PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

threats from Pitt related to the action tomorrow
by today and today Thursday, Oct. 24, 2002 at 9:30 AM
-

email recieved from pog related to University threats regarding the event tomorrow.

This is an urgent appeal for support. We really need people to come out to the protest this Friday- 4:00PM in front of the Carnegie Library (by the big
dinosaur). There is going to be a large Pitt police presence and the University has threatened students/citizens planning on attending with arrest. We are asking everyone who can to come and support students at Pitt. Please see the below for context on the Situation and police threats.

The basic demand of this event is for the University of Pittsburgh Administration to meet with concerned Students about their concerns. Our efforts relate specifically to the following issues:

The complete lack of Student say in the power structure of the University. There is no representation or student say on key University matters.

The continued harassment of activists and students on campus by University police including the continual use of Pittsburgh City police to deal with campus events.

The refusal of the University to open up it's financial books so that Students can get a accurate picture of what is happening with tuition and state money.

Despite all of our best efforts the University has refused to talk with Students working on these issues. We have phoned, emailed, and otherwise
tried to contact through all the appropriate Chanels numerous individuals in positions of power at the University. Our one primary demand has always
been that the University sit-down with concerned students to provide them with information related to current University policies. How can students
campaign on other issues when we have so little information at our disposal as to the reasons for current policies and procedures? We have talked to
numerous individuals in different areas of the University and we've always gotten the same reply- "we'll look into it, I can only forward your request
for a meeting� We are tired of waiting for accountability! For that reason POG choose to announce we would "pencil-in" a meeting with the Chancellor Friday October 25th at 4:00PM. This type of event has been done many times before in Canada where it comes out of OCAP's (Ontario Coalition Against Poverty) struggles to secure the rights of those without housing. When faced with a power structure that will not respond to the call for dialogue you must
search for other ways beyond mere appeals to rational discourse. Since the Administration has refused for MONTHS to listen or dialogue with us we scheduled the meeting for them. What happens at the Meeting will be a direct result of the Administrations decision. All we are saying is that we will be showing up at 4:00 for a meeting with the Chancellor.

If the Administration wants to meet then our demand will have been met and we will happily attend the meeting.

If the University chooses to respond in the manner they've indicated they are planning for: with police, batons, and other instruments of force, then
we will respond in a completely opposite and non-violent manner. We will however stand together in solidarity with each other. In choosing the path
of force and repression they will have made our point for us. There can be no harmony between the student body and the Administration as long as we are
viewed as a mere product produced by the University for Consumption by the Universities clients. It is this view that has produced the idea that the Student body is a mere nuisance to "higher ups" grand plans for the University of Pittsburgh. That we should be handed a pittance of power here, and a mention or two there is not an acceptable solution to the moral crisis on which this University stands. What is the purpose of this
University and ultimately who does it serve? The Chancellor and Board seem to view themselves as the rulers of a vast corporate business whose job is
to maximize the return for their corporate clients while advancing their careers as much as possible. The only ways to do this are to minimize both
the COSTS to the University in providing a learning and social environment for Students and by exploiting workers wherever and however possible. They
believe that they are a power structure onto themselves devoid of any accountability to those they deem "below" them. We believe the University
exists to provide a safe environment where we can learn and grow as individuals. A time where we can experience bits and pieces of a multitude of paths we may one day follow. It is not a place for our raw material to be shaped and molded for sale to the highest bidder.

Harmony will only exist when Students are in a equal relationship with those who's job it is to provide the framework for us to learn.

The scheduling director for the Cathedral of Learning Lawn called POG this morning to inform us of the following:

The University will not permit people (student or non) from Gathering or assembling on University property at the Cathedral of Learning.

The University has instructed Pitt Police to "escort" any
student/non-student engaged in "demonstration like activities" off of University property.

She (and others employed by Pitt) have had to take up a LARGE portion of the past week working on the "issue" of this demonstration.

The University VERY MUCH dislikes the timing of this action because it's during the Universities Homecoming activities and a lot of Alumni are in
town.

POG has also learned that the University police held a "special" meeting about Friday's action this Monday. People at the University indicate they are prepared for a maximum display of force on Friday.

--
I would like to remind people that this could also all be a bluff by the Pitt administration to scare students away.

add your comments