Students react to Occupy Wall Street

The Occupy Wall Street protests inspired some Truman students to participate in the demonstrations.

Junior Michael Baharaeen, College Democrats vice-president, and junior Alex Witt, the webmaster for College Democrats, spent their Midterm Break in New York City protesting in Zuccotti Park.

Protestors have a wide range of demands, including free college education, outlawing credit reporting agencies and open border migration.

"We thought it's a turning point in American politics," Baharaeen said. "We wanted to witness it first-hand."

Baharaeen said they wanted to hear the perspective of the other side of the protest, but most bankers they saw near the protest wouldn't talk to them. Many banks monitor their employees so they don't embarrass the company by being at the protest, he said.

"One lower level banker was walking around," Baharaeen said. "He talked to us and said he sympathizes and feels for the protestors. He worked for the bank for four years and saw first-hand the corruption that happens."

They also talked to the police, who said the protest had been peaceful, Baharaeen said.

Witt said the trip was planned on a whim. The two were talking, and Baharaeen mentioned wanting to go to New York City to witness the protest.

They bought the tickets a week and a half before Midterm Break, she said.

Occupy Saint Louis, Oct. 15

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But other students disagree with the premise of the protests.

"Its annoying and a waste of time," said junior Isaac Robinson, "Nothing will come out of the protest because they have a list of grievances but no solutions. It's a movement of complaints, not a movement of purpose. Camping out will not fix anything."

He said companies do not have too much power — they only go as far as consumers allow them — and if the protestors want to make an impact, they need to go out and make changes.

Robinson said he thinks the most ridiculous demand is the elimination of all standing debt, which amounts to $65 million, according to the Occupy Wall Street website.

The first official release from the movement posted on its website read, "As we gather together in solidarity to express a feeling of mass injustice, we must not lose sight of what brought us together. We write so that all people who feel wronged by the corporate forces of the world can know that we are your allies."

However, protestors have no official list of demands, according to www.occupywallst.org.

Junior Eric Wynen agrees with the protest and planned a fundraiser for the protestors who need winter supplies, but the event was canceled because of a lack of volunteers.

"We need a redistribution of power in America," Wynen said. "I want to see the range of power go to the many."

Wynen said some of the demands are "ridiculous," but he thinks others are legitimate.

"As the movement evolves, something solid will come about, but we need to pay attention to all the demands."

Junior Cyle Tomusiak, who was helping with the fundraiser, said they are sending money to supporters demonstrating, instead of working, on behalf of the people who can't attend the protest, so they need the support.

"The most important demand is to eliminate corporate greed, which is difficult to legislate," Tomusiak said. "The protest is a way to find how to legislate it. If it isn't proposed, nothing can be done."

One of the demands is for free college education and to eliminate all standing debt that previous college graduates have.

"I support free college education," sociology professor Bonnie Mitchell said. "We're making it harder for lower income families to get better jobs. It puts the burden on students, causing debt.