Students rally in front of the administration building on November 5th.

This presentation was used at the STARE coalition town hall meeting tonight.  Over 300 students, faculty, staff and alumni attended and made plans to continue our struggle against the growing inaccessibility and corporatization of our university.

The powerpoint includes info about STARE and our demands, as well as information compiled by CP SdS on the long term context of the alleged ‘budget crisis.’

Download the file here

A teach-in on the University in crisis: corporatization and democracy at UMD

Join us on Thursday for a student teach-in on the University in crisis!

Here’s the slide-show Provost Farvardin gave to the deans at their retreat. There’ll be more on it tomorrow as well as a link to Malcolm’s column on the issue, but look through and check out the administration’s plan for the future of our University. It doesn’t look good.

From the land of Emma Goldman, Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony:

Yesterday we drove through the rain and wind and traffic and the much larger than I remembered State of Pennsylvania. Today we are in Rochester, NY at the SDS Northeast Convention/Action Camp.

We’re here and having a super awesome time. There are two full days of workshops, trainings and hanging out with SDSers from all over the East Coast. Folks are taking notes on the workshops and talks. The notes will be posted here:

Student Liberation Action Movement

Another world is possible!

Hey hey hey . . . College Park Students for a democratic Society (CPSdS) is on the move. We are out spreading the word and asking students, faculty, and staff what they think about the University’s budget. Come check us out in front of the Stamp Mondays or Tuesdays until the middle of November.

Building student power in the corporate wasteland.

The budget isn’t working. Cuts are being planned behind closed doors, without campus input or scrutiny.

Here’s the deal:

1. Funding across campus is not fairly distributed.
2. Rising tuition undercuts the purpose of a public university by making higher education in Maryland less accessible.
   
3. The university is becoming increasingly privatized. Out tuition, as a result, funds corporate interests instead of public interests.
   
4. The budgeting process is opaque and lacks student/faculty/staff input.
5. The administration is trying to hide the impact budget cuts have behind a façade of normality.
6. The administration is choosing to sacrifice the quality of education in order to perpetuate systemic flaws in our institution.
7. A better, more just, more democratic University is possible.

Click here for more information.

Dear friends from California,

We at the University of Maryland stand with the students, faculty and staff throughout the University of California system who are rising up against corporatization and budget austerity. From the well-organized  walkouts to the courageous occupations, you serve as an example to those of us across the nation who face similar conditions. At the University of Maryland, we have faced round after round of cuts and furloughs, and a tuition hike isn’t far off. Without action, Maryland seems to be headed the same place as California.

+ The Exec Board of the UM SGA

A Radical Rush Week: Sept 21-27

A Radical Rush Week

Radical Rush is a week of events to get YOU involved in the growing and active community here in College Park.

A bunch of events are planned by students to build power on our campus and in our community towards a more democratic adn sustainable University. It is a great way to make new friends and find lots of things to do. Everyone is welcome and all of the events are free!