Campus Antiwar Network History

By Allison Andrelchik

On Thursday November 10th, about 40 San Diego State University
students gathered to protest the limitations of the free speech zone
policies that exist in the California State University system. A
coalition of students came together from Movimiento Estudiantil
Chicano/a de Aztlán (MEChA), Campus Anti-War Network (CAN), African
Student Union (ASU), and the International Socialist Organization to
fight the cause of repression these zone policies create and the
repression that is enforced by campus police. Recently, MEChA, CAN,
and the ASU have all experienced repression from the campus police
during events on campus. The campus police harassed members of each of
these groups earlier this year, based on the idea of the students were
being too noisy or in the wrong location on campus.

The free speech “speak-out” lasted for almost an hour and consisted
of five student speakers along with one professor speaking. The speak
out started at the “Free Speech” steps on campus, which is the only
permitted place, according to campus police, for students to gather
and hold events, the event began with a student speaker pointing out
the ridiculousness of the zones policies and how they are
unconstitutional. Then the group marched to the front of the
Administration building, where students spoken on the importance of
free speech on campus with out being repressed by police. Next the
group proceeded to the Student Service building, where speeches
continued, and the event finished off by marching to the police
station on campus. While in front of the station, one student held the
door open, while one of the individuals who was harassed by police in
an early event, spoke on how important it is to get the truth out and
fight the repression on campus, and demanded that the police make a
public apology for the harassment that occurred, disciplinary actions
to the officers who participate in the harassing, and that officers
become educated on the universities’ policies and constitutional
rights.

Not once did the police interrupt the students. In fact, there was
not a single officer present the whole afternoon. Though there were
many university employees who did come outside to listen to the
student’s voice. The school has even begun to review its policies on
free speech and how they limit students. All in all it was a very
successful event, but the struggle is not over and this coalition will
continue to fight for our constitutional rights on campus.