Notes by Carla
New structure of GA:
Discussion
Proposals
Future Proposals
Announcements
Open Forum
Discussion 1: Better communication among committees, better protocols
When are meetings happen? How do we stay organized? Where do we go when we want to attend? (15 min)
Discussion 2: Katehi coming to speak, decision made by facilitation committee (15 min)
Discussion #1 Internal communication- what meetings going on when, who is organizing what?
Listserv, google group, centralized list serve
Admin rights?
Facillitation@occupyucdavis.org
Events@occupyucdavis.org
Ideas on better communication
Sean- most people are using facebook to communicate, How do we bring people outside this room inside this room? Have info readily available on facebook.
Most pertinent information should be visible
Chalkboard- electronic version? Outline topics of discussion
Come to quad if you don’t have internet access
Text message system
All committees should set meeting times at the end of their meetings
Physical information booth where people can get information
Online in-person librarian
Part of the problem is that there are too many ways to get information, consolidate the way we get information out. 1 online, 1 physical resource
Facebook/twitter consolidation à connected to website
More transparency from committees
Working groups send meeting times, meeting notes, highlight what’s happening in form of some newsletter
Discussion #2 (15 min)
Statement justifying why Katehi should not be allowed to speak, as decided by facilitation committee.
Break out groups for 10 mins to discuss these events
Larger group reportback and discussion!
GAs are for proposals
From an image perspective, it makes us look bad. We can exclude people but if we are trying to build a model for a full society, how can we exclude?
Two separate issues: Whether Katehi should come and speak, and a decisions facilitation committee should be made. We had to act because Katehi was going to disrupt the GA, making the GA not inclusive. We can
If we interalize a process where the GA is not consulted and decisions are made, we cannot survive that as a group
She represents an institution, she can’t come as a person.
How do we facilitate communication with the administration on OUR terms? Set up a meeting for her to ask question. We consensed on a vote of No Confidence
Point of Information: Chancellor Katehi is not recognized as Chancellor by Occupy UC Davis
When is it appropriate to inviting certain people that represent certain insitutions and certain interests?
What is the role of working groups/committees? Do they delegate responsibility, facilitate?
Power difference between Katehi and the rest of us.
As a protest group, we are in a war of symbols with those who oppress us. Not letting her speak is a symbol of our protest.
Her coming is an act of propaganda. Pluralism is important. Minority opinions, have the ability to speak up in public. Stamping out one is forcing a majority opinion
Against: Ideological and pragmatic For: Ideological
Where does Katehi fit in to our process?
Opening up a dialogue on our terms
This is a place where we heal, we can take criticism from our community.
What we’re doing is NOT symbolic, we are disrupting operation. Taking our space back. Katehi is not being oppressed, her voice and opinion exist everywhere on campus an din our community. We don’t need a katehi affirmative action policy.
Structure of how we make this decision in regards to the consensus process. No consensus, stick with the status quo.
Pragmatic resource for point of information. Being nice to her is not going to get her to resign. Censorship
Branding of a University
Media presence
Have faith in your ability to meet someone with your power
Proposal #1:
Internal communication
Who is doing what? How do I get involved? Organizing working groups.
Addressing accessibility, accountability.
Working groups need to meet these requirements in order to be considered a working group to create accessibility and transparency for all. They need to create a statement of working group’s purpose and role, make meeting times and notes from past meetings available to everyone, and designate point of contact people for their working group. They will forward committee meeting notes to facilitation committee. Meeting times and summaries would go to Organizing committee, who will create a weekly public newsletter for each working group to be posted on the website. If it is known that something important is going to be discussed, it should be announced before each meeting to the Organizing committee.
Concerns: Not anyone be the point contact, doesn’t have to be UC Davis
Committees vs. autonomous working groups
Agenda- if there is something controversial being decided on, announce please.
Decide where this information is going to get posted.
Use the Occupy UC Davis website with tabs for factual logistical information.
Library and white board for notes and cross-posted on the chalkboard on the quad.
Proposal passed by consensus.
Future proposals
Communications/media committee would be allowed to send fact-based press released and share proposals passed by consensus in the GA. Concerns about addressing press releases sent to media. Giving media some degree of autonomy with respect to the GA. More people should join to give greater oversight to the group and the decisions that are made.
Proposing a future dialogue on speaking to positions of authority that we do not deem to be in power on our own terms
Proposing to release funds to pay for fire-proof tarp for dome
Proposing committees and working groups announce press releases beforehand, work out autonomy of working groups and accountability to GA.
Proposing that in solidarity with setting the tents up on January 12th, that we organize an action to liberate a foreclosed space in town.
Proposing that create a Tax increases to support higher education
Proposing a women and children sanctuary space within our larger sanctuary space
Announcements
-West Coast Port Shut Down on December 12th in Oakland. Organizing rides, talk to Evan. Street Medic training beforehand, talk to Tom.
-E-mail lists being created for: Logistics, safety, arts, facilitation, media, organizing, web, food, finance, education.
-Facebook admin access- keep it objective and unbiased folks! Occupy UC Davis is a site for information.
-Communication passing through UC Davis server is accessible to those who control the server. Shouldn’t use UC Davis e-mails, use encrypted connections. Be mindful, not paranoid. Anything we say in public is public knowledge.
-Today was National Occupation Day of Foreclosed Homes, beautiful actions happened all across the country!
-Meeting tomorrow at 4:30 in Paulo Freire Open Uni to discuss and plan those inclusivity and privilege workshops in January.
-Future committee: Demands committee to keep the pressure on
-Radical art and architecture scholar speaking on the quad at 11 am tomorrow inside the dome
Open forum
