remembering reagan

Reagan was elected Governor of California twice, first in 1966 and again in 1970. As governor, he took a hard line when dealing with student activists and deployed National Guard troops to UC Berkeley in May 1969 after demonstrators seized People’s Park to protest the university’s plan to develop the site.

Students and activists fought to continue using the land as a park. Tensions grew as the university fenced off the disputed land.

Reagan deployed the National Guard to supplement local police forces and break up the protesters on the steps of Sproul Plaza, dropping tear gas and opening fire on the thousands of students and activists.

He defended his actions, saying the students were using the park “as an excuse for a riot,” the Daily Californian reported May 16, 1969.

Once the smoke settled after weeks of protest, one protester was dead, more than 85 demonstrators arrested, and at least 58 injured, according to Daily Californian reports from May 1969.

The Daily Californian.

mundane update

Where were we?

My UCSD job is pretty peachy keen. It's very legitimately research, and they'be pretty much set me loose with only the vaguest of instructions. Well, I guess those instructions don't sound all that vague. But I've still been set loose to play with some very fun stuff.

I'm starting to know my way around the area a little more. I can drive between here (squibb's house) and UCSD without getting horribly lost, and squibb (John) let me in on the secret of where one can park close to campus. So far transportation to campus has been a mix of carpooling with John (which is pretty fun), taking the bus, and driving myself. I got my UCSD ID card today... which I was thinking would bring all kinds of magical powers, but now I'm not sure if it does anything.

Campus. The Price Center has Rubio's, Panda Express, Round Table Pizza, a "Wraps" place, Wendy's, and has already lost its charm to me (surprise surprise). They have a student-run cafe called the "Grove Cafe" (it's in a bunch of non-eucalyptus trees and is really very nice) which I like, but their lunch options are limited. The campus is so huge and surrounded by so little, that these food courts are more or less obligatory.. there's certainly no 'telegraph avenue'. Need to find good food options.

I really need to figure out a scheme for meeting people. The co-ops were really magical for meeting people -- there were always people around to talk to and spontaneous adventures to be had. I'm not even in any courses, so ... something needs to be done! Maybe when the reu kids arrive I can hang out with them.