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10 Advocacy IRL
Let’s explore some examples of student advocacy in real life (IRL)…
Example 1: A resolution against violence against students in Iran, 2009
In 2009, the Undergraduate Student Association Council (USAC) of UCLA voted to approve a resolution in support of a cessation to the violence against students in Iran and recognition of the Iranian people’s human rights. To read the full resolution, view the USAC UCLA minutes: https://usac.ucla.edu/docs/minutes.2009-06-30.pdf.
While this was an international issue, students-particularly student leaders- were still able to show support to students in Iran, provide teach-in opportunities, and serve as an ally to local Iranian-Americans.
Free Iran teach-in and rally held at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2009. Photo courtesy of Shahida Rice.Free Iran teach-in and rally held at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2009 with nearly 4,000 attendees, requiring a shutdown by the fire marshall. Photo courtesy of Shahida Rice.
Students protest the UC Regents’ proposed 32% fee hike. Pictured are various students leaders chanting with the crowd. A short-term goal of the protest was to be loud and disruptive enough outside of the UC Regents’ meeting that the vote to approve the fee hike could not take place. Photo courtesy of Asher Yap.Student leader, Shahida Bawa, is interviewed by media sources that were covering the event. The protests were state-wide across all University of California campuses. However, the University of California Regents’ meeting took place at the pictured campus, UCLA. While student leaders were explicit that the protest would remain non-violent and had communicated such with campus administration, police were deployed to the scene. Behind Bawa, several police officers are present wearing riot gear. Later, as the peaceful protests continued, campus police threatened students with tear gas, rubber pellets, and tasers if students refused to disperse. Some students were harmed and sought medical treatment. Photo courtesy of Asher Yap.WESTWOOD, CA: NOVEMBER 18, 2009:UCLA Students (L-R) Frances Clark, 20, a History major, from LA, and Amanda Bahamonde, 20, a Biology student, of LA, protest student fee hikes in a noon rally outside the UCLA Covel Commons Building on campus November 18, 09. UC regents met at UCLA Wednesday and their finance committee will to vote to increase fees which has sparked large protests from students. Labor unions already angry about other cuts are to protest too. (Barbara Davidson/Los Angeles Times)
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