Reporter’s notebook: Campus groups unite to demonstrate for
common goals
By Michael Angell
Daily Bruin Contributor
Before stoking the fire of the crowd at Westwood Plaza, Arnoldo
Vargas lit up a Marlboro red.
Vargas was about to take the stage to introduce the speakers at
Wednesday’s pro-affirmative action rally. A cigarette was Vargas’
last chance to relax before a long day of protests.
After smoking, he put a brown bandanna over his face in case of
FBI surveillance. But at the pre-march rally, Vargas took down his
bandanna long enough to slam affirmative action opponents and cheer
on those who came out for the march.
"Chale con Pete Wilson! Chale con Ward Connerly! Que viva la
mujer! Que viva la Raza!" Vargas shouted . He also reminded the
audience of why Feb. 21 was a significant day. "Órale, ese.
Today, CCRI gets on the pinche ballot."
One of those listening to Vargas was John Lee, a third-year
business economics student. While Vargas took care of pumping the
crowd up, Lee worked on march security.
As part of the security team, his job was to hover over the
marchers and keep them in line. His team has been working all week
long figuring out march logistics, preparing matching uniforms and
establishing communications.
"To take away the ladder which benefitted some Asians would be
wrong. We don’t want to leave behind other minorities. This is a
show of collective strength," he said.
While students skipped classes to take part in Wednesday’s
demonstration, they did receive an impromptu education in
collective oppression.
Susan Markens, a sociology graduate student, spoke on the lack
of women in higher positions at UCLA. Joe Nelson, president of the
American Indian Student Association, reminded the audience that
Native Americans were forced into public schools but "now they’re
trying to close the doors on us."
The vice chair of Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán
(MEChA) offered her view of Columbus’ landing in America.
"He didn’t have any documentation. He did not ask us for
permission. So what does that make him? The first illegal
immigrant," said Margarita Gonzalez.
Access to education was definitely on the mind of Shaila Chopra.
As the protesters neared Bunche Hall, the first year business
economics student hoped that the protesters would take the hall,
especially the seventh floor – the site of her economics
professor’s office.
"I hope they trap my professor so I don’t have to take my
midterm today," Chopra said.
Sean Fuller was one of those inside Bunche Hall. He was a
commanding presence at the march, not just because he is 6 feet 5
inches tall and weighs 250 pounds. The third-year sociology student
claimed that the regents are blocking his access to education.
To return the favor, he stood in the elevator doorway denying
others access to the fifth floor. He endured the entire lunchtime
siege by eating marshmallows and drinking water.
After the siege, Fuller followed the crowd to Murphy Hall where
he commanded the crowd to, "Spend your money in the ‘hood!" Even in
Murphy Hall, Fuller made his voice heard above the crowd.
"Everyone in this hallway needs to understand that for everyone
at this educational institution, there are hundreds of us dying in
our communities. Students all over the world have died for their
rights. If you are not willing to die for what is truly right, you
need to take up another hobby," he said.
Also standing in the building hallway, university police Chief
Clarence Chapman kept watch over the crowd. Even though Chapman and
wore his "combat dress" – a tight black jumper with a black utility
belt, and combat boots – the outfit was mostly to protect him
against the rain rather than the students, an officer on the scene
said.
Chapman said the protesters gave him very little trouble. A
hallway shoving match between a professor and a protester was
resolved and there were no arrests. And despite the worries over
FBI surveillance, only two university police officers were assigned
to watch the crowd.
Outside Murphy, near the demonstration’s end, Sonja Gedeon took
a well-deserved cigarette break. As a member of the Student
Association of Graduate Employees, she staffed a phone bank in
order to get people out for the day. Now at day’s end, she and
other union members were looking toward future demonstrations as
well as thinking about the day’s events.
"The demonstration shows the level of commitment of the
students. I have a feeling that these people would have turned out
anyway even if it had been raining," she said.Comments to
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