Spring Break
SDS dance party protests tuition
Naomi Parikh
Issue date: 10/24/08 Section: News
Drexel security terminated a convocation dance party Oct. 17 outside the main building during convocation, organized by Drexel Students for a Democratic Society to protest the cost of education.
"Our party was an effort to mobilize students and faculty to our campaign for student debt relief," Jeff Rousset, a recent Drexel graduate, said. "We are running a campaign to make our school more affordable and democratic, with a focus on fighting student debt. Drexel's tuition has been skyrocketing, doubling over the last decade. Combined with increasing books costs, high room and board, and other living expenses, it is increasingly becoming a financial crisis for students and alumni."
Rousset said the group took their mobile sound system to Mario the Dragon and posted signs on the statue reading, "Drexel is MY Financial Crisis!" and "Drop Debt, Not Bombs." The signs only remained for a short time, as Drexel Security soon arrived and told the students to remove the signs from the Mario statue.
The group then moved the party to the Quad, where they plugged their sound system into an outlet inside the Korman Center. The party also ended with the arrival of campus security.
"Our generator was running out of power down by Mario, so we decided to move to the Quad," Rousset said. "However, security once again approached us and made us unplug the sound system, saying they received a complaint from within Korman."
According to Rousset, security also said students cannot use the electrical outlets inside school buildings without written permission from the Creese Student Center.
"We asked if we could use an outlet outside Disque Hall, but security said those also required permission," Rousset said. "So, we were forced to terminate our event."
Rousset added that both Drexel security and faculty were "receptive and respectful" of the group's actions and rights until the incident by Korman.
"However, the argument that students need permission from Creese to use electrical outlets, which forced us to end the event, was rather disappointing," Rousset said. "But we will continue organizing to make Drexel affordable and to fight the economic crisis which plagues students and alumni."
"Our party was an effort to mobilize students and faculty to our campaign for student debt relief," Jeff Rousset, a recent Drexel graduate, said. "We are running a campaign to make our school more affordable and democratic, with a focus on fighting student debt. Drexel's tuition has been skyrocketing, doubling over the last decade. Combined with increasing books costs, high room and board, and other living expenses, it is increasingly becoming a financial crisis for students and alumni."
Rousset said the group took their mobile sound system to Mario the Dragon and posted signs on the statue reading, "Drexel is MY Financial Crisis!" and "Drop Debt, Not Bombs." The signs only remained for a short time, as Drexel Security soon arrived and told the students to remove the signs from the Mario statue.
The group then moved the party to the Quad, where they plugged their sound system into an outlet inside the Korman Center. The party also ended with the arrival of campus security.
"Our generator was running out of power down by Mario, so we decided to move to the Quad," Rousset said. "However, security once again approached us and made us unplug the sound system, saying they received a complaint from within Korman."
According to Rousset, security also said students cannot use the electrical outlets inside school buildings without written permission from the Creese Student Center.
"We asked if we could use an outlet outside Disque Hall, but security said those also required permission," Rousset said. "So, we were forced to terminate our event."
Rousset added that both Drexel security and faculty were "receptive and respectful" of the group's actions and rights until the incident by Korman.
"However, the argument that students need permission from Creese to use electrical outlets, which forced us to end the event, was rather disappointing," Rousset said. "But we will continue organizing to make Drexel affordable and to fight the economic crisis which plagues students and alumni."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Jess
posted 10/24/08 @ 12:52 PM EST
I believe in the cause that SDC stand for and would hope to add to items they are fighting for. As a transfer student I was bought to Drexel (I kind of want to say wooed)with the promise of an academic scholarship and a great deal of grants. (Continued…)
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