What was the brief, second Siemens Hall encampment?
Demands were met, police were not
By Barley Lewis-McCabe
Names of protestors have been redacted to protect student safety.
Advocates lined the yellow hallway to the absent president’s office with signs in their laps and surgical masks covering their faces. They sat under bulletin boards, handmade peaceful sentiments written on the wall in chalk, and Palestine’s flag on Friday, Feb. 20 as a cloud of tension emanated from the crowd, sweating under layers of protection from the Humboldt winter and the dangers that could come from being identified. They had three demands: Cal Poly Humboldt’s total divestment from military contracts, a formal non-compliance policy with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and for the university to advocate for the full implementation of the Teamsters’ demands, which were outlined in last week’s strike.
“We’ve been asking for this, we’ve had meetings, and nothing has been put through,” a protester said to Associate Dean of Students Heather Honig. “We’ve been waiting, we’ve been patient, we’ve been nice — the only time when things actually change is when we escalate.”
The protestors entered the building around 1 p.m. after previously gathering at the Josiah Lawson memorial and marching through campus. At 1:20 p.m., Vice President Mike Fisher entered to talk with the protesters and remained until the end of the occupation. They swiftly began a conversation in which protestors calmly stated their demands and asserted that they wouldn’t leave until they were met. Fisher claimed he would be handling the discussion in place of President Carvajal, who was unavailable due to a current meeting with an Indigenous American group.
Fisher explained the limitations of what he would be able to do immediately. The protestors began calling for him to make a public statement, and in response, Fisher promised to continue working with students and campus advocacy groups on the demands. A representative of the protestors said they would see what the group thought, but first outlined an additional demand.
“We have one more thing that obviously we’re not leaving without: no consequences for the students that showed up today,” a representative of the group said. “We are here to fight back against genocide and against fascism. This is a fucking First Ammendment right.”
“I understand that, I do,” Fisher said. “It’s not even in my capacity to do that, but I will use my influence to make sure I can work towards that end.”
The student representatives left to discuss. They soon sent Rick Toledo, organizer with Students for a Democratic Society to mediate discussions between Fisher and group representatives. Toledo explained that they would only leave with a guarantee that no students who attended the protest would be faced with conduct charges, and that the administration would commit to meet with the group and work on the issues. Fisher agreed to meet, and said that the decision on conduct charges would fall to Carvajal and Vice President of Student Affairs Chrissy Holiday, both of whom were unavailable. At the request of the group, Fisher sent a message to President Carvajal informing him of the students’ demands and suggested potential conduct charges be dropped.
With demands still unsatisfied, the parties were at an impasse and tension heightened as students began to worry about their safety. Fisher said they wouldn’t have to worry about that, but several of the field medics in the group were preparing for a worst-case scenario..
A protestor approached Fisher to try and have a different kind of conversation.
“We know that it’s difficult navigating the systems you’re navigating, and all of the higher-ups and higher-ups and higher and higher-ups,” The protestor said. “It’s tough, probably, being up here with all these people — we’re not against you.”
“I understand it’s frustrating,” Fisher said.“And I’m sorry I can’t do anymore than I’ve already offered.”
“It’s ok, thank you for being here and not running away,” the protestor said.
A separate student representative continued the conversation, explaining their frustration with administration’s lack of progress nearly two years after the April 2024 Siemens Hall occupation. Plans were ultimately made for a public forum where students could discuss the issues with Fisher directly, scheduled for Friday, Feb. 27 at 8 a.m.. Content with the progress they’d made, the students peacefully returned to the cold, sun-baked campus at 2:30 p.m., leaving the building with more than they entered with.
Barley is the opinion editor and an untraditional reporter who focuses on social change and stories with a real human impact. If you’d like to reach him for whatever reason email bl258@humboldt.edu.