Occupy Movement
Coming To ASU Today
The logo and call to the first general assembly of Occupy Tempe/ASU.
By John Guzzon
Modern Times Magazine
Feb. 1, 2012 — Arizona State University will be the site of the first Occupy Tempe/ASU general assembly today at 4 p.m. in Hayden Mall on the Tempe campus as a group operating in solidarity with Occupy Phoenix and Occupy Wall Street expand the movement in the Valley.
According to the group’s Facebook page, 56 people have said they will be attending the general assembly. In comparison, less than 20 people attended the first Occupy Phoenix general assembly at Cesar Chavez plaza on Oct. 16, the day after the group was removed from Margaret T. Hance Park.
Occupy Tempe/ASU has indicated that its initial focus will be to thwart HB 2675 — newly proposed legislation from Rep. John Kavanaugh of Fountain Hills which will eliminate many “need-based” scholarships.
“This is unacceptable! Tuition costs have risen dramatically over the past 10 years! The students of ASU have enough student debt already! We must tell them that this bill should not pass!” according to the Occupy Tempe/ASU Facebook page. “The bill stipulates state university students must pay $2,000 unless they have a full-ride scholarship based on athletics or academics, thus eliminating need-based full-ride scholarships and limiting other scholarships of this nature that are affiliated with the university. Spread the word! If you could send us links and/or try to talk to any student or education groups that would unite for the fight against this bill! Power to the People!”
Perhaps coincidentally, Feb. 1 has been organized as a national day of solidarity in support of Occupy Oakland. The day has been a project of Occupy Colleges which endeavors to spark rallies, teach-ins and other demonstrations of solidarity with the occupy movement at university and college campuses across the country. While it does appear Feb. 1 will see an increased Occupy presence at U.S. institutions of higher learning, only three campuses have officially signed on to the Occupy Colleges event.
Occupy ASU, although occurring Feb. 1 will hold a general assembly which is typically seen as the first step in a “occupation.” Occupy Tempe has been meeting for several months at Mill and University avenues on Fridays.
For more information, visit Occupy Tempe/ASU.
John Guzzon is editor of Modern Times Magazine.
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