Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/50712
KRISTINA HOHMANN didn't start out being a political activ- ist when she became a member of Student CTA, which she joined to connect with others who planned careers in teach- ing. After all, she wanted to make the most of her education so that she could become the best teacher possible. "Then I saw I couldn't be my best until the laws changed," the CSU Fullerton (CSUF) student says. "I began educating myself and saw that those who allocate funds for educa- tion are in political office, and we have to have a say. A lot of people who want to be teachers don't know how outside forces affect them." Hohmann knows firsthand. Her parents told her they could provide support for her to go to one year of college, and after that, she would be on her own. Although she receives financial aid and teaches part-time at a private preschool, she has a hard time making ends meet with rising fees. Hohmann found that the more she learned about budget cuts in higher edu- cation, the more active she became. Last May she was involved in a three-day sit-in to persuade CSUF President Milton Gordon to sign a "Declaration to Defend Public Education." In November, CSUF students staged activities that included a four-day three- night camp-out in the Central Quad of the campus, à la "Occupy Wall Street." Students set up 20 tents, took shifts as they attended cvlass, held general assemblies each night, met with administrators and police, and kept their camp clean. Thanks to the relationship they had begun with campus officials and police during their sit-in last May, the student protests in November were peaceful and achieved their goal of creating awareness on campus. "Ultimately, our goal is to democratize the CSU Board of Trustees. We want them to be elected so they can be accountable to voters," Hohmann says. opinions. Yen Nguyen ter has nothing but praise for the role of unions in obtaining decent wages for workers. That's one of the reasons he became involved in Student CTA, even while attending Riverside Com- munity College. "People have a lot of misconceptions about unions — even teachers — but if that union wasn't there, teachers would be paid nothing," he says. "It's time to do something, and stu- dents have got to get involved. Califor- nia is all about being a highly educated state, but we don't want to provide the resources needed to educate students. Everyone should have access to a qual- ity education," he says. As an SCTA Board member, Porter is proud that SCTA has taken a strong stance on educational advocacy. SHAUN LEZER first foray into political activism was during last spring's State of Emergency action at the state Capitol, following the arrest of some 30 CTA members for refusing to leave the building. "I stood outside the jail and saw [former CTA President] David Sanchez coming out. It was very emotional to see how passionate these people are in CTA. It gave me hope that there are people who care," Lezer says. Now in his second semester at Modesto Community Col- lege, Lezer has a ways to go before he transfers to a four-year college to earn his bachelor's degree and teaching credential. But getting involved with SCTA has given him a greater understanding about the importance of political involvement, even for students. Lezer says the Modesto Community College campus is pretty quiet and relatively inactive when it comes to politics. Although he's a member of SCTA, there is no chapter on campus. He's hoping to find an adviser for the chapter, as well as to get students motivated to participate. Lezer himself traveled to CSU East Bay on Nov. 17 to stand in solidarity with the California Faculty Asso- ciation in its one-day strike. "This is brand-new to me," Lezer says. "I joined SCTA because I want to be a teacher, but I've become so much more aware of things. It's pretty awesome." By Dina Martin December 2011 • January 2012 / www.cta.org 27