UC Santa Cruz talks issues ahead of inauguration

Teachers and students at UC Santa Cruz answered a nation-wide call to action Wednesday. It was called “Teach! Organize! Resist!” “A small core group of faculty came together and we thought ‘What are some of the most pressing issues facing our country right now?'” said Sylvanna Falc ón . Sylvanna is one of five organizers of Wednesday’s teach-in. It was sparked by “Teach! Organize! Resist!”, a nationwide call out of UCLA. One of the main goals is take a closer look at the agendas and policies of the incoming Trump administration. “I know many of our students were feeling threatened by our change in leadership,” said graduate student Alina Ivette Fernandez. “This was our faculty and our institution’s way of saying this is how we work together through the next four years and how we make plans for the future.” Hundreds of students like Alina had nine sessions to choose from. Subjects included climate change and Islamophobia. One session even taught students safe ways to protest. “Giving students and community members really clear tools about how to stay safe. There’s no need for things to get out of hand. [Teaching] that there is a way to engage yourself as a citizen that is still kind of mindful of your own safety and those around you.” said Fal ón . Students at the sessions say they left with a different outlook on what they can do for their community. “Thinking about the future and what implications it has and how we can all support one another at UC Santa Cruz and more broadly beyond the Santa Cruz community,” said Uriel Serrano a UCSC Graduate Student.