USA Africa Dialogue Series - Tanzania - One of the Reasons for 'Occupy Harvard'

FYI: I have just received this email which might be of interest to you:

All right folks, it's on.  We're occupying Harvard. 

Here's the general thinking.  Students, professors, and workers will descend on Harvard Yard in front of the John Harvard statue at 7:00pm this Wednesday (Nov. 9).  We'll be rallying and then general-assembly, to say "We want a university for the 99%, not a corporation for the 1%" (and variations on the corporatization of higher education).  Professors will critique Harvard-propagated economic models that brought us the great recession.  Students will expose Harvard's profiteering from land grabs in Tanzania.  Custodians will decry the fact that Harvard pays them a mere $1 for every $180 paid to the execs of the Harvard Management Corporation.  Etc. etc.  And the media will be there to capture it all.  I hope to see you there as well.  

After the assembly, a solid contingent of us will stake it out overnight in a tent-filled occupation of Harvard Yard.  You don't need to commit to the occupation to come to the rally.  That said, we'll need plentiful bodies and tents to make this thing a success, and if you're willing to lend your body and/or tent, it'd be a pleasure to spend the night with you.  Also, please let us know whether you're able to bring a tent/sleeping bag (whether you are sleeping out or not, we need tents and sleeping bags for folks who don't have them!)  

Beyond coming yourself, we could use your help in recruiting the masses to come out on Wednesday.  We could also use particular recruitment for groups of people: a) sympathetic professors who might want to come on Wednesday and share some words (like 5 minutes worth), b) sympathetic student leaders at Harvard who aren't on this list and who could recruit within their own circles, c) sympathetic students at other area schools who could pull from their campuses and share our frustration with the direction of higher education d) community members, faith leaders, and others who want to join this protest movement.  

Finally, the action that begins on Wednesday night launches our solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street/Occupy Boston and hopefully begins a series of campaigns and direct action to fight back against corporatization of higher education.  At the event we will spend some time discussing next steps. 

As many of you know, 10 years ago this year, students at Harvard Occupied the President's Office for over three weeks to demand a living wage for Harvard workers.  10 years later we are standing up again to not only protect those gains for Harvard workers but to fight back against the corporate greed that is plaguing our economy, our democracy, and our universities. 

Hope to see everyone there and please help with recruitment!