April 17th Action Plan

United to Defend Public Education 

SF STATE April 17th action plan

Thursday, April 17th is a big day of action for all of us as SF State students and faculty to stop the proposed budget cuts, defend higher education and protect our students. This Thursday, April 17th is a national day of action to defend higher education. Governor Newsom had proposed a devastating 8% cut across all CSU campuses which would have utterly destroyed our universities and led to campus closures and layoffs. 

Thanks to a lot of pressure by activists like you, we learned this weekend that the senate is now considering proposing a 5% increase to the CSU’s budget. While this potential good news is a testament to our power, to be clear, it is not guaranteed. 

Now we must keep up the pressure to make sure that we actually get this money (often state budgets are aspirational when they move into positive numbers). We also must demand that any proposed new monies be used to fund classroom instruction and core student services, not pay for administrative salaries and other neoliberal misuses. The state budget will be finalized next month. We have three weeks to show our elected representatives that we are watching and demand they stand with us: Vote NO CUTS and fully REINVEST in the CSU!

Our campus has already lost faculty, sports programs, and other essential student services. Our civil liberties and academic freedoms are under attack. Our students have been targeted and we know more threats, including to our budget, are yet to come. We need the 5% increase (at least) and a commitment to restore all that has been lost–rehire faculty, restore cut programs, and reinvest in students, faculty, and staff. 

On April 17, SFSU students, faculty, and staff are UNITED in calling on all of us to make our voices heard: NO CUTS, REINVEST! Our power is in our numbers. Below are details about actions you can take that day. Join us! Wear red!

9am-12pm: Faculty with morning classes: While the teach outs (below) are occurring, consider holding your regular classes outside on the Quad to make our labor and opposition to the cuts visible (tarps will be available to sit and teach your classes on the grass).

10am: TEACH OUT on Budget Cuts and Fight for Public Education on the QUAD: 

Student-led teach out on the links between the budget cuts, austerity, and capitalism. Come all to learn from fellow student organizers on the impact of these cuts, their origins, and what we can do about them!

11am: TEACH OUT on Defense of Civil Liberties and Democratic Rights On the QUAD: 

Faculty led teach out on the attacks to academic freedom, civil liberties and the targeting of our international, undocumented, queer and transgender students. How can we organize to make our campus a sanctuary for students to get a quality education from faculty whose labor is valued and respected? 

Faculty teaching at this time: If you want to bring your students, offer an alternative for those who do not want to attend. You can offer optional extra credit and cannot require students to attend. Even better - link the action with your class content. Students will get real world experience in public advocacy, speaking, and learn how our state budget is crafted and revised, who does it, and how we can influence it! 

12 NOON: FLASH SPEAK OUT & MASS PHONE BANK at MALCOLM X PLAZA 

Faculty on campus: Consider attending on your own or with your students. Students will learn about our demands and get real-time support for phone banking their representatives. No prior experience needed, we will help step by step. 

1PM: CATCH THE M TRAIN at 19th & Holloway 

Join us traveling by MUNI to Civic Center Plaza for a 2pm Rally and March! Invite your students, families, and community to come along. 

2PM: RALLY & MARCH AT CIVIC CENTER PLAZA (Grove & Polk Street across City Hall) 

We will gather at Civic Center Plaza (across Polk St. from City Hall) to make our voices heard to our elected State representatives! Wear red! This is a public rally for public higher ed! Bring everyone! Wear red!