The UC-wide walkout brought more than 400 UCLA students, faculty members and workers to a protest in Bruin Plaza on Sept. 24, eventually culminating at Murphy Hall, right outside of Chancellor Gene Block’s office.
It was clear that the protesters wanted one thing: a meeting with Block.
Now, nearly two weeks later, the sought-after meeting has finally come into fruition ““ today, three undergraduate, three graduate, three faculty and three staff representatives will meet with Block at 11 a.m. to discuss the recent cuts to the budget and their intention to be heard.
Susan Li, the Undergraduate Students Association Council external vice president, helped lead the protesters who participated in the walkout on the first day of school. Li will be among the total of 12 who will meet with Block, his staff and executive vice chancellor Scott Waugh.
Li said she’s been meeting with faculty, union members and graduate students since the walkout to discuss what they will bring to the table.
“We’ve had this great walkout, so what do we do now?” she said. “It’s not enough.”
Block is looking forward to the meeting, according to UCLA spokesman Phil Hampton.
“The Chancellor looks forward to meeting with representatives of students and faculty and understands the concerns that they have. Open dialogue is always useful,” Hampton said.
Sonja Diaz, a graduate representative at the meeting who is from the School of Public Affairs, echoed the wish for open dialogue.
Diaz said the graduate students will enter the meeting to “initiate a dialogue that will continue after the meeting with the chancellor.”
“We want to have Chancellor Block’s ear,” she said. Fee increases and the threat to quality education are among students’ concerns, Diaz said.
“A coalition with teachers, students, and staff ““ it’s never been done before. I think in the past graduate students haven’t been organized, … and this gives us a great opportunity to become united.”
Besides hoping to become united, the representatives have demands that will be presented to the chancellor, according to Li. Those demands will be finalized when all of the representatives meet before the meeting today at 9:30 a.m.
The faculty and staff representatives, some of whom are yet to be determined, will be finalized at that meeting. Staff representatives were unavailable for comment, but they will also be present to speak with Block.
After the meeting, which will bring the 12 representatives back to Murphy Hall, a press conference will be held right outside of Murphy.
Miguel Lopez, another graduate representative from the School of Education, said planning has taken place since the walkout to help mobilize protesters.
“We’re stressing the importance of being involved in a larger campus community,” he said.
Following today’s activity, Li said the representatives are also asking for a town hall meeting “to stand in solidarity with faculty, grads and workers.”
“We’re asking for a town hall so (Block) can address students,” she said. “When we meet with him, we’re hoping he’ll agree.”
She said the representatives’ first step is merely having some time to speak with him.
“We understand that a lot of cuts have to be made, but we want to keep the chancellor accountable for keeping students (notified).”
Lopez also agreed that the graduate students are aware that the state and UC system are experiencing a difficult time, but they merely wish to discuss all possible options with Block before decisions are made.