Tuesday, November 12, 1996
ACTIVISM:
Students block entrance to Powell with banners in protestBy
Marie Blanchard
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Over 30 people protested last week’s passage of Proposition 209
on Monday by blocking the entrance of Powell Library throughout the
afternoon.
Defending the "right to higher education" and solidarity with UC
Berkeley protesters, several campus groups including the Academic
Advancement Program (AAP) tutors held a banner in front of the main
steps of Powell Library.
"Education is a basic human right" read the banner while various
speakers spontaneously spoke to students walking by.
"We are blocking access to the library. (Proposition) 209 will
block more access than this banner," yelled Sonja Gideon, a
fifth-year philosophy and political science student while
explaining the symbolism of blocking the entrance.
"(Right now), you’re worried about getting into a library but,
without an education, you’ll be cleaning the library with a mop and
a broom," Gedeon said.
Shortly after noon, university police were called in to ask the
protesters to move forward, leaving more room for people to leave
and enter the library.
"We want to be supportive of the protest. It’s just that this
(Powell Library front entrance) is the wrong spot," said Stan
Patrick, head of circulation of College Library.
Although protesters refused to move forward, university police
eventually left without making any arrests.
"They are simply voicing their opinion," said Norma Sanchez, a
fourth-year business economics student.
"This is freedom of speech. No one should be arrested," she
said.
One organizer explained the aims of the impromptu
demonstration.
"We just felt like we wanted to do something," said Tanya
Brauer, an AAP tutor, while holding the banner.
"This is not just against Prop. 209," she said, referring to the
UC decision last year to repeal affirmative action within the UC
schools.
"Discrimination still does exist. To pass a law that pretends
that it doesn’t is really shortsighted. This is going to have more
impact than we can imagine," Brauer continued.
But as groups of students walked by Powell between classes only
a handful stopped to read the banner and listen to the
speeches.
Hurrying to his next class, Asian-American microbiology student
Darren Brown didn’t even glance twice at the banner. "I don’t
really care that much. I just don’t feel it affects me," he
said.
Mike Minick, a graduate student in computer science agreed.
As he weaved his way past the banner and protesters to exit the
library he said, "I think race and gender are second to class
issues."
Although poor turnout was blamed on the spontaneity of the
protest and a lack of organization, Brauer said she was satisfied
with the protest.
"People are reading the flyers and seeing the banner, so we’re
getting the word out," she said.
JON FERREY/Daily Bruin
Students gather in front of Powell Library to protest
Proposition 209.