March 4th @ UCSD: Do UC us?

BY: LIVIA MARATI

March 4th, 2010 was a call for all students,teachers,parents, and their organizations and communities across the country to massively mobilize for a Strike and Day of Action in Defense of Public Education. Education cuts are attacks against all of us, particularly in working-class communities and communities of color. Through UC schools participating in  strikes, rallies, walkouts, occupations, sit-ins, teach-ins throughout the state, March 4th became a historic turning point in the struggle against the cuts, layoffs, fee hikes, and the re-segregation of public education.

Student responses @ the rally held in front of Giesel Library

The events at our school were tied to both budget cut issues and race issues due to events that circled around the Compton Cookout. It brought about a variety of issues that speaks volumes about our current campus climate and show how UCSD students respond to controversial events.  The rally held in front of Giesel Library included student made art and posters and spoken word performances (see below) from the UCSD Arts Collective.

Did you attend the rally? What did you think about how the topics were presented?

SHARE with us any art that you have created or have seen dealing with the events of March 4th!

Arts in Action: Real Art for Real Change

BY: LIVIA MARATI

Arts in Action came about because a few of us sat down and said, ‘We believe that this campus needs a place for its artists to respond to the racial emergency and events of last quarter,’” event organizer Heather Ramey said.

These feelings inspired the dance department to respond through artistic expression. Throughout the “Arts in Action: Real Art for Real Change” week, students were encouraged to speak out for their colleges, create and share art, and express themselves through alternative means.

Some of the campus wide projects this week featuredcommunity murals, art displays, and site specific performance art. Performance marches were also organized to invoke the tradition of arts activism creating change for Civil rights, Women’s rights, Gay rights, and Chicano rights. Additionally, using a mix of political songs from different eras and incorporating a variety of dance styles, members of the dance department organized a flash mob routine that was performed throughout campus. Organizers used the internet as a way for people to learn the dance number and find out information on performance times and ways to get involved.

This creative event forced people on campus to take a look at student reactions to recent racial tension, and sparked a conversation about diversity and artistic expression.

Check out video of the  flash mob performances at the Arts in Action website!

http://www.artsinaction.us/flash-mob-dance.shtml

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK!

What other artistic ways have you seen students and the administration respond to the racial events on campus?

Did you participate or witness the flash mob performances? Let us know your experience and responses!