What's all the fuss about a Walk Out Rock Out?

So we're being royally punished as students, meanwhile we cut class in order to protest the cutting of classes. I don't get it.

As students march, or dance rather, around campus, pushing a mobile music cart, waving signs that read "No business as usual," "Amend Prop. 13," "Education is a right," and "SFSU out of order," it forces the rest of us to really beg the question: are we right to protest in such a manner?

As these students boldly chant the words "rise up SF state, shut it down like '68!" do they even know what happened in '68?

Are they conscious protestors, or wily kids that like to dance?

Meanwhile in the Cesar Chavez quad, hip-hop music blares and amateur dancers bust their moves in a wide empty circle.

People sell art. Clubs table. Cheerleaders rally for the big weekend game.

I asked the students at the Fashion Network Association booth how that felt about the Walk Out Rock Out movement, to which they replied that they had no previous knowledge to the event and no particular feelings towards the motivation. They told me that they would be tabling there regardless, it's Thursday after all.

So I moseyed on, curious to what students like me might be thinking.

Back at Cafe Rosso, I talked briefly with Stella, a student of the American Language Institute. She gave me her unique perspective from the standpoint of an international student.

"I think it kind of doesn't work," she said assertively. And although she feels this she added "it's ok if it still can help them to relax."

Another student, SFSU music major Jesse Adams said that at "first glance it seems fun to have a dance party, but it seems counterproductive, distracting, and not respectful to other students."

His program colleague, Rebecca Hale added, "it's separating people. They’re yelling at us but we agree with them mostly."

So there it is. Some are in the know, and some aren't. The people I spoke with support the cause of protest to furloughs, but and not the action of walking out.

Protest can be done in a number of different ways, but information and comprehension of a central problem is the starting point.

Let's try to band together in the future in a more productive and conducive way so that we don't end up ultimately losing in our education.