Η κατάληψη στο Berkeley

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Χθες (Παρασκευή), έγινε κατάληψη ενός κεντρικού κτιρίου (Wheeler hall) του Πανεπιστημίου του Berkeley. Οι καταληψίες διαμαρτύρονταν για την μεγάλη αύξηση των διδάκτρων και την απόλυση υπαλλήλων λόγω των οικονομικών περιορισμών.

Το χρονικό της κατάληψης, όπως το κατέγραφε στις διαρκείς ενημερώσεις του ο Πρύτανης του πανεπισημίου (που στέλνονταν με εμαιλ και σε όλα τα μέλη του πανεπιστημίου), το έχω αναρτήσει στο αγγλικό μπλογκ μου. (1, 2).

Παραθέτω εδώ την τελική ανακοίνωση του πρυτάνεως στις 5 το απόγευμα, μετά την λήξη της κατάληψης.

The Wheeler Hall protest ended peacefully this evening when 40 protestors who had
occupied the second floor of the building were cited for trespassing by UC Berkeley
Police and released.

Thanks to the efforts of ASUC student leaders and faculty who
worked with Vice-Chancellor Student Affairs Harry Le Grande, Executive
Vice-Chancellor & Provost George Breslauer, and me, our police were able to diffuse
the situation and end the protest.

Throughout the day, the large crowds that gathered around Wheeler Hall necessitated
significant police presence to maintain safety. It is truly regrettable, however,
that a few members of our campus community may have found themselves in conflict
with law enforcement officers. Overall, the officers who managed the day's events
did very well under difficult circumstances.

I understand that our students are justifiably angry over the fee increases and
reductions in staff necessitated by the egregious disinvestment by Sacramento in the
University of California. They are not alone in this. Clearly, we cannot allow
illegal occupations of our buildings and disruption of our academic programs. Today
3800 students were unable to attend class in Wheeler Hall.

We have a strong tradition of free speech on campus. Let us not forget that we are
all fighting for the same cause: to maintain the public character of our university
by sustaining Berkeley's excellence and accessibility. Taking over our classroom
buildings is not a productive way in which to advance our shared interests in
gaining support for public higher education. Let us work together, not in
opposition, to move forward our cause.