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Faculty of Santa Monica College urged to disrupt Arnold

Posted by annajones
On News/Activism 06/13/2005 11:56:18 AM PDT · 39 replies · 742+ views

private email | Westside Republicans

-- snip --
And HERE is the "academic" version of throwing a childish tantrum, from an e-mail circulated to all the SMC faculty:
Sent: Wed 6/8/2005 10:02 AM
To: FACULTY_ALL
Subject: Schwarzenegger and Commencement

Greetings Colleagues. I apologize in advance to those faculty members who prefer not to be contacted regarding Schwarzenegger's visit. Unfortunately, the only distribution list we have is FACULTY_ALL. (Note to POSTMASTER: Perhaps you could consider a "CRITICAL_THINKING_FACULTY_ALL" distribution list to satisfy those opposed to the critical exchange of ideas.)

It seems to me that as faculty members we have a particular obligation to our profession, our institution, our community, our students, and to ourselves to not bow down nor remain silent in the face of such an enormous contradiction to our educational mission as Mr. Schwarzenegger's appearance represents.

In fact, I firmly believe it to be an extremely egregious act of disrespect to our graduating students and their families, to passively accept Mr. Schwarzenegger's visit, his policies, and his actions.

Thus, precisely because of the respect we have for the hard work put forth by our graduates and their families, we are ethically and professionally mandated to take an active stand.

Now, more practically: The impact of the stand we take will be judged on the basis of numbers and unity. We all know that the greater Los Angeles (in fact, California) community opposed to Mr. Schwarzenegger's policies will be in the area on Tuesday. Thus, it seems we have a couple of options:

Option 1) join the forces outside the ceremony (I would strongly suggest that we dress in our academic regalia) or

Option 2) participate as faculty on stage (dressed in our academic regalia) until Mr. Schwarzenegger takes the podium at which time we all leave the stage and return when he has finished his address. (Option 2 has the appeal of demonstrating our commitment and respect for our students while also demonstrating our unwillingness to share a stage with Mr. Schwarzenegger.)

Ideally, we would have a critical mass doing both actions. However, if we have small numbers (because many faculty have chosen not to participate at all) and we are split among the two actions, the impact is lost.

Which option do you prefer? The larger the numbers, the more impact our stand will have on our graduates and their families (and perhaps even the "outside world" through the media).

Let's make a decision and make it soon. If you have other options/ideas, share them now. We have less than a week.

Sincerely,

name withheld to protect the feeble-minded author

Ron, good luck to you and all other FReepers and patriots!

Go Freepers!

So far, this is what I found:

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/northern_california/11894564.htm

The Mercury news quotes Ben.

One of the pro-Schwarzenegger contingent, Ben Eisenberg, said he believed only a small clique of faculty and students on campus objected to the governor's speech. He said he supported the right of Schwarzenegger's opponents to demonstrate, but was disappointed that it was detracting from the college's graduation.

"This should be about the students, this should not be political," the 28-year-old economics major and president of the Santa Monica College Republicans said.

That site doesn't allow linking....Channel 9 news is getting ready to cover the protests too.

Schwarzenegger didn't mention his proposals during his 15-minute commencement speech at Santa Monica College on Tuesday night, instead recalling his days as a college student, a world champion bodybuilder and an actor.

"I found so much joy educating myself at this college," he told the students. "Work, work, work. Study, study, study," he exhorted them.

The governor's initiative proposals were clearly on the minds of the audience, however, which heckled his every word with hoots, whistles and cat calls. A few people also cheered him. At one point a police officer pulled down a sign being held up by protesters ridiculing the cost to taxpayers of the special election, which is expected to exceed $45 million.

Most of the reaction, both positive and negative, seemed to come not from the graduating seniors in their caps and gowns, but from an audience of several thousand people there to witness the graduation.

Schwarzenegger stuck to his speech and ignored the protests.

About 150 anti-Schwarzenegger demonstrators had gathered outside the college more than an hour before the speech. About two dozen pro-Schwarzenegger demonstrators also showed up.

Channel 9 news reporter Dave Bryan said "Arnold was showered with Boos". They showed footage of audience yelling at him. Several members of the faculty on stage turned their backs while he spoke as did some of the graduates. Two students had "We deserve better" printed on the backs of their shirts.

The faculty also held signs up behind him. One read, "80 million dollars buys a lot of books"....in reference to the cost of a special election.

The reporter said that among the graduates the supporters equaled the protestors. The only footage of the pro Arnold side was a lady holding the sign "Honk if You Love Arnold".

The reprter closed the piece by saying that the only time Arnold acknowledged the protests was in his closing...."I WANT TO THANK THE AUDIENCE FOR THEIR ENTHUSIASM"!!

Classic.

Faculty of Santa Monica College urged to disrupt Arnold
	Posted by annajones On News/Activism 06/13/2005 11:56:18 AM PDT · 39 replies · 742+ views private email \| Westside Republicans