Organization: University of Illinois at Chicago
Date: Tuesday, 15 Dec 1992 11:44:28 CST
From: <U38026@uicvm.uic.edu>
Newsgroups: uic.org.the-student,misc.education
Subject: What Students Can Do?



What Can Be Done?


While tuition constantly rises, and classes are eternally overcrowded or
unavailable, students throughout the university are fed up.  They are
disgusted and outraged.  But what can be done?  We hope that <B>The
Student<D> will help students to answer this question.  <B>The
Student<D> will be devoted to issues surrounding the university, and
higher education in general.  What is the purpose of the public
university, for whom was it established?  Is higher education a
privilege or a right?  <B>The Student<D> will report on student
activities which are aimed at informing and organizing students to
defend their right to affordable, accessible higher education.  Last
year students initiated many efforts and actions against tuition hikes
and curriculum cutbacks.

Students in the Communications and Theater Department took action when
part of their program was arbitrarily cut in mid-term.  About 50
students picketed University Hall in protest of the closing of the
Teleproduction Center.  <B>The Student<D> can play an important role in
such actions.  If larger numbers are drawn into organized actions, they
can have greater impact.

Also last year, he UIC Committee in Support of the Workers Party
initiated a broad campaign against tuition hikes and curriculum
cutbacks.  In addition to distributing leaflets and launching a petition
against tuition hikes and curriculum cuts, the Committee started a
speaking tour of many classrooms.  Progressive instructors were eager to
encourage this discussion and the students took the opportunity to voice
their concerns and demands.  At an administration sponsored forum on
restructuring the curriculum, Committee members spoke to show how the
administration is turning its back on UIC's original <169>urban
mission<170> to provide low-cost education for working class youth and
instead is transforming the school into a huge research lab for Chicago
area corporations.

As reported here, students also took action to demand an Anatomy and
Physiology course which had been eliminated from the curriculum.  If
students can pressure the administration into restoring classes, and
demand that the quality of their programs should not be sacrificed in
budget cutting measures, these will be significant victories.

<B>The Student<D> can provide a forum for students to relate
their experiences, disseminate information, and express their ideas.
By giving students a voice, <B>The Student<D> can raise awareness
of the problems we are facing, the extent of these problems, and their
underlying cause.  In order for students to win their demands, they
must be organized.  <B>The Student<D> aims to assist students in this,
by reporting on student activities, and advertising planned events
and actions. <B>The Student<D> will hold open editorial meetings for
students to participate in.  Students may submit articles or letters
for consideration.


If you have any questions, comments, or like sources of information send
ME E-MAIL AT U38026@UICVM.UIC.EDU. ALSO CHECK OUT OUR NEWSGROUP AT
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO (UIC.ORG.THE-STUDENT).
"An affordable and qualitative education is a right, not a privilege."

Newsgroups: misc.education,alt.discrimination,soc.culture.african.american,soc.women