The UC Board of Regents approved student fee increases on Nov. 19 against the backdrop of protests around the 10-campus system, including one at UC Davis that ended with the arrest of more than 50 people who refused to leave the Mrak Hall lobby at closing time.

“Adriel,
I noticed you, as well as the rest of ILL, haven’t made any comments on the recent UC Strike or the situation. I would appreciate your comments on the matter and your support for the cause. I currently go to your alma mater and was sad I didn’t get to see Dahlak perform. I was out protesting at Mrak Hall where the 52 were arrested. Please come back to UCD to perform again! I would give anything to see you guys in person Thank you and God Bless.
- G’Mae”

Not to shit on anyone’s efforts, sacrifices, or methods, but to be blunt…

5 reasons why this is a bad idea (Please Read ALL 5):

1.  Because they are laughing at you. I got this picture from a liberal news source and even THEY thought it was fitting to capture - what I believe to be - a serious protest with the above picture of a wholesome-looking, smiley, cheerful white girl on her way to Yolo County Jail.  Not that there is anything wrong with a wholesome-looking, smiley, cheerful white girl - I LOVE wholesome-looking, smiley, cheerful white girls.  They are great for romantic comedies.  But this is not the face of revolution.  This looks more like an advertisement for Legally Blonde 3.  Your protest is being painted as a farce.  Therefore, your protest is being taken as a joke.

2.  You don’t wanna taint your criminal record over a joke.  Especially you people of color who are probably feeling the worst end of the increased fees. Because at the end of the day, wholesome-looking, smiley, cheerful white girl is going to have a way easier time finding a job than you - especially with a mark on your record for protesting the college you didn’t graduate from because you didn’t have enough money to pay the hiked fees you were protesting.  Fucked up, right?

3.  It’s a dated method.  At best, it’s publicity stunt.  At worst, it’s communal tantrum throwing.  When’s the last time you heard somebody say, “Whew, that ‘hell no, we won’t go’ chant really got them thinking about social justice”.  Because the fact of the matter is, you WILL go.  And CNN WILL stop reporting it.  And the people who are not vested in the cause will drop off.  The Regents just have to defend their position, not harm you, and wait it out.

4.  You have no leverage.  You come to the table with no power.  Not that you have none but you protest with the mentality of the powerless.  As if you are asking for something.  As if you NEED to ask for something.  What you don’t realize is that they need YOU.  To pay their salary.  To keep them in the U.S. News Top 50.  To give meaning to that piece of paper that says you graduated from their college.  You have SO much power - which moves me to my final point -

5.  Organize a quarter-off.  It will be the easiest revolution ever.  Take a vacation.  Get a job.  Do something you’ve always wanted to do.  Get away from school.  You know how easy this will be to sell to other college students.  You/Mom/Dad won’t have to pay ridiculous school fees.  You won’t have to pay back student loans yet.  You can earn extra money.  You can organize an educational trip to Madrid or Paris or Argentina, etc.  No midterms or finals.  AND it’s for a cause???  Watch how quick those fees drop if you can convince even a quarter of those undergraduates how easy, beneficial, and personally advantageous taking a quarter off of school can be.   They will start negotiating even if they catch word that you are actively organizing a college strike.  A REAL strike.  A strike that YOU can afford at this point of your life.  They can’t.  And that’s where your power lies.  In the extreme case that this doesn’t work, you can and will go back or, if you really can’t afford it, drop out of UC Davis.  But this is what the situation would have forced you to do anyways.  There is no real loss for you.

Fight the power, ya’ll.  But fight the power with power.  And that’s the truth, Ruth.  Best of luck to you.