Occupy the Fringe

It’s been just over three months since the infamous UCD pepper spray incident – followed by international news coverage of our campus, Megyn Kelly’s hilariously nonchalant “a food product, essentially” remark, and an impressive stream of Lt. Pike memes – and it seems most Davis students have most likely moved on. There is one steadfast and determined exception, however, made up of both the tent-pitchers on the Quad and the protesters blocking the U.S. bank in the MU, who are just wrapping up their sixth week of stopping business as usual for the bank.

Photo from flickr.com, uploaded by DonkeyHotey

Most students are also familiar with the basic goals of the Occupy/Decolonization movement on the Quad – defend higher education, urge Chancellor Katehi to resign, establish a tent colony fueled by CoHo food and iMacs at the center of campus – but the goals of the U.S. Bank protesters are much more blatant: you, the students, should not use this bank for loans because they will exploit you in their high interest rates.

For utilizers of free speech and First Amendment rights, the protesters certainly make a confusing standpoint in refusing to allow other students the freedom to choose which bank or business they prefer. I think I speak for most of the student population when I say that, through the power of Google, we are all capable of making our own informed decisions and are not mindless sheep being herded by corporate culture through the doors of U.S. Bank.

Furthermore, the Occupy/Decolonization movement – which was once had the support of most of the campus – has alienated the large majority of students. Occupiers: I’m not concerned about the evils of capitalism, and I actually don’t want Katehi to resign. To be clear, I’m all for the protection and utilization of First Amendment rights; but after several months of camping out, it seems the Occupiers have lost any chance at retaining the campus’ full support or approval.