Striking Puerto Rico students hold graduation ceremonies

On the 52nd day of a strike against privatization and tuition increases, the students of the University of Puerto Rico celebrated a symbolic yet very genuine act of commencement right on Ponce de León Avenue, in front of the Río Piedras campus. Accentuating one of the strike’s main slogans — “Eleven campuses, one UPR” — it was the first time a graduation was held of all 11 campuses and the UPR High School together. This was a graduation that rewarded the most essential education — the commitment to a just society shown by these students, who are aware of their historic role and loyal to their people, particularly the poorest on the island. Dressed in a variety of ways, from graduation gowns to jeans, the students wore ribbons that read, “UPR 2010 Dignity.”

In this unique act that was organized by students, parents and professors, the students were given a certificate that read in part: “You have demonstrated an unquestionable commitment to your country in the defense of public higher education of accessible quality. You are a worthy example for future generations. For this and other reasons we award you the honorary degree of exemplary citizen.”

They marched to the tune of “Aida” played by the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, finishing with the UPR anthem, which was sung by the Medical Sciences Campus choir.

No U.S. flags were displayed, nor was the U.S. anthem played, as is customary in this U.S. colony. Instead, when the Puerto Rican anthem was played, the original lyrics (the revolutionary anthem) were sung by some of those present.

Strike achievements so far

Despite the intransigent position of the UPR administration represented by University President José de la Torre and Board of Trustees President Ygri Rivera, the students have achieved hard-won concessions. The most important are the defeat of Certification 98 and the promise by the administration that the institution will not be privatized. Certification 98 took away the tuition exemptions for students earned through honor grades or work representing the university in areas such as sports, music and arts.

The students are still negotiating tuition increases, a special quota that the administration recently announced, and the penalization and expulsion of student leaders of the strike.

The administration never wanted negotiations, unilaterally imposing their neoliberal project to destroy this public institution. They refused to negotiate in earnest, and instead took the students to court.

Although the administration thought that the courts would side with them against the students, the opposite has happened. On June 11, Superior Court Judge José Negrón Fernández ordered a process involving mediators, one from each party, to help solve the crisis. The students, after consulting with their lawyers, accepted.

The administration had previously accepted an anti-union mediator, imposed by Gov. Luis Fortuño, that the students rejected on the basis that the mediator was not familiar with the institution. However, the administration initially refused the court-imposed mediator.

The administration finally was forced to accept the ruling, and the process began June 12. At the time of this writing, it is still going. The conversations are confidential so no details are known at this time.

Lessons from the strike

The UPR historically has been the scene of many strikes. It has always represented a voice of dissent and challenge to the colonial government and a refusal of U.S. militarization and domination of the island. The police have always been called in to defeat the students, entering the campus and violently beating them.

Yet everywhere you go in Puerto Rico people comment, “How different this strike has been!” Even former students who participated in strikes in the 1970s and 1980s remark on the difference. What makes this one unique?

This strike has advanced the class struggle in the island, and not only because the students are part of that working class. Their struggle has been an open confrontation against the ruling class — represented by the UPR administration and the thoroughly pro-U.S./Wall Street governor — and their attempts to privatize the Puerto Rican heritage and eradicate national identity in order to convert the island into a U.S. state. This also makes this struggle an anti-colonial struggle, for self-determination of the people. It has been a complex struggle.

The students have used the following elements:

1. A clear and firm message. Their demands have been concretely expressed from day one. They have always used simple language to explain the most complex issues involved, walking away from discourse on political ideology and instead concentrating on a specific demand: the right to a public education for all, particularly for the poorest in the island.

2. At the same time, they have pointed out the failures of the Fortuño administration. In this way, their demands have resonated with the majority of the people, who have been affected by budget cuts, privatization of services, layoffs and more.

3. Exposure of the UPR administration lies and slander tactics. The students have carefully researched and shown facts presented through PowerPoint, videos, documents and other media. They have called several press conferences where they address the people of Puerto Rico, keeping them informed every step of the way. The people have, in turn, responded with support and solidarity — making this a people’s strike.

4. Uniting all the 11 campuses in one struggle around important demands that affect all of them. The aim has been to defend public education, regardless of political affiliation or ideology.

5. Participatory democracy. Every action, proposal and demand has been fully discussed at the base, where the input of everybody is crucial. The representatives in the National Negotiating Committee, which represents the 11 campuses, do not make a decision without discussing it and getting the approval from the base.

6. They have taken the struggle outside of the campuses, going to where the people are.

7. They have used utmost creativity throughout the strike: street theater, clever songs and slogans, use of art and music, etc.

8. They have made full use of the Internet, social networks like Facebook and Twitter, blogs, diverse websites and alternative media, including the creation of a radio station, “Radio Huelga” (Strike Radio), where they give daily updates and directly communicate with the people outside the university.

9. They have carefully and thoughtfully prepared important and realistic proposals to solve the financial crisis of the university. These proposals have been presented to the administration and the general public in order to end the strike.

10. They have cared for the campus while occupying the university. In fact, they have turned it into a living university that truly teaches on the most pressing problems of the island, while calling attention to the issues that impact the whole population.

For instance: In an island where recycling is almost absent, they teach the dangers of environmental pollution by recycling. In an island where public transportation is ineffective, with one of the highest ratios of cars per inhabitants, they show the importance of alternative transportation by using bikes. In Puerto Rico, where despite the mild subtropical climate 90 percent of food is imported, they teach by example by creating organic vegetable and fruit gardens, showing the possibility of food self-sufficiency.

They have also taken firm positions on social issues like anti-LGBT bigotry, displaying banners against homophobia around the campus. In the evenings they hold enriching organized discussions and show documentary films on many topics.

The 2010 student strike, regardless of the final outcome, has already been a success. It will only help other sectors in the advancement of the class struggle.

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