Another day, another bizarre UC Berkeley tantrum
Image via Ken Wayne/KTVU
In December, the University of California at Berkeley mobsters picked up torches and Molotov cocktails and tried to set the chancellor’s house on fire to protest fee hikes and budget cuts.
The administration continues to capitulate to the thugs. So, the thugs keep throwing their tantrums. Their latest campaign? A hunger strike to put pressure on UC Berkeley over Arizona’s immigration law — and to demand that officials publicly declare the campus a sanctuary for illegal alien students and employees. For starters:
With the blessings of ceremonial dancers, a group of UC Berkeley students ended a 10-day hunger strike Wednesday while negotiators met with the chancellor over the status of illegal immigrants and student demonstrators.
Soon afterward, students and Chancellor Robert Birgenau announced some modest agreements on undocumented university employees and student discipline.
About 20 hunger strikers, mostly students, had camped out in front of the school’s administration building since May 3. Their initial protest target was Arizona’s new immigration law, which requires police to stop and question anyone they suspect of being in the country illegally.
Birgenau quickly complied with the protesters’ first demand – to denounce the law. But he balked at their proposals to declare the campus a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants, rehire laid-off janitors and drop disciplinary charges against students who occupied or vandalized buildings last fall to protest rising fees.
Ah, yes. The time-honored student List of Demands. And the time-honored administrative Crouch of Submission.
Though the article says the chancellor “balked” at the illegal alien sanctuary demand, it goes on to report:
While the school could not legally promise not to cooperate with federal immigration officials, Holmes said, the chancellor emphasized that looking into the immigration status of students and workers is “not a priority for our Police Department.”
Hiring, recruiting, and harboring illegal aliens are all federal felony offenses under United States Code. TITLE 8 , CHAPTER 12, SUBCHAPTER II, Part VIII. But the chancellor has now signaled that his campus will look the other way at federal immigration law to assuage a bunch of hungry open-borders zealots dressed up as stalks of corn.
No, really:
One protester blessed his cohorts’ corn cobs, for their connection to Mother Earth. Four dancers dressed as cornstalks, including one of the strikers, twirled and gestured ceremonially to a percussion beat.
Fifteen strikers then munched on the corn, to the cheers of about 150 supporters. A 16th student, Alejandro Lara-Briseño, who was too weak to stand but told the crowd he would continue fasting until he visits a sister in Arizona next Thursday and gets her approval.
Shortly afterward, negotiators, including another striker, emerged from a two-hour meeting with Birgenau and his aides and said the chancellor had addressed most of their demands.
“We emerged with a much broader understanding of their concerns and a strong commitment to work together,” said Claire Holmes, a university spokeswoman.
Specifically, she said Birgenau agreed that a task force previously established to review concerns of students in the United States illegally would broaden its scope to include campus employees.
I wish I could say “Only in Berkeley.” Unfortunately, the open-borders sellout is a nationwide phenomenon.
***
Reader Buy Danish points out: “There is an huge factual error in the S.F. Gate story you linked to which I’m sure you want to correct! They say: ‘Their initial protest target was Arizona’s new immigration law, which requires police to stop and question anyone they suspect of being in the country illegally.’” Indeed. Don’t hold your breath for the SF Chron to correct…
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Dear Berkley, it is a Felony to knowingly hire or harbor illegal aliens.
Conspiracy to commit a Felony, is also a Felony.
Of course, this is the Holder Justice Deptartment, so the Law really does not matter, sadly.
How corny.
Oh no. The vendors of fennel root, wheat grass and flaxseed muffins will go broke!
I wonder why anyone even pays attention to these imps?
I would have depicted the posture less delicately. I’ve never seen a shot-gun “crouch”, but, hey…
Great as always, Michelle!
Oh, man.
Are the 60s and early 70s back?
Mr. Peabody:
Sherman!
Have you been playing with the Wayback Machine again?!
try to keep a 14 year old from having an abortion & you’ll see how much it matters! You scofflaw!
I don’t see a problem, they look really well fed, they don’t look like they have missed any meals. Maybe they could use a diet, isn’t that the message coming from the First Lady weight control/SARC.
I don’t have a problem with hunger strikes – if you live in the land of milk and honey, and you can’t appreciate why you are not starving, like for example people in third world toilets, who would gladly change places with you. I don’t have any sympathy or empathy for you, stop eating….My message to Berkeley, HeII hold your breath while your at it, I’ll time you, start now
They never address that the invasion into this country isn’t to become American, and enjoy the lifestyle, they can’t back in their home country…but to bring that lifestyle with them, and drag everyone’s lifestyle down to that Third World failure of a country they recently left.
Come on now folks, How else can Berkeley compete with a Harvard for “useless educational facility” and “anti-American university of the year” ?
Spring is always the “silly season” at U.S. universities. Sighhhhhh
The one dressed like a peacock is the most ridiculous looking person I’ve seen in years.
These little communist grew up under the teachings of International Baccalaureate! Why are we surprised???
Fifteen strikers then munched on the corn, to the cheers of about 150 supporters.
cornholers?
Let these hunger strikers persevere in the public square as we cook hamburgers and hot-dogs to celebrate their pending deaths- or more likely wimp out. As the wiff of cooking food reaches them the food should be ready so we can then use the grill to burn some Mexican, UN and Peace flags.
This is not going to end well. Work within the system and support your positions, your candidates, as long as you can-but this is not going to end well. These fascist are all too close to control and I do not see anything so insignificant as an election stopping them.
No, this is not going to end well.
===
Let your sidearm be like Master Card:
Don’t Leave home without it.
sorry the correct International Baccalaureate link is fixed and it’s STILL EVIL!!
America is filed with a population of spoiled little nitwits: never known hunger, never known an existential threat to the Country (well except for a corrupt press). Uneducated about this Country’s history, and what has made it great, educated by traitors in academia to believe that America is an evil place, liberal children continue to act like moronic twerps with just way too much time on their hands. As Pat Buchanan stated, “we are an unserious people living in serious times”
A blatantly false statement.
Here’s a small part of the problem. The quote above is false. The law does not require any such thing. It empowers police to inquire about immigration status during the course of lawful contact.
If the media reported the facts instead of their own fantasies, people might have different reactions.
Except in Berkeley where they’re all insane anyway.
@rike101
Looks like you and I had the same thought. Lousy reporting like that really annoys me.
By the way, very little has changed at Berekley since the 60′s, maybe not quiet the animosity now, but same irrational response to all things American.
You know that old saying “I think, therefore I am”
Berkeley “I protest, therefore I must be relevant” LOL!
I LIKE it…!!!
Test their piety…to death!
Darwin at work in an elegant application!
People without purpose, who don’t know who they are or why they are will cling onto anything to fill that void.
anything to feel righteous.
Berkley is a progressive training facility and nothing more. Nobody outside of the George Soros anti-American types and Marxist politicians would even consider hiring these people.
Even better have it catered by a Mexican Restaurant, have Mexican Food and Drinks served. Hire a Mara-chi band, have a fiesta, while the sad sacks are making their “self important” hunger strike statement.
Otherwise show them up for the fools they are. This isn’t about being anti immigrant, this is about being anti invasion.
Wait, wait, wait…. they were dressed as cornstalks??? And then, “One protester blessed his cohorts’ corn cobs”??? I haven’t laughed this hard in a long time. And the Chancelor negotiated with them??? With cornstalks and corn-cob blessers??? ROFL!!!!!
Those wacky liberals. At least they are not as dangerous as teabaggers or the bitter bible-clingers.
I’m sure their hunger strike will last as long as it takes for someone to put them on the nightly news. Then off for a soy burger.
The collective approves of cannibalism…
er…vegabtablism…
And my corn-cob pipes and I take exception to all these ribald corn-cob allusions…!!!
vegabtablismvegetablism…
who knew that the only criminals the American police are allowed to look for were White Anglo-Saxon Protestants?
If you are any other race, or religion, you must be a saint who only comes here to work.
What I don’t understand is why don’t they talk about the MS13 gangs? If they want an honest debate, then be honest.
they don’t want honest debate. They want to be able to steal everything you have, and if you object, you are a racist.
If white supremacy wasn’t popular before, all this CAIR, La Raza, Black Liberation Theology crap would make it seem appealing to a lot of less educated people. Hey that’s the argument against fighting muslim extremists. . . they are driven to violence because they are alienated by something we are doing.
PC crap is alienating a lot of straight white Christian males. Talk won’t matter when they begin to rise up the way we allow Gays, Muslims, and Mexicans to riot due to perceived injustices.
Uh, Earth to Berkeley, the reason the fees are going up is to pay for the illegal parasites, sucking up your services. Morons.
Wow, that would be a bad law. If only because it would be so time consuming, what with all the random stopping of people they see all day.
Fortunately, the actual law requires nothing of the kind. But why let facts ruin a good cornstalk dance?
The actual text of the law deals with lawful contact. What is that? It means when he would have contact with the person anyway because of another law infraction. An example would be pulling a person over for speeding, where he is going to ask for ID from everyone anyway.
Yup, not a single random citizenship papers check in sight.
A hunger strike? Let them go for it! Heck, Big Momma Obama should approve of their dietary decisions.
GET BACK TO CLASS, HIPPIES.
That’s American Express, actually.
At Berserkly, I figured they’d dress up as marijuana.
After work, I think I’ll get my pick and shovel and go try to get that San Andres Fault to hurry up.
Hunger strike my ass. They probably had to hire a sanitation firm to come in and clean up the candy bar wrappers. If these terrorist wanna-bees want to fire-bomb something, let’s put them on a plane to Afghanistan.
Well, I don’t know. If it works for the goofy bastards at Berkeley, maybe it will work for me, here in Virginia. I think I’ll strap a pair of deer antlers on my head, don a breechclout, and go on a selective hunger strike in favor of the new Arizona law. I hereby swear off eating tofu, lemon grass, herbal tea, and will restrict my protein intake to fish and game I killed myself.
Please set up the cameras over there, but mind my azaleas.
From the S.F. Gate article:
Is that true? That sounds like Obama’s b.s. version of the law. I thought they had to stop people for other violations and only then could then could they ask for i.d. if they have reason to suspect they are illegal.
You may want to reconsider the antlers in Deer Season.
I’m sure their hunger strike will last as long as it takes for someone to put them on the nightly news. Then off for a soy burger.
I think somebody needs to organize a tailgate party – set up a bunch of charcoal grills and grill burgers and hot links as you jeer the hunger strikers. Make sure you’re upwind of them, though, for several reasons.
You may want to reconsider the antlers in Deer Season.
I’m seeing two different versions of this thread. In one version, the above comment is #42. In the other, it is #43.
Curious. Parallel universe perhaps, or a software glitch. Most likely a moderator thing.
You are correct again, and the problem comes if no legal document can be provided (i.e. valid dl, green card, passport, etc.).
The State Run Media can never be trusted for reporting the truth.
I have no problem with this. If you really believe this stuff then go on a hunger strike. Plus you can help resolve the obesity problem while expressing yourself on illegal aliens.
In fact, if you really believe CO2 is a pollutant, then hold your breath for as long as it takes to reduce “global warming.”
I mean if you are going to talk the talk, then you should be prepared to walk the walk. Standing firm on their beliefs could resolve several thorny issues…
American Express, Remington Express, 470 Nitro Express, whatever it takes.
This protest tells me they didn’t make enough cuts in the UC system.
For some additional choke-worthy PR, take a look at this press release from Cal…
http://berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2010/05/07_immigration.shtml
Some of the highlights include:
– Denounce Arizona,
– Create a Task Force for Undocumented Students,
– Create an Advisory Council on Campus Climate, Culture & Diversity
And my personal favorite remark “UCPD, as well as other police agencies in the Bay Area, find enforcing immigration status violations contrary to Community Oriented Policing Philosophy and our ability to establish trust, rapport, and relationships with our diverse community. For this reason it is not UCPD’s enforcement priority to address immigration violations.”
It’s not UC’s responsibility to prevent illegal activities, but they have no problem wasting their “immense intellectual resources” and taxpayers money fighting another state and a law that a substantial majority of Americans support.
If this is the kind of drivel brilliant minds at Cal can produce, those resources are neither immense nor intellectual.
Does anyone else see two different versions of this thread, based on whether you are logged in or not? Try it.
“There you go, man
Keep as cool as you can
Face piles of trials with smiles”.
Colleges and universities should dismiss anyone who misses classes to protest. That would provide opportunities for those who want an education but were not accepted. They have the right to protest, but only on their own time. There should also be a designated protest area so their foolishness would not intrude on those who go to college for an education. Any other protests should be shut down and those involved expelled. Maybe then we would again be competitive in the world.
My main point is higher education should actually be that- an education. Not a breeding ground for slackers. That is why college degrees have lost much of their luster for employers.
Gee, how much talent does it take to behave like these clowns. Colleges have lowered their standards for admission. Nothing like political correctness to dumb down society.
Gee, how much talent does it take to behave like these clowns. Colleges have lowered their standards for admission.
From ask yoahoo:
What are the minimum UC Berkeley undergraduate admission requirements?
the SAT grades,the grade point average, and so on.
The minimum requirements to get into the UC system apply to all campuses, including Berkeley.
HOWEVER, you will not get into Berkeley by meeting the minimum requirements unless you are likely to earn a Gold medal at the 2012 Olympics, or you are the greatest football player since Joe Montana.
Now I’m betting what you really want to know is what score you should aim for in order to get into Cal. It’s definitely a lot more than the minimum requirement.
Grades: Since the average incoming GPA is 4.1, you should be getting straight-A’s, or close to it. And you need to take a lot of honors and AP/IB courses.
SAT: Beat 650 in each section. 2000 is about typical.
ACT: Average is 29, but you oughtta aim for 30+
And that’s not all. You also need extracurriculars. You need to demonstrate leadership skills. Be active in clubs, do lots of community service, and get involved in event planning. Student gov’t is good. Play a sport or two. And try the arts, like drama, music, and so forth.
And just so you know I’m not blowing smoke, here’s what I had when I got in: 4.3 GPA, top of my class, 660/690 SAT, 31 ACT, 3 years student council, varsity soccer and tennis, Academic Decathlon, Science Bowl, marching band, thespian society.
That was 10 years ago, and competition is getting stiffer.
I must agree with them on this one. However, I don’t think we’re on the same plane when it comes to what I’d have the Task Force tasked to do to so-called “undocumented students”. And them thar ain’t “undocumented” students. They have documents, not just the proper ones.
I fail to be impressed. Our public schools have been going in the dumper for decades, so it really doesn’t matter what the high school GPA is if it is based upon a flawed curriculum. Colleges need to fill all their majors, the more popular majors having more competition. I have seem many idiots with degrees even from the ivies. Just because someone got good grades, doesn’t mean that they learned anything or that they can speak without memorizing talking points.
Is Berkely on the San Andreas Fault, by any chance. One can hope. That whole bunch of morons can disappear from the earth as far as I’m concerned and we would be better off for it. Survival of the fittest (or those with brain matter).
Excellent. Carry on.
Another instance of our culture over saturated with Corn Derivatives.
Wasn’t meant to impress, but enlighten. (BTW, those weren’t my achievements, mine were lower.) You said standards were getting lower, which is not true. Graduating from Berkeley was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. Every day was a mental, physical and emotional challenge. If you falter, you are out. Unlike some private schools, there is no one there to hold your hand just because your daddy was an alum.
If people want to deride some stupid hunger strikers, I’ve got no problem with that, but don’t trash an entire University, it’s students and alumni because of your own bias.
Hayward fault. Runs right through the football stadium. The north and south walls are offset about 4″ due to fault slippage. The tree protesters and lawsuits from a couple of years ago were about making much needed safety improvements to the stadium. My freshman dorm also sits directly on the fault.
What a creative and uplifting way to make the world safer from regular citizens, avoid finals and self medicate!
Southpaw,
My point was that even the most difficult entrance requirements won’t sift out the stupid. It was not meant to trash one school specifically. I had SDS on campus. They were not the brightest bulbs to be admitted to my Univ.
Higher ed is what the student makes of it. Not all majors are created equal. Schools romance top students and list the achievement of those students. There are many others who are just lucky that they also got in. I submit that the requirements for engineering major is more difficult than for an education major. And don’t forget the school needs to fill those sports teams too. I don’t judge a school by its grads. I judge the grads by what they have become through hard work, no matter which school they attended. I don’t see the corn dancers as anything more than wanting their 15 minutes of fame. I have seen brilliant people without degrees and the most stupid with degrees. Just saying….
I also don’t mean to diss the entire school, but only those moonbats who have been brainwashed into hopeless stupidity. I live in Minnesota, after all, home of the University of Minnesota. Enough said.
Havad, UC Bezerkley are actually schools of higher education, must be a matter of what their teaching and learning.
Ok, we agree. I may be the poster child for that. I’ve done some pretty stupid things since graduating. No hunger strikes yet, though.
Priceless.
On May 13th, 2010 at 11:23 am, swmntman said:
Wait, wait, wait…. they were dressed as cornstalks??? And then, “One protester blessed his cohorts’ corn cobs”??? I haven’t laughed this hard in a long time. And the Chancelor negotiated with them??? With cornstalks and corn-cob blessers??? ROFL!!!!!
“corn-holers!”
In order for someone to be successful at a hunger strike, they first would have to possess a certain amount of self-discipline OR not be within proximity of food. I doubt any of these clowns could do without lunch, let alone quit eating until they’re dead.
What I do notice though, is that these kids are grabbing onto anything and everything to give themselves purpose. They are desperately trying spiritural avenues and exercises and applying them to political issues but because their spirits crave spirituality and discipline as humans though they do everything they can to erase their humanness by poking holes in their bodies, and tatooing themselves – by making their bodies avatar-like with plastic surgery. They refuse to grab ahold of the only thing that can quench this thirst.
Those people are just pathetic.
@ # 8
Say what you will about this nutroots but do not knock U.C. Berkeley as a school. As an alumni I can share with you the importance and level of contribution provides to our national security.
Yes. I said national security.
Now back to this topic.. I say we organize a boycott of any city state or organization that announces a boycott of Arizona. Michelle can you lead the charge on this?
well heck, why not just secede from the union?
@ Miss Cheryl….
So you support the boycott of Arizona for their enforcement of Federal law?
@ supersean – I was serious.
@ Miss Cheryl
Because I love my country so much that I will never run or walk away from her. As I debate this topic with those who have oppose the law in Arizona
if you do not like the law in Arizona; work to change the Federal law… do not focus on Arizona.
Sweetie Supersean, I support the law in AZ. My point, (no opinion here) when states start boycotting each other. Let’s get it over with, let’s get it done….
The university system is ripe for a Tea Party experience of its own. As we take back the country, we must take back journalism, Hollywood and the universities from these wretched snakes. Where ever a leftist infests we must be rid of him or her. As the Utah Tea Party has taken back the Republican party and gotten rid of Bennett, we all can start to take back institutions both big and small, both local and national. Full disclosure: I’ve got to get off my butt and do this myself.
I hate this phony Indian crap. Blessing the corn. Please.
This is finals week at Cal. No serious student has time for “protests”. But it’s pretty obvious these are not serious students – if they are students at all. Fortunately, 99.9$ of the students ignore this idiocy.
oops…99.9%
Who needs good grades when you have affirmative action?
There is another extreme factual error in the SFGate’s inflammatory article.
“Their initial protest target was Arizona’s new immigration law, which requires police to stop and question anyone they suspect of being in the country illegally.”
I am astonished you did not pick up on this. It only requires officers check immigration status AFTER some other official contact. “You were speeding, please hand me your license, insurance, and registration. And, by the way, are you here legally? Oh yeah, you produced a license from Arizona. That’s proof enough. Nevermind. Now about the speeding….”
{+_+}
I’m boycotting California for this inanity. It’s mostly symbolic, but I’ll forego California. I hope Arizonans are doing the same.
As for the Berkely students, if California wants to pay for the temper tantrums, let them. I guess they have money to waste, so their deficit is no problem of mine. Raise taxes some more.
California exports a lot of wine, don’t they? So do other, more sane locales. I’m just letting my principles guide my spending. It’s not personal, and I’m certainly not calling for any formal boycott, but I remember my friends…
Is it any wonder that Berkeley grads are a laughing stock?
Wow…20 whole students out of thousands. We give in, we give in. Pathetic.