I dont know if you heard but the occupation @ SUNY Purchase was an open occupation that lasted until this morning when they sat down with people to negotiate.

“This was the biggest news story of the day. We need to keep the heat on. Last year at the University of Vermont we had our own budget slashing episode and responded with petitioning, tabling, teach-ins, speak-outs, a MASSIVE walk-out and finally a couple occupations with 34 arrests. We thought it was the spark of a huge movement but sure enough a couple days later the energy fizzled and this year we are facing more but less drastic cutbacks and “academic restructuring” (i.e. making research more attractive to corporate funding.)”

Further proof that what I’m talking about is right: The decision has been made…what you weren’t paying attention to, perhaps, was where it was made. It wasn’t made at the school, it was made in the state government, in so far as budgets were concerned. Petitioning the school only goes so far. You need to channel that energy.

“Direct Action and constant communication are sooo important now.”

Direct Action? Why? For instance, I take that as a military term…so yo smash a window…AND? Besides get you arrested what did it do? ‘we are facing more, but less drastic cutbacks and academic restructuring. In other words, all that happened was, the school minimized the appearance of the upheaval, but didn’t stop it. Why? Because they must continue the actions, its out of their hands…why? Because funding was cut. The constant communication you need is:
1) Constant with the school execs…you’ve got that.
2) Constant coms with other students…you’ve certainly got that.
3) Constant comms with your elected representatives…by the looks of things, this is where you have not shown any strength at all. November elections are coming up, and local/municipal elections are probably going on right now. THIS IS WHERE YOU NEED TO FOCUS. Think you could compel an elected official if the 100′s of 1000′s of you wrote to an incumbent or, contributed even $2 to an opponents campaign?

Constant communication IS very important…but if your constantly communicating your GPS position, that only helps you evade jail…not prevail in the fiscal minds. Why? Because the decision HAS BEEN MADE.

“Also we cant let the right frame us as a bunch of Obama-ites. We need to remind the world that we are above and beyond neoliberal reformism and ready to take the struggle all the way. Internationalism is key as our Comrades in Europe have been occupying like mad for the last year.”

What? Neoliberal reformism? Liberals were put into power to REVERSE the conservative damaging trend…yet, conservatives, knowing full well you lack the political sophistication, have tricked you into thinking its bad to be an Obama-ite. Its not about being an ‘Obama-ite’, its about change; forget all that b/s…the change you seek still, no matter how much you like/dislike Obama, CANNOT BE AFFECTED ANYWHERE BUT IN THE LEGISLATURE. THAT IS WHY NOTHING STOPPED IN YOUR VERMONT EXAMPLE. The cuts were just shuffled, AND STILL WENT THROUGH.

“And I think getting networked with the anticapitalist climate justice movement would add a real sense of urgency to activists ideas of “appropriate tactics.””

This is where you take it to the militaristic WAY TOO EARLY. Capitalism is not the issue. Its YOUR PARTICIPATION IN YOUR GOVERNMENT. Not one time did you mention voting. Not once. Yet you know Republicans have been gutting the system. The answer is right in front of your nose…you want to pick up a bat, when you should pick up a pen. That’s ok. Pick up that bat. You’re only seeking short term resolution to your anger. When you get that out of your system, the pen will still be there, waiting for you to pick it up. The pen being a metaphor for your vote, in this instance. And don’t give me that malarkey about ‘I have voted’. Maybe for Obama you have, but, since then you haven’t. Take a look at NJ…Republicans claim thats a ‘real’ win. Of course, they don’t tell you that it was on the LOWEST VOTER TURN OUT IN THE STATES 226 YEAR HISTORY. What does that mean? Well, if you have a million residents, and 5 show up to vote…guess what? Those 5 just decided the direction of the state…while the rest didn’t bother. You like a political minority ruling your life? Apparently not. But, before you start blaming capitalism, you need to use the system you have, and push others to use it. First things first…the wheel actually has to TURN before a revolution can be counted.

“Solidarity guys, Fucking so much SOLIDARITY!”

I think you’re confusing group anger with solidarity. Republicans and neo-conservatives have solidarity:

They vote against your priorities.
They shame you out of participation.
Calling you an Obama-ite is insulting, but you won’t vote. Somehow,
they got you to vote against your own interest…by getting you not to
vote…Brilliant!
They post comments wrongly assigning blame on you the student…when they, the greedy cause the situation.

Do not be fooled, this is only solidarity, if it can translate into votes.
When you stop traffic, and block schools, so that students would rather go vote than deal with traffic, THEN you will have done something.

Sorry if I’m harsh, but it needed to be said….You have the fire, use it well.