Schools
Occupy Movement Comes to Stockton
Students protest increased tuition rates and stagnant teachers' salaries.
Banks are not the only institutions being visited by Occupy demonstrations.
On Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 26, students forming the group “Occupy Stockton” gathered behind the Campus Center at the to protest increased tuition rates and stagnating salaries of college faculty.
“We are protesting the fact that our tuition rates have gone up and up every year, that teachers pay has gone down and down or stayed the same,” said political science junior Mathew Blum. “We’re here representing [professors], we’re also here representing the students.”
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According to a recent article in The Press of Atlantic City, Stockton’s tuition and fees have more that doubled in the last 10 years.
Despite this increase, says Blum, parking continues to be a problem. “We’d like to get a better parking situation out of this,” he said.
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In addition to protesting financial “inequalities” at Stockton, students with Occupy Stockton aligned their concerns with the broader Occupy movement.
“The only [graduates] I know that are doing well, are ones who came from money,” said Bender. “The American Dream is unattainable for the average person right now. Right now, money is only available to people who have money."
According to Bender, Occupy Stockton is joining forces with the Teachers Union and other student groups to host a larger rally next month on Nov 17.
Students involved with Wednesday’s demonstration also hope that movements like Occupy Stockton will have an impact on the upcoming local election.
“I think movements like this put pressure on elected officials,” said freshman Harley Pollack, a political science major. “Hopefully we can be more successful in having our goals met.”
Stockton spokesperson Tim Kelly said the demonstration is an example of how “college campuses are a forum for different cultures, points of view and ideas.”
“It’s something that we embrace, the opportunity for our students to engage in issues that are important to them,” Kelly said. “That’s what makes a great college like Stockton.”
