Fed up with costs, college wants Occupy Seattle out

Etailor said on December 1, 2011 at 9:51 PM

Frankly, the large issue isn't what occupy stands for, or what their habits include. The issue is the loss of opportunities for low income students. Multiple programs were on the chopping block this year. programs that would be unavailable to many people without this school. By remaining on grounds and incuring such large expenses, occupy is robbing the SCCC student of opportunities and quality of education. Citizens getting together to rally for something they believe in is absolutely wonderful. Even so, Occupy is destroying resources that are desperatly needed by the low income student. Occupy may not need to be stopped, it just needs to be relocated to a place where it doesn't hinder those already struggling.

MaryMc said on November 14, 2011 at 11:47 AM

If SCCC is actually trying to blame Occupy Seattle for drug paraphernalia on campus, they should be ashamed. They have been finding hypodermic needles in the childcare center area ever since I worked at SCCC in the mid-1990's. People who worked in that department told me that the staff would have to go out on the playground every day ahead of the kids, looking for discarded needles, used condoms, and other nastiness. It's not uncommon--it happens all the time, all over the SCCC campus. My office was where people often brought lost-and-found items, and one of our student workers narrowly missed a needle stick (and the resulting infection risks) when he was going through the pockets of a jacket somebody brought in, looking for some clue to the owner, and found a junkie's works.

Molly-Chase said on November 12, 2011 at 12:49 PM

Liberals had the presidency and both houses of congress for two years. They took an economic disaster, the housing market, and made it thousands of times worse. They imposed terrible economic uncertainty with Obamacare. The created complete economic chaos with socialist wealth transfers, like seizing GM assets from stockholders and giving them to the union. Now, instead of taking responsibility for the horrific mess they have made, they try to blame the system. This is what the occupy movements are all about. Shifting the blame. It's what liberals are good at.

duanesworld said on November 12, 2011 at 7:50 AM

"It doesn't make our school look good," said one SCCC student. This "student" apparently slept through civics classes ....

AlpineLady said on November 11, 2011 at 9:51 PM

SCCC is wasting tax payer funds to the tune of $20ki per week for a security guard? As a student there I can tell you that the 1st floor bathrooms are always vandalized and I have not seen any evidence of increased hazards, drug use, rats or trash. I wonder if the school is being racist.

AlpineLady said on November 11, 2011 at 9:49 PM

SCCC is wasting tax payer funds to the tune of $20k per week for a security guard? That's a pretty highly paid guard. As a student there I can tell you that the 1st floor bathrooms are always vandalized and I have not seen any evidence of increased hazards, drug use, rats or trash. I wonder if the school is being racist.

jgcimino said on November 11, 2011 at 6:55 PM

@ pamby - I heard what I heard. And if that's the agenda you guys are running then I'm glad law enforcement took care of you creeps. Expect more of the same if you actually carry out your little "plots."

pamby said on November 11, 2011 at 6:15 PM

The Occupy movement has many reasons to protest and many different people of all ages and walks of life are involved. Some participate from home and come to the park on weekends and participate during events when they can. One of the best things about Occupy is there isn't just one thing that is being protested. People in the tents are students. And people who work. Some people have tents there but don't spend all their nights and days there. There are many different ways to be part of OccupySeattle. Even stay at home moms and shut ins take part in the chat conversations during the General Assemblys. Personally I am protesting cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Cuts to education. Spreading our troops around overseas and calling it by a different name, but it's still armed conflict. I'm especially protesting the bailouts and companies that haven't paid the money they got from the government back. I'm protesting humongous billion dollar companies who pay no income tax .

pamby said on November 11, 2011 at 5:58 PM

@jgcimino .. I cannot believe you had the nerve to post what you did. You know nothing about the Occupy movement. Occupy is a peaceful nonviolent movement. Whomever you 'overheard' was NOT Occupy. Yes, there has been violence in camps and during marches. But did you notice it was cops destroying peoples tents, clothes and belongings? Destroying medical tents and supplies? Food tents and supplies? Have you seen cops beating people, hitting them with their bikes, urging horses into protesters, spraying pepper spray, shooting flash grenades and gas at them, etc. The protesters tried to get to people who were injured and couldn't see or were hurt and were beat by uncaring police anyway.

bikejumpr9 said on November 11, 2011 at 5:19 PM

Just in case none of you had heard, this would be just one of many reasons we should all be standing up and asking for governmental change - just do yourself a favor a look up Operation Fast and Furious.... Ask yourself if ANYONE involved should still be allowed to serve this country.... Nothing like the ATF selling guns to the Mexican Drug cartels.... I cannot believe so many can site idly by and just watch this happen...

dsSea said on November 11, 2011 at 4:57 PM

wmdkitty said "The college can suck it up and deal with the protesters. Can't be worse than any of the frat houses, right?" WMD, do you even live in Seattle? There are no frats or frat houses at SCCC. It's a community college.

bikejumpr9 said on November 11, 2011 at 4:50 PM

@kinison: You have every right to do so. Please, come down and chat with us. I, for one, would be more than happy to chat with you. @jackwong: you got it. All the more reason we should get even more people involved. Let us stand and be heard.

wmdkitty said on November 11, 2011 at 3:49 PM

The college can suck it up and deal with the protesters. Can't be worse than any of the frat houses, right?

jgcimino said on November 11, 2011 at 2:45 PM

I overheard some of these guys talking very seriously about doing some crazy stuff; forming a "guerrilla army," how they could get "military hardware" from street gangs, who they wanted to "take out." Made me nervous. What kind of people are these?

kinison said on November 11, 2011 at 2:23 PM

Why dont we counter protest this group? Seriously, to all those that live on First Hill and Capitol Hill, just protest them and ask them to leave if SCCC cannot.

jackwong said on November 11, 2011 at 2:16 PM

Ummm... these hypodermic needles exists around Seattle regardless of OWS or not. Seattle Central is making a huge mistake. The pressure put on SCCC by OWS will eventually help SCCC recoup the costs by helping more students pay for school by putting pressure on Congress and the Senate to pass the bill to help students with tuition.

bikejumpr9 said on November 11, 2011 at 1:04 PM

@hewhoo: I, who assists in paying the bills just like you, demand governmental responsibility. What it will take is EVERYONE to stand up and demand it. @jditt: I would like to see the actual bills, and to what can be truly attributed the to the protesters. The SPD made the same kinds of statements that "the protesters are causing all sorts of overtime." We are not the cause. They decided to deploy dozens of police to monitor an extremely calm group of people. I agree with you in the fact we may not, currently, be protesting in the correct location or maybe even to the right people. To all: in order to get people to wake up, and realize what injustices have been committed upon the people by the government, we need to start somewhere. By getting the word out that there are more and more people everyday who are getting fed up with this, this will only lead to benefits to all. Why don't you guys actually come down and chat with us, instead of barking at us. We are on your side.

antisocialist said on November 11, 2011 at 1:02 PM

I love this ...uber liberal Seattle getting a good look at the kind of human trash that liberalism creates. As the imbecile Rev. Wright would say..."your chickens...have come home to roost!"

jdtt1 said on November 11, 2011 at 12:43 PM

Widbeyman. Why are you talking smack about the FAR RIGHT when Obama has one of the biggests violator of the reason behind this movement working for him? Why did Clinton deregulate "the system" in 1999? Barney Frank, Charles Rangel...I could go on and on with the list of FAR LEFT people who helped put us right here in this situation. There are plenty of them to go around F-ing Rangel got a 30 million dollar kick back for NY for allowing GE (Immelt...WORKING FOR OBAMA...great buddies) to extend GE's tax breaks. Then you have this administration giving away our money to known failing businesses causing more sh**. I'm not saying the "R's" aren't at fault (plenty to go around there too), but some of the biggest violators of this movement ARE the FAR LEFT. GEEEEEEZ...Unless I'm missing something like maybe people on the FAR LEFT claiming foul as some sort of a tactic, the "enlightened" and highly educated (according to them) are not smart for playing the left/right, D/R game.

hewhoo said on November 11, 2011 at 12:42 PM

yours truly, there is no requirement that free speech be 'objective'. That's what 'free' means.

yours_truly said on November 11, 2011 at 12:20 PM

This report was extremely biased against the demonstrators. Not very objective.

theyshootdogs said on November 11, 2011 at 12:15 PM

Health hazards, no food permits, tresspassing, illegal drugs, roaming dogs, etc....$20,000/week all adds up to an unmitigated disaster.

Whidbeyman said on November 11, 2011 at 11:30 AM

$20,000 in broken soap dispensers at SCCC? Oh Pleeeeze! I've camped at Occupy Seattle for 13 days and haven't seen any needles or the kind of people I would expect to use them. This sounds like a malicious and provocative stunt that those who want to demonize the Occupation movement on the Far Right would try. Very little of that money was spent monitoring the new Occupy Seattle encampment at SCCC. The Occupy Seattle camp at SCCC has been relatively quiet and orderly compared to the incidents at the Oakland or Portland occupations.

Whidbeyman said on November 11, 2011 at 11:20 AM

Very little of that money was spent monitoring the new Occupy Seattle encampment at SCCC. The Occupy Seattle camp at SCCC has been relatively quiet and orderly compared to the incidents at the Oakland or Portland occupations.

jdtt1 said on November 11, 2011 at 10:18 AM

bikejumpr9: You seem like an intelligent person. Here's the simple fact though...it's costing the wrong people tons of money regardless of what you "think". It's a fact...not what you want...but still a fact. I agree with the the premise of the occupy movement. The problem is that most of the people down there are barkin' up the wrong tree. The politicians made this all possible. So...make your movement about finding out who the biggest hypocrites are (Obama is a HUGE hypocrite) and get them voted out. Go to the politicians houses and peacefully protest there, ask them wtf?...demand answers from them. I would bet you 90 percent of those people will be voting for Obama, and one of his bestest buddies is one of...if not thee biggest violators out there. That's why I have a problem with this. It fails common sense, the whole give me, give me, give me is FAILING all over the world. So...protest to make things fair regarding taxes (I agree), but use some common sense.

hewhoo said on November 11, 2011 at 10:17 AM

bikejumpr9, we who pay the bills DEMAND that you get off the property we paid for and maintain. Go jump your bike....

bikejumpr9 said on November 11, 2011 at 9:44 AM

@ bigblue: You have said what you came to say. Now go back to your parents basements and stop wasting even more tax dollars than you are already sucking up - We are just getting started. SCCC's decision to go hire guards was their decision, and not one made of necessity. It is not our responsibility to pay for their actions. Keep in mind you all, we are not just "camping out," we are forming a peaceful, legal, protest against how we fell the government is failing us all. I cannot believe how many would just sit idly by and let this beautiful country turn into a Police State. Stand up and take action, be responsible for yourself and your fellow man: DEMAND that the government work FOR the people instead of against them....

bazwest said on November 11, 2011 at 9:41 AM

Occupy Seattle is imposing on the college and students the very thing about which they are protesting: In other words they are imposing unwanted expenses and costs on others for the benefit of their own agenda. They are not thinking this through and it is causing them to behave like hypocrits plain and simple. They need to find a way to protest peacefully without inflicting this needless expense on others.

awol50 said on November 11, 2011 at 9:26 AM

If these dim bulbs really thought that these bankers broke a law, why are they not protesting outside the white house or the offices of eric holder, our slow witted attorney general and demanding they be prosecuted? Could it be these bankers did not break any laws, but were just enabled by our crony capitalist federal and state governments playing fast and loose with taxypayer money?

bigblue1518 said on November 11, 2011 at 9:24 AM

Here comes the wind and rain. If we are lucky the wind will clear away most of the tents and the rain will clean up most of the hippies. No one cares what you are trying to do anymore. You have said what you came to say. Now go back to your parents basements and stop wasting even more tax dollars than you are already sucking up.

silverado said on November 11, 2011 at 8:41 AM

No big deal. The Occupy movement thinks money grows on trees anyways.

uplink said on November 11, 2011 at 8:27 AM

You reap what you sow.

skwish-e said on November 11, 2011 at 7:38 AM

My summer vacation just got a lot cheaper. I can camp on any college campus in the state? Sweet! Im gonna drive my gas-sucking, carbon-belching SUV with a popup camper right onto the front lawn of some nice, beautiful college campus and set up shop for a month. See how long I get to stay there.

brewster said on November 11, 2011 at 7:18 AM

"The college is in a legal loophole and can't kick occupy out. That's because there is no state law that restricts camping on college campuses" What? Anyone that feels like it can set up tents and camp on any college campus? You gotta be kidding me?

Elwood2 said on November 11, 2011 at 7:17 AM

When you welcome a Vampire into your home, you are helpless against it's powers. These "protesters" should have been help accountable to the law originally. When the City of Seattle refused to do anything, they only made things worse. Drug dealing, vandalism, trespassing, what will it take for the City to act? Oh, that's right, this is a liberal protest so it will only be encouraged.

ex_bkr said on November 11, 2011 at 6:48 AM

Anyone else that simply canNOT wait for a nice deep snow to fall ???

kennovak67184564 said on November 11, 2011 at 6:41 AM

Hmmm.... May be the Occupy People should get a corporate sponsor, like the Simple Green cleaner folks, to help cover the cost of the clean up. Or the college should charge a per head fee for camping privileges? The sooner these parasites learn it costs money for them to sit around and do nothing all day, every day, the sooner they'll start going home to live off mom and dad. After all, the parents raised them to be shiftless bums, excuse me, raised them to follow their dreams....

kennyeffnpowers said on November 11, 2011 at 6:12 AM

spray them with a hose or tear gas. dont be a bunch of pu55ies , call me dean, ill get rid of the hippies for you.

jdtt1 said on November 11, 2011 at 12:05 AM

Trouble in paradise? What? Free sh*t costs money for others? OMG...color me surprised. Here's the irony...this is a down to the dirt example of how entitlement fails when taken advantage of. Basically...someone has to pay for your f**king camping trip eventually. Really think about that. I would say do the right thing Occupiers and move off the campus, but I seem to remember the campus welcoming you with open arms until...OMG...it costs them (I have my hands on both cheeks right now) and professors were using this as a great example of how to conduct yourself. So...way to go 99 percenters! I'm totally in your category too (technically), but I must be adopted because I think you shouldn't be f**king the little man locally. You should be in front of the White House where the guy you are going to vote for (pretty much guaranteed) has the CEO of GE on his jobs committee (jobs for China maybe? Lessons in not paying taxes?). You cats will vote for him again though.

sargemcc said on November 10, 2011 at 11:54 PM

Wow. And these college educated idiots are the ones who want to legalize pot. While the stoners tear up the grass and set up tents. Hypocrits. Those are your brothers and sisters. You invited them.

alexjon907 said on November 10, 2011 at 11:18 PM

The costs are trumped up. First it was the breathless claim of "$100,000!", which was a fabrication. Now it's $20,000 a week because they've decided to station security all over the plaza to stare down protesters and do little else -- a cost we aren't even sure of at this point. And those broken soap dispensers? I didn't have a problem at all this week and I'm on the first floor more often than I'd like. In fact, not only were soap dispensers working but some mensch put out bars of flowery soap for us, something the school doesn't do. What about spending that money on fixing the elevators? Or clearing up the mold on the top 3 floors of the Broadway-Edison building? Bringing back the New Collegian? Saving the child care center? Fighting to rescue Film and Video? Restocking the gym? Restaffing admin offices? Who's going to actually fight for that? Oh, that's right. Occupy Seattle will.

telman said on November 10, 2011 at 10:52 PM

Maybe the professers there should instruct them to pick up after themselves after all they aren't at home with Mom Dad at this time.

nguminh said on November 10, 2011 at 10:39 PM

They should camp in front of the house of a ceo of a big bank or big company

runner693 said on November 10, 2011 at 10:15 PM

Would one of you briliant "occupiers" please explain how your movement is going to bring about "economic justice"? And, since probably 99% of the "occupiers" do not pay taxes, how would their protest action improve their economic condition? And, how would a transfer of wealth take place in order to create "economic equality"? And, under what pretense would the "occupiers" justifty and orchestrate to become more "economically equal"? What would that look like? Do the banks force anyone to borrow from them? Is anyone required to be a party to the banks' revenue streams? Just asking.............

bikejumpr9 said on November 10, 2011 at 8:52 PM

Let me just reiterate the first amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Lets just take a look at the first and last part: Congress shall make no law - abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Constitutionally, it is our responsibility to stand up... Have you not seen what is happening in this country? Is it not only getting worse? Why not stand up and try to make a positive difference?

bob30303030 said on November 10, 2011 at 8:14 PM

Simple, give them the BOOT. These people think that they can protest, so be it. Taken their names, pictures and send them the bill. This was a bad idea from the start, let those who whanted them pay for it.

bazwest said on November 10, 2011 at 7:58 PM

Here is an idea... Bill Occupy for the costs associated with their protest. They have spokespeople, and a leadership organization, therefore they are a defacto organization. They have named themselves. They could be recognized in a court of law as an official organization and could then be charged for the costs. If they don't pay they should be sued both as a group and as individuals within the group. How would our college campuses feel about tent city moving in. What about recreational campers who want to camp in the city for free. It seems to me that if they thought hard enough about it, the college could find a solution to getting rid of Occupy Seattle.

Proudamerican said on November 10, 2011 at 7:33 PM

fire

Proudamerican said on November 10, 2011 at 7:33 PM

Bring in the fore dept and hose those low life scumbags down and and do not stop till the vacate. Problem solved

h20dad said on November 10, 2011 at 7:32 PM

One simple and inexspensive way is to fence the area off and plant new grass seed. I am sure legally, they can require them to move for landscaping maintenance.

Shaniqua said on November 10, 2011 at 7:17 PM

What objective is being achieved by sleeping in a tent on the SCCC campus in Seattle, Washington? How is this hurting the banks or "Wall Street"? A lot of the bank CEOs live in gate communties, attend exclusive clubs, etc. You aren't hurting them one bit with this naive "occupation" nonsense. They never see you unless you appear on television in some senstational news story ("vet kills himself at Occupy site", "TB outbreak at Occupy site," etc,.) and then it's simply entertainment for them. Try to look at the big picture.

pamby said on November 10, 2011 at 7:00 PM

The Occupiers at SCCC have been having problems with drug dealers and homeless coming into the camp. They have been running them off as best as they can. They clean up after themselves and are not the ones doing the damage. They are trying to use wooden flats as walkways and to put the tents on to try and save the grass. From what I understand there were drug dealers and vandals before Occupy was even there. Occupy people are not scrubs. They are good decent people trying to make a difference.They are forming a tactical unit to deal with the creeps that invade the camp.

bikejumpr9 said on November 10, 2011 at 6:59 PM

That was supposed to be commenters.... @intrepid - agreed.

bikejumpr9 said on November 10, 2011 at 6:54 PM

First of all, lets get the facts straight: SCCC DID invite the Occupy Seattle movement to move to their facility. It was once the movement decided to take them up on the offer the SCCC president started waffling on his original statement. It was then proven, legally, that the occupy movement has every right to be there. That is what led to the Good Neighbor policy, and why the occupy movement moved in. To call us all losers shows a sure lack of common sense and intelligence. It sounds to me that you have not been down to the Occupy Seattle General Assembly or even been anywhere near anyone and had a conversation. @sensibleguy: get your facts straight. Search for the email from the SCCC president welcoming us there the day we moved in.... Another thing to keep in mind is we are fighting for YOUR rights, as i doubt there are comments here who are NOT in the 99%

intrepid1 said on November 10, 2011 at 6:53 PM

I all b*llsh*t on the price tag they're laying down... especially when they factor in such things as having "... to replace the lawns." Increase in security? That's the colleges choice to do, though there's probably also an increased SPD presence in the area, too. That's part of the cost of democracy -- right to peacefully assemble and if the State or other organizations respond with an increased police presence, well, you can't blame it on the protesters how the State or the other organizations react. Also, ascribing finding drug paraphernalia to the protesters, also, is b*llsh*t. That area is a hot spot for drug dealing and use, and they're blaming the protesters who are trying to keep that stuff out of the encampments. They're also taking care of the sanitation issues with porta-poties. As to other issues, well, I for one would like to see the evidence and not just hear the assertions -- bad journalism to not dig deeper (makes for good headlines and sound bites, though.)

eastsiderocks said on November 10, 2011 at 6:26 PM

I'm sure finding drug paraphernalia is grounds for getting the boot.

fubaxter said on November 10, 2011 at 6:15 PM

howhoo - I did notice there is no reference to the president of the college inviting and welcoming these people to the campus. I wrote a comment when he first invited them to stay on the campus and questioned the his actions (it wasn't posted). He should be fired for his decision and fined!

KennSpace said on November 10, 2011 at 6:09 PM

Dear Reader and Editor, I am hoping that what I say makes sense to someone and they will start writing and treating this "movement" with the respect it is going to earn. Did you see where Israel had a demonstration of 500,000 people demanding concessions from their government? It worked. Listen to Martin Luther King, his words are as meaningful today as they were then. This struggle for economic justice and government control; will be won by the people! (It's 50 years old.). I feel the occupy movement does have a basic underlying message; Stop letting money decide political elections; And regulate corporate lobbying (and all lobbying) making it a public forum. Right now lobbying is mostly two old white guys sitting across from each other in an office. "They" have probably worked with each other or went to the same school; And "they" have promised you a job when you get ou

sensibleguy60 said on November 10, 2011 at 6:08 PM

Hey fubaxter get your facts straight. The college did not invite them to the campus, they invaded without college approval. The faculty teaching is not sponsored or otherwise authorized by the college, this is something the teacher's union decided to do on their own, and on their own time.

mikthrac said on November 10, 2011 at 6:05 PM

They shouldn't have welcomed them with open arms in the first place!

hewhoo said on November 10, 2011 at 5:59 PM

fubaxter, did you notice that the news program didn't even mention that the college had invited these rats...protesters, (they're killing the rats) to come on down?.

liberty4u said on November 10, 2011 at 5:49 PM

Sweet. I can start saving $10 by camping on campus vice paying to camp at a State Park.

fubaxter said on November 10, 2011 at 5:36 PM

I can't even find the words to comment on this! The college president invited them to occupy the campus, teachers were "teaching" classes on how to hold the occupation (or something) and now they find the "occupiers" are not the wonderful people representing an ideal world. What a joke. A lot of us could have told you what the end result would be! Now we the taxpayers have to pay state's attorney fees to get the bums off the campus? No way - the cost should be absorbed by the college president! IDIOT!!!!!!

ruba61 said on November 10, 2011 at 5:33 PM

Rent some buses and load them all up in them and drive them all to Selah or Yakima and drop them off with the rest of the lowlifes that live there!! Be gone losers!

jgcimino said on November 10, 2011 at 5:29 PM

LOL hurr hurr tee hee.