UCSB Hunger Strikes
UCSB Hunger Strikes of 1989 and 1994
Tuesday, February 21, 1989
At 10:00 a.m. UCSB student began a 12-day hunger strike along with other “faster’s” supporting them. Thirty-nine members of El Congreso and other students set up an encampment in front of Cheadle Hall and went on a hunger strike. Thirty of them fast for three days, while the other nine continue to fast for 15 days. A handful of faculty members joined the hunger strike and students throughout the UC system engaged in various protests of solidarity.
A few months after the fast ends, the UCSB administration agrees to create a campus Multi-Cultural Center, institute an undergraduate Ethnic Studies general education requirement, and create Asian American Studies and Native American Studies departments.The hunger strikers were demanding the implementation of numerous reforms. There were nine general demands ranging from the creation of Ethnic Studies courses to the UC Regent divestment in South Africa. There were also separate demands from Asian-American students, Black students, and Chicano/Latino students.
Click here to read all of the hunger strike statements and demands titled “The Hunger Strike Against Institutional Racism and Student Disempowerment at UC Santa Barbara” produced by students Michelle Banks, Gabriel Gutierrez, Jaime Anton, Allison Tom, and Javier LaFianza.
April 27, 1994
For 10 days, starting April 27 1994, nine dedicated members of El Congreso waged awarer only hunger strike to protest fees hikes and press other demands to university officials; ranging from bringing attention to the hostile campus conditions for students of color, wanting UCSB to establish a community center for low-income families, recruiting and retaining more Latino students and staff, adherence to the boycott of grapes by the United Farm Workers union, and another key demand was keeping El Centro intact.
According to hunger strike organizers, following the hunger strike, the Chicano Studies Department faced severe retaliatory actions from the UCSB administration. Retaliatory actions on the part of the UCSB administration included, forcing five 20% appointments into the Chicano Studies Department, against Chicano Departments "NO" vote. This was an unprecedented action against a campus department. UCSB administration also threatened to remove the Chair of the Chicano Studies Department because of her active defense of the departments rights.
May 4, 1994
One week in to El Congreso's Hunger Strike there was a noon solidarity protest rally at Cheadle Hall.
Click here to read the hunger strike declaration
Click here to read fact sheet presented by El Congreso
Click here to read the demands that were made by El Congreso as well as the universities response.
May 6, 1994
As of May 6, 1994 the status of the El Congreso's Hunger Strike demands were as follows:
Request: Boycott off grapes by the university
Action: University to supply grapes only upon request
Request: Construction of community center in Isla Vista
Action: Funding to university denied. Monies maybe sough from IVPRD
Request: Construction of new building for El Centro following library expansion into current building
Action: Decision pending
Request: Additional funding by university for Educational Opportunity Program
Action: Funding granted
Request: Additional professors in Chicano Studies Department by 1997, raising a total of 7 full-time employees
Action: Full-time employees increased from 3.5 to 4, although the total number of employees decreased from 6 to 5
Request: PhD program
Action: No programs implemented, primarily due to lack department chair
Request: Filling of Luis Leal endowed chairship
Action: Offer extended, but no response received
Request: Increase in outreach and admissions, and institutionalization of funding for Raza College Day
Action: Recruitment stepped up, especially in Kern County. No funding allotted
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