“Holding Change Accountable” March
UW-Madison students hold Obama accountable
UW-Madison students hold Obama accountable
of Wisconsin campus. Students of color at the University make a small, roughly nine percent of the total campus, while faculty of color is around the same if not
smaller.
Jeanette Martín, the head organizer of the march and founder of the UW-Progressive Student Alliance, feels that while Plan 2008 may have failed, the
school has an obligation towards its students and faculty of color.
“The University hasn’t been doing that great of a job bringing faces that aren’t White into the school,” Martín said. “Many students complain that there are
no professors or staff that represents them either physically or culturally.”
Plan 2008 was a 10-year plan created with the goal of increasing students and faculty of color through programs such as TRIO and PEOPLE — initiatives
that help to prepare students for university life. When Plan 2008 ended this past year, many UW leaders felt that much more had to be done. However, with
budget cuts, many programs that haven’t been performing will either be cut or reduced, if they haven’t been already. This presents a dilemma: cutting programs
designed to increase minority retention rates would be counterproductive to the efforts to increase such numbers.
“It’s a Catch 22,” Snow stated. “These programs haven’t been doing what they were intended; but just cutting the programs out or limiting funds won’t solve
matters. I needs to be re-worked, accessing what went wrong and then fixing it.”
Another demand was the passage of the DREAM ACT, which gives undocumented high school graduates a chance to earn permanent residence in the United
States if they complete college or serve in the military.
Jennifer Martín, who is personally affected by the act, believes it will greatly help Latino youth have a better future in the United States. “Some of my
friends, who came here with their parents as children, didn’t even apply to college because they were undocumented and feared that by doing so would expose
them and their families,” she said. “This Act will help many achieve their dreams of obtaining higher levels of education.”
Lastly, students wanted to make sure Pres. Obama keeps his promise to develop green jobs in order to combat the environmental destruction plaguing our
planet. They also called for the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act that would allow workers to form unions without being penalized by their employers.
“The Working Class Student Union wants to make sure that the Obama administration has these green jobs available and have workers train to take them on. Our
environment has to be protected for future generations,” Haas stated. “In addition, we also want to make sure workers throughout America can form unions and
make sure their rights and needs are being met without fear of losing their jobs. In short, the American government needs to save her shrinking middle class.”
Although this march was only for a day, the fight to make these goals and dreams become a reality is an every day struggle. UW-Student Progressive Alliance
has teamed up with such groups as the Multicultural Student Coalition, Wisconsin Black Student Union, and the Student Labor Action Coalition to work on
getting their voices heard by officials like Senator Russ Feingold and UW Chancellor Martin.
“We got Obama in the White House and now we must take advantage of this opportunity to make things better at our schools, jobs, homes, and all levels of
government,” Snow said. “We cannot sit back and think it will happen by wishful thinking.”
While American optimism remains high for Pres. Obama, so does expectations that his administration will write the wrongs of the past eight years. Simply
stated, we have a long road to tread to fix America, and change will not come through fancy speeches but through action, hard work, and making sure that we
hold all elected officials accountable to fulfilling their promises.
For more information, please contact Jeanette Martín at jeanette.Mrtn@gmail.com.
smaller.
Jeanette Martín, the head organizer of the march and founder of the UW-Progressive Student Alliance, feels that while Plan 2008 may have failed, the
school has an obligation towards its students and faculty of color.
“The University hasn’t been doing that great of a job bringing faces that aren’t White into the school,” Martín said. “Many students complain that there are
no professors or staff that represents them either physically or culturally.”
Plan 2008 was a 10-year plan created with the goal of increasing students and faculty of color through programs such as TRIO and PEOPLE — initiatives
that help to prepare students for university life. When Plan 2008 ended this past year, many UW leaders felt that much more had to be done. However, with
budget cuts, many programs that haven’t been performing will either be cut or reduced, if they haven’t been already. This presents a dilemma: cutting programs
designed to increase minority retention rates would be counterproductive to the efforts to increase such numbers.
“It’s a Catch 22,” Snow stated. “These programs haven’t been doing what they were intended; but just cutting the programs out or limiting funds won’t solve
matters. I needs to be re-worked, accessing what went wrong and then fixing it.”
Another demand was the passage of the DREAM ACT, which gives undocumented high school graduates a chance to earn permanent residence in the United
States if they complete college or serve in the military.
Jennifer Martín, who is personally affected by the act, believes it will greatly help Latino youth have a better future in the United States. “Some of my
friends, who came here with their parents as children, didn’t even apply to college because they were undocumented and feared that by doing so would expose
them and their families,” she said. “This Act will help many achieve their dreams of obtaining higher levels of education.”
Lastly, students wanted to make sure Pres. Obama keeps his promise to develop green jobs in order to combat the environmental destruction plaguing our
planet. They also called for the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act that would allow workers to form unions without being penalized by their employers.
“The Working Class Student Union wants to make sure that the Obama administration has these green jobs available and have workers train to take them on. Our
environment has to be protected for future generations,” Haas stated. “In addition, we also want to make sure workers throughout America can form unions and
make sure their rights and needs are being met without fear of losing their jobs. In short, the American government needs to save her shrinking middle class.”
Although this march was only for a day, the fight to make these goals and dreams become a reality is an every day struggle. UW-Student Progressive Alliance
has teamed up with such groups as the Multicultural Student Coalition, Wisconsin Black Student Union, and the Student Labor Action Coalition to work on
getting their voices heard by officials like Senator Russ Feingold and UW Chancellor Martin.
“We got Obama in the White House and now we must take advantage of this opportunity to make things better at our schools, jobs, homes, and all levels of
government,” Snow said. “We cannot sit back and think it will happen by wishful thinking.”
While American optimism remains high for Pres. Obama, so does expectations that his administration will write the wrongs of the past eight years. Simply
stated, we have a long road to tread to fix America, and change will not come through fancy speeches but through action, hard work, and making sure that we
hold all elected officials accountable to fulfilling their promises.
For more information, please contact Jeanette Martín at jeanette.Mrtn@gmail.com.
By Jessica Pharm
If November 4, 2008 was the realization of a dream, January 20, 2009 was
that dream fulfilled, with Barack Obama becoming the first African American
President of the United States. Americans have decided to place its trust in the
hands of an African American, and finally embrace the change that so many have
struggled to achieve. Now the next four years will put Americans’ trust to the test, as
President Obama has yet to prove to the American people that he can deliver on
the change he promised.
Pres. Obama inherits a country in crisis, with rising unemployment, lack of
quality jobs, poor public schools and a dwindling economy, Pres. Obama has a lot
on his hands. With these problems plaguing so many Americans, there is growing
concern that with so many needs, some promises won’t be kept. However, students
at the University of Wisconsin-Madison took steps to make sure that Pres. Obama,
state government officials and even Chancellor Biddy Martin herself, are made
aware of their needs as college students.
January 24, 2009 was the “Holding Change Accountable” march that took
place on Library Mall at noon.
If November 4, 2008 was the realization of a dream, January 20, 2009 was
that dream fulfilled, with Barack Obama becoming the first African American
President of the United States. Americans have decided to place its trust in the
hands of an African American, and finally embrace the change that so many have
struggled to achieve. Now the next four years will put Americans’ trust to the test, as
President Obama has yet to prove to the American people that he can deliver on
the change he promised.
Pres. Obama inherits a country in crisis, with rising unemployment, lack of
quality jobs, poor public schools and a dwindling economy, Pres. Obama has a lot
on his hands. With these problems plaguing so many Americans, there is growing
concern that with so many needs, some promises won’t be kept. However, students
at the University of Wisconsin-Madison took steps to make sure that Pres. Obama,
state government officials and even Chancellor Biddy Martin herself, are made
aware of their needs as college students.
January 24, 2009 was the “Holding Change Accountable” march that took
place on Library Mall at noon.
Above: Students gather in the UW Humanities Building
| Sophia Snow (l) and Jeanette Martin |
The University of Wisconsin Progressive Student Alliance, along with several other campus groups,
organized the march.
Sofia Snow, a member of the UW- Progressive Student Alliance, felt that the march was important
given all the promises Obama had made during his campaign. “The march is designed to make sure
Obama doesn’t go back on his word.” Snow said. “We need him to stand up and make a difference in
Washington. There is a lot of work that needs to be done, and I feel Obama is the man to do it.”
Protesters outlined four main demands that are in need of attention, at the university, state and
national level. The first was to call attention to Chancellor Martin and other state leaders to lower tuition
and increase grant aid for lower to middle class students. Families across America are finding it hard to
save for their children’s college education and with the increasing financial strain, college education for
many is no longer in their plans. During his campaign, Pres. Obama promised to increase existing grants
like the Pell Grant, and to give grants to students in exchange for community service.
However, for many students, like Chyna Haas, president of the Working Class Student Union, it needs to
happen sooner rather than later.
“Obama used two words a lot —‘hope’ and ‘change,’” Haas said. “I am from rural Wisconsin with a
working class background. I can’t pay for school on ‘hope’ or buy my books with ‘change.’ If they are going
to increase the tuition, then we demand a dollar for dollar increase of grant money.”
Another demand was for the successful recruitment and retention of students of color at the University
organized the march.
Sofia Snow, a member of the UW- Progressive Student Alliance, felt that the march was important
given all the promises Obama had made during his campaign. “The march is designed to make sure
Obama doesn’t go back on his word.” Snow said. “We need him to stand up and make a difference in
Washington. There is a lot of work that needs to be done, and I feel Obama is the man to do it.”
Protesters outlined four main demands that are in need of attention, at the university, state and
national level. The first was to call attention to Chancellor Martin and other state leaders to lower tuition
and increase grant aid for lower to middle class students. Families across America are finding it hard to
save for their children’s college education and with the increasing financial strain, college education for
many is no longer in their plans. During his campaign, Pres. Obama promised to increase existing grants
like the Pell Grant, and to give grants to students in exchange for community service.
However, for many students, like Chyna Haas, president of the Working Class Student Union, it needs to
happen sooner rather than later.
“Obama used two words a lot —‘hope’ and ‘change,’” Haas said. “I am from rural Wisconsin with a
working class background. I can’t pay for school on ‘hope’ or buy my books with ‘change.’ If they are going
to increase the tuition, then we demand a dollar for dollar increase of grant money.”
Another demand was for the successful recruitment and retention of students of color at the University