NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ–Tent State University, an annual weeklong protest and campout begins tonight on Rutgers’ Voorhees Mall and runs through Friday April 25.
This annual event began in 2003 as a protest against funding cuts and skyrocketing tuition at Rutgers University. Over the years the protest has also focused on the Iraq War and other economic and social justice issues.
Several teach-ins and music shows are planned for this year’s Tent State, covering topics like economics and gender inequality, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the legal status of marijuana, activism techniques, and immigration.
Various community organizations and activists groups will be on hand throughout the week giving presentations, leading discussions on important issues, and promoting their causes.
Sherry Wolf will lead a discussion, at 5:30 pm tonight, how lesbians and gays struggled for liberation.Â
At 7pm, the New Brunswick Renter’s Union will talk about the rights of renters in New Brunswick.
Jewish activists will hold a “Freedom Seder” tonight at 8 pm, as it is during a period when Passover overlaps with the Tent State event. There will be a presentation accompanying that event.Â
Tomorrow afternoon, at 2 pm, there will be a workshop on soaring tuition costs, hosted by Dr. Andy Urban, who will talk about how tuition increases have influenced education. Â
On 3pm Wednesday, supporters of Palestine will teach a workshop about the Boycott-Divestment-Sanctions movement.
Trans*Missions will hold a transgender workshop at 6 pm that night, and the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) will be giving a teach-in about marijuana at 7:30 pm.
On the other side of town, the annual Take Back the Night march against domestic violence will begin at 7pm in the Jameson quad, located at the corner of Suydam Street and Nichol Avenue and make its way towards Tent State.
On Thursday, Rutgers Socialist Alternative will talk about perspectives on socialism, and the United Students against Sweatshops will give a presentation about Bangladeshi sweatshops before holding an anti-sweatshop rally.
Musical performances will occur each night and a few open mic events and writing workshops as well.
Huntington Poetry Club will hold an open mike for poets and musicians on Tuesday, and  Take Back The Night will hold one for people to speak out against domestic violence on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, the student-run Rutgers Review newspaper will hold a writing workshop at 3 pm.
A spoken word and poetry workshop will be held at 7 pm on Thursday.
TENT STATE XII SCHEDULE
Monday, April 21
- 5:30 pm: Sexuality and Socialism: The Fight for Queer Liberation presented by Sherry J. Wolf
- 7 pm: Know Your Rights! presented by the New Brunswick Renters’ Union
- 8 pm: Freedom Seder hosted by Jewish Artist and Activist Community
- 9 pm: Concert feat. Perennial Reel // Casual // Stranger Cells // Eagle Daddy
Tuesday, April 22
- 2 pm: The Rising Cost of Tuition and its Impact on Education: panel by Grasping American Freedom feat. Dr. Andy Urban
- 7 pm: The Great Recession and New Economic Realities presented by Ben Weitz and Billy Kurzenberger
- 8:30 pm: Huntington Poetry Club (An open mic featuring poets and musicians)
- 10:30 pm: Concert feat. A Band Called FUSE
Wednesday, April 23
- 3 pm: The BDS Movement presented by Rutgers NB Students for Justice in Palestine
- 3 pm: The Pen is Mightier than the Sword! presented by the Rutgers Review
- 6 pm: Trans* 101 Workshop presented by Trans*missions
- 7:30 pm: A History of Marijuana and Prohibition presented by Rutgers NORML
- 8 pm: Comedienne Red Durkin (Trans*missions)
- 9 pm: Take Back the Night! Open mic & Speakout
- 10 pm: Concert feat. Haybaby // Thin Lips // Akasa
Thursday, April 24
- 12 pm: Socialism: Reform or Revolution? presented by Rutgers Socialist Alternative
- 2 pm: Bangladeshi Sweatshop Workshop presented by United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS)
- 3 pm: Worker’s Rights Action led by USAS
- 5:30 pm: The Economy System of Migration: Why No One Benefits presented by Wind of the Spirit
- 7 pm: Spoken Word & Written Poetry Workshop presented by Speak Out: Exploring Womanhood
- 9 pm: Concert feat. Turnip King // Three Thousand Rivers // Red Oak Lane // Lake Effect
Friday, April 25
More speakers, workshops, and events will be announced.
Richard researched transportation, land use, history, and other topics. Investigated site plans. Attended public meetings (planning board, zoning board, parking authority board of directors, City Council) to record and help determine what was discussed. Analyzed blueprints and site plans to determine what land uses sites would be put to. Photographed sites that would be affected by proposed projects, as well as sites involved in news events. Employed Sketchup CAD to visualize new land uses, such as buildings and structures. Critiqued and wrote articles in fast-paced work environment, writing before deadlines. Made judgments as to what constituted proper material to include in articles. Created a zoning map; am working on ways to show it to the public. Consulted vintage maps to determine historic land uses.