National Day of Higher Education Sparks Solidarity Across the U.S

On April 17, students, faculty, staff, and community members from across the nation mobilized for the National Day of Action for Higher Education, a day that marked a broader movement to protect higher education from anti-democratic pressures.

From marches and teach-ins to postcard and petition signings and tabling events, CFA chapters, along with Students for Quality Education (SQE), Teamsters, Academic Professionals of California (APC), and California State University Employees Union (CSUEU), educated and ignited action around the core demands of our Liberate the CSU campaign.

The energy was felt across the nation, as what was intended to be a National Day of Action for Higher Education coalesced into a larger campaign expressing condemnation of the Trump administration over its detainment of student activists and attempt to destroy labor unions.

Despite the cold and rainy weather in San Bernardino, CFA members—initially worried that the unwelcoming weather would turn folks away—were heartened to see a myriad of faculty, students, and staff fill Coyote Walk and the student quad. California Senator Sabrina Cervantes also joined the action, signing a postcard in support of stopping the cuts to the CSU budget.

At CSU Monterey Bay, CFA members completed 200 postcards to Governor Newsom in under 30 minutes. At other chapters, the “No Cuts, No Fees, No Corporate Universities” petition garnered hundreds of signatures.

Over 200 people gathered at CSU Long Beach as they made their way through the university campus to Brotman Hall, the campus’ administrative office. Along the way, chants of “Hands Off Students!” and “Educate Against Hate!” could be heard, as they loudly protested the mass deportations and urged administrators to protect students from ICE on campus.

Speaking to their rally, Claire Carrido-Ortega, CFA Long Beach co-president and CSU Long Beach lecturer, expressed her jubiliation. “Several hundreds of faculty, students, staff, and community members came together in solidarity to fight—not just for our right to organize, but to protect our freedom to teach and learn. The energy was powerful and profoundly unifying—a clear reminder that we are strongest when we are together. A shout-out from Rachel Maddow who cast a national spotlight on our collective efforts and affirmed that our voices are being heard far beyond our campus.”

San Jose State also saw a strong turnout, with Assemblymembers Ash Kalra and Alex Lee joining to show their support, while CFA members distributed copies of our equity paper, “Shortchanging Students: How the CSU is Failing Our Future,” to alert others to the systemic racial and financial mismanagement issues we’re facing in the CSU system.

Nearly 200 people who walked through the library quad at Sacramento State were given a “passport” that could be stamped for giveaways when attending various booths focused on union power, budget advocacy, anti-racism and social justice work, lecturer rights, and more.

CFA Stanislaus members, APC, and CSUEU targeted the recent budget cuts. Following an April 14 budget forum held by the campus president’s attempts to justify layoffs, CFA, APC, and CSUEU members held a symbolic funeral procession for the cuts to classes, faculty, student resources, and clean facilities. They also had visually stimulating tombstones that incorporated graphics from our equity paper.

In addition to a rally, CFA Los Angeles members held a People’s Budget Forum that informed stakeholders about the current state of the budget and CSU management’s priorities in spending.

In addition to having a rally at the president’s office, CFA San Luis Obispo members attracted more than 60 participants to a “Know Your Rights” training that evening.

Even while on spring break, CFA Fresno members and SQE invited faculty and students to a panel discussion on debt and austerity in the CSU via Zoom.

At CSU San Marcos and San Diego State, CFA members informed faculty on their rights. They also highlighted the administration’s failed strategy at Sonoma State, and shared updates about Sonoma State’s Academic Senate’s vote of no confidence in both the chancellor and their campus president.

Each chapter brought attention to what issues mattered most to their members. Yet, on every campus, students, faculty, and staff were engaged in meaningful conversations and encouraged to take small but impactful actions toward change.

While April 17 was the official day for the National Day of Action in Higher Education, it reflects an ongoing movement in the country to challenge the growing trend of treating education like a business—where profit and protecting private interests are prioritized over student learning, equity, and the public good.

See related coverage on the National Day of Higher Education:

• Los Angeles Times – “Cal State Long Beach Faculty Protests Against Attacks on Higher Education”
• Mercury News – “California Students and Faculty Join National Protest of Trump’s Crackdown on Higher Education”
• Long Beach Current – “CFA, Allies Rally in Light of Recent Student Visa Revocations”
• Press-Telegram – “Faculty, Students Rally Around Southern California for National Day of Action in Higher Education”
• The Collegian – “Community at CSU Long Beach Advocates for Transparency and Unity”
• IE Community News – “In the CSU, the Threat to Higher Education Is Coming From Inside the House: Op-Ed”
• The Sun – “Cal State San Bernardino Students Tell Trump Administration ‘Hands Off!’”
• The Signal – “University Cabinet Responds to Budget Concerns as Faculty, Staff Oppose Cuts”
• ABC 7 News – “Bay Area University Students, Staff Demand No More Funding Cuts for Day of Action”
• Golden Gate Xpress – “California Faculty Association, Student Union Protests From SFSU to City Hall”
• KQED – “Bay Area Students, Faculty Rally for Academic Freedom and Funding”
• Daily Titan – “CFA Participates in National Rally for Higher Education”
• The Orange County Register – “Cal State Fullerton Faculty and Staff Push Back on Cuts, Disruptions to Higher Education”
• KVPR – “Amid Tight Budgets, CSUS ‘Grieve’ Losses of Staff, Classes in the Valley”
• Turlock Journal – “Stan State Faculty, Staff ‘Grieve’ Losses in Funeral Procession Protest”