HOW TO PROTEST THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE CLOSING OF WESTMINSTER CHOIR COLLEGE?

Thing about protest . . . people have different ideas as to what sort of protest should occur.  Now just a couple days before the possible announcement of the closure of WCC - SGA - that has not up until this point even passed a resolution opposing the shuttering ot the WCC campus in Princeton - announces "silent" protest.

Now that might be the way to go . . . but it might not be.

I don't think there was a vote in the efforts to block this - and admittedly my voice is just a very small part of that melieu - for a protest that is silent.

But also - those that would prefer to protest in a silent way SHOULD have an opportunity to do that.  What they don't have a right is to tell all others how THEY should protest.

I do not believe that the SGA voted among its membership on the text of the letter it sent out in January.  The letter did seem to speak approvingly of cost savings of combining campuses . . . which is kind of rash toward the elimination of positions of AAUP members and other staff that provide the class rooom education and other education support services that would be combined (and eliminated).

So possibly the morning can be segmented into a little time for SGA silence that others can recognize.  But then if the AAUP has a particular position on the matter that they want to talk about - - I would be the last one that would want to SILENCE the AAUP!

The AAUP - BASICALLY IS WESTMINSTER CHOIR COLLEGE!  That is a fact!  Westminster Choir College IS the BELOVED FACULTY.  The faculty are the AAUP!  The faculty stand to be RAVAGED by the shuttering of WCC.  That is a point that many do not get.

Now the SGA can ASK the AAUP if it wants to participate in a silent protest and the AAUP can decide its own approach to represent the grievances of their stake in the loss of Westminster Choir College.  Their perspective could be different . . . but silence might or might not be their choice.

There are several other important organizations that have EVERY RIGHT to protest the closing of Westminster Choir College.

THe Coalition to Save Westminster in Princeton, soon to be incorporated - maybe they would go for a silent protest.  I would not be the one to ask them that.  The SGA CAN ask them that but they CAN NOT IMPOSE silence on them.

The SGA can not impose silence on any voices - that includes mine and that includes students that want to pose behind a banner supporting the beloved WCC and beloved Faculty.

That includes the Rider Students Union - that LED the student fight to SAVE Westminster (I truly believe that attack piano was the beginning of the end - even moreso now) last year while the SGAs held forums with administration and NEVER OPPOSED the cuts to the majors.  I would not silence RSU NOR encourage their silence but the SGA can ask them that.

There might be other campus organizations that have an interest in expressing their own views in their own way.

Alumni organizations and active alumnus might have ideas how THEY want to participate.

That includes others that might be coming to the campuses to support Westminster and address other issues here.

That includes leaders in the field that might want to come - sing - speak - participate.  Maybe even one or two board members want to SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE MADNESS!

So the SGA can PROPOSE silence to anyone it wants and I woudl respectfully yield some silent time if I had any input to decisions on any content of the type of protest.

But if other groups have other ways that THEY want to convey the message I am good with that.

I have a fairly decent sound box - not perfect - kind of old - about 10X bull horn if folks want to have like a rally - singers - rap artitss . . . whatever we want to do.  I am not saying we have to do that but if that is decided I got some goods.

There were other groups working on doing something before the SGA announced a silent protest.

They had not said silent or anything but maybe that is what they envisioned.  They did nto want to announce it yet - they were planning on announcing on Monday.

But the SGA should not act like they CALL THE SHOTS as to how the groups that have been swinging with both of them since December should protest.