Meditation & Non-Violent Resistance by Professor Maughn Gregory

-Progressive Music performed by Rutgers Student Christian McFarland

Leah Stone about to begin her teach-in about marginalized groups in progressive movements

The idea of Tent State University originated from Rutgers University who recently hosted their 10th Annual Tent State. Montclair State SDS, Rutgers, and Rowan University agreed to encamp in solidarity in an attempt to create a unified and powerful statewide voice that addresses the issues of higher education. It is time for the state of New Jersey and for the United States to treat higher education as a serious issue.

SDS was satisfied with Occupy MSU / Tent State University. Hopefully this will be an annual event that will serve to fight for a more just and accessible system of higher education.

Occupy MSU -- Coming Soon!

The occupation will begin on Monday April 16, 2012 with a tentative end date of April 20, 2012. 

Hardly a place for political activism, Montclair State University (MSU) will be having its very own on-campus occupation organized by the student organization, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and any other organization that decides to offer its assistance.

The purpose of the occupation is to raise awareness about the real problems that students face not just at MSU but all over the country.

Issues of concern include:
-Rising Tuition costs (Tuition makes up 51% of MSU’s budget and increased 2.5 times since 2000
-Student Debt (Will reach $1 trillion in April 2012)
-Lack of administrative transparency (Where does tuition go? Why do the corporations that sit on the Board of Trustees almost always make a profit from the changes being made on campus)
-Not being allowed to speak at Board of Trustees meetings (Why not? Even the student trustees are kicked out of the “closed” Board of Trustee meetings)
-Feeble student representation on political issues in: The Student Government Association (SGA), administrative decision-making bodies of the university, the state of New Jersey


In addition to protesting the lack of democracy within MSU, SDS will also be providing various forms of entertainment and hosting informative activities during the occupation.

These events include:
-Guest Speakers (U.S. Senate candidate Greg Pason and more!)
-Musical entertainment by various rock bands
-Teach-ins on various subjects (Student debt, civil liberties, etc)
-Workshops on meditation and guerilla art
-And much more!!

Some food, tents and other accommodations will be provided for the student population. Donations whether in the form of supplies or funds are greatly appreciated.

IN A NUTSHELL:
Who: The students of Montclair State hosted by Students for a Democratic Society.
What: The occupation of the campus.
When: Beginning the week of April 2nd.
Where: Montclair State University Student Center Quad.
Why: To protest the lack of democracy and student representation in Montclair State University and in the state of New Jersey.
How: Setting up tents and occupying for as long as we want!!!

Tweet #OccupyMSU