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Volume 66, Number 4
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October 11, 2011
More than 1,400 people expressing a diversity of views march downtown Oct. 7, part of a movement that began in New York weeks ago. Photos by Troy Orem, City Times
‘This is what democracy looks like’ By Fernando Yates and Amanda Santoni City Times A 74-year-old woman with a walker, a 37-year-old student living out of his car and a 65-year-old Argentinean immigrant are some of the faces that made up the estimated 1,400 people that participated in Occupy San Diego. The demonstration that began Oct. 7 at about 4 p.m. in downtown stemmed from a grassroots movement to “take action against the greed and corruption of the 1 percent” that started at Wall Street several weeks ago. Since then the movement has spread to 1,106 cities, as of Oct. 9. In San Diego and in cities across the country, a core group of demonstrators said they would continue the occupation indefinitely. “I’m concerned for my children, grandchildren and great grandchil-
dren,” said Marie Johnson, age 74, as she stood on the rim of the crowd with a walker. Johnson participated in Occupy San Diego for her family. She said she feels that the Republican Party is blocking legislation that would create jobs. While that may not affect her, she said, it affects her children. One of Johnson’s sons works as a police officer but she worries about his safety working double shifts and forced overtime because of budget cuts. She has another son who has a degree in electrical engineering who cannot find work. And she’s got a daughter also out of work who “can’t even get a job flipping burgers.” “Never what I expected for my children,” Johnson said. The occupation has been very well organized across the country through the Internet. Every protest is planned by different committees organized in a non-hierarchal way. In San Diego, these committees met
nightly for a week and a half before the march, coordinating the event. Anyone was allowed to participate in the meetings. There were committees for security, food, sanitation, first aid, education, public relations and publicity, orientation for newcomers, a legal group to inform protesters of their
Help for times of crisis By Lashekita Sutton City Times As students at City College, everyday life can become a little stressful. That is why City College offers Mental Health Counseling Services, located right above Student Health Services in room A-221. Services are offered free of charge to any currently
enrolled City student attending classes, and services are completely confidential. Mental Health Services provides students with free individual, couples and group counseling provided by licensed clinicians and interns. Support and information on a variety of ailments are also provided. If students want to take advantage of the Mental
Health Center, one needs to go in and fill out a quick questionnaire and wait for one of the clinicians to call and set up an appointment. The clinicians do not leave messages to maintain confidentiality. “Appointments here at MHCC are normally offered within 24 hours based on student schedule,” said Leslie Easton, coordinator at Mental Health Services.
rights and an arts and entertainment group, among others. “I’m not a big protester, but if there is a big event I’ll go,” said Ben McFadden, a 37-year-old City College student living out of his car. McFadden is unemployed and depends on his Pell Grant to survive. The cuts to education have
made it difficult for McFadden to take the radio and television courses he needs. While McFadden has friends and family in town, he does not live with them because he does not want to be a burden to them, especially with the state of the economy. McFadden said that the disproportionate wealth in the country has eliminated the middle class. “I just want it fixed,” he said. On the first day, protesters marched out of Civic Center Plaza at about 5:20 p.m. in full fanfare. They chanted, drummed, and blew whistles as they plowed through downtown. People continuously ran by the large group taking video and photos with whatever camera was handy. Spectators could be seen all along the route to Children’s Park. Motorists honked in support as they See Occupy, page 8
Mental Health Services Room: A-221 Phone: (619) 388-3539 Open Monday - Thursday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. and by appointment Mental Health Services offers support and information regarding: -Anxiety or Stress -Eating Disorders -Studying or Test Taking Problems -Difficulty Sleeping -Relationship and Family Issues -Divorce and Separation -Anger Management -Difficulty Coping with Life Issues “That far exceeds the community standard where it often takes several weeks to be seen. If a student has limited availability and limited con-
tact information it may take longer but we work very hard to get them in at the earliest available coordinated time.” Easton added. If your need is more than
what Mental Health Services can accommodate, they will refer you to an outside source in the community, normally at low cost to the students.