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For the past 21 years, The Filipino Express has provided the Filipino American community the best news, arts and entertainment coverage from around the United States and the Philippines.
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Filipino American Students, Youth Organizations Join School Takeover
in New York City
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NEW YORK– What began as a peaceful rally outside New School University here in New York City turned ugly as students protesting the wrongdoings of the school’s president Bob Kerrey and other school issues, expand their occupation and began the takeover of several campus buildings. Almost a hundred students, including several Filipino-Americans forced their way into the campus establishments amidst shoving and pushing with police and school security.
The student protest started Wednesday night at a cafeteria inside the campus, which was authorized by school officials. However, students began barricading doors with tables and other materials at midnight when they heard that the faculty issued a vote of no confidence to Mr. Kerrey. By 10 Am on Thursday, shouting and shoving began as the protesters voted to occupy more areas in the campus.
The Filipino-American students from New School as well as from other universities in the city came in to join the action in support of the ousting of Mr. Kerry. Although, these Fil-Am students from other schools were not given access to the New School campus by security guards on Wednesday night, many of them managed to sneak in as the chaos mounted and the gates reopened on Thursday morning.
Filipino-American student from New School who was outside the campus already planning her way into the occupied buildings. “ It is time for students to take the lead and remove Bob Kerrey from his chair.”
New School students also made use of the Internet to garner support from everybody and encourage them to join them in their protest. A Facebook note was sent earlier this morning by student organizers who declared their school as “New School in exile.” The note read: “An Open Letter: Come Occupy a Building with Us… Now Dear Friends,
We are writing to you from the inside of the New School Graduate Faculty Building on 65 5th Ave. We are occupying it. Right now. Literally. Students of the New School University, along with our partners from other universities and groups – like NYU, Hunter College, City College of NY, CUNY Graduate Center, and Borough of Manhattan Community College, have organically risen up to demand the resignation of President Bob Kerrey, Executive Vice President James Murtha, and Board Member/ torturer Robert B. Millard (he multi-tasks). We have come together to prevent our study spaces from being flattened by corporate bulldozers, to have a say in who runs this school, to demand that the money we spend on this institution be used to facilitate the creation of a better society, not to build bigger buildings or invest in companies that make war. We have come here not only to make demands, but also to live them. Our presence makes it clear that this school is ours, and yours, if you are with us.”
Many Filipino-American Facebook users responded in the affirmative about the note and have started to organize online and join in the occupation. Some even from out of state expressed their allegiance to the protesting students.
One Filipino user from Chicago commented: “ We cannot be with you, but we are with you in spirit. Power to the students.”
The student leaders also put up their own website to support their cause. The site can be accessed on www. newschoolinexile.com. Here students inside the campus are posting hourly update on what is going on inside.
A recent post on the site read: “FLASH UPDATE (4 pm) Students are holding strong in the occupation of the Graduate Faculty building at the New School with over 100 people and growing. We are continuing to put out media, talk with students, faculty, union and other worker allies, and trying to broaden this struggle beyond the original student occupation currently underway. The NYPD has returned to the premise, but no immediate signs of arrest or attempt to break the student strike and occupation have occurred yet.
FLASH UPDATE (noon) Students have just expanded the occupation to control one side door exit at the occupation, and President Kerrey just showed up a little before noon. NYPD police have showed up and begun trying to arrest people at the side entrance (13th ST) of the building. Witnesses report at least two people were dragged out onto 13th street and there was as least one person confirmed arrested.”
A statement is also posted there describing their motives and demands: “Statement to the New School Community: We have successfully occupied the Graduate Faculty student building (65 5th Avenue) and established a student space. We are in control of this building, and counter to any claims by the administration, they have not "let us stay." We have taken over this building and are actively occupying it. Come join us.”
“Demands of the Occupation
• The removal of Bob Kerrey as president of our university
• The removal of James Murtha as executive vice president of our university
• Students, faculty, and staff elect the president, EVP, and Provost.
• Students are part of the interim committee to hire a provost.
• The removal of Robert B. Millard as treasurer of the board of trustees.
• Intelligible transparency and disclosure of the university budget and investments.
• The creation of a committee on socially responsible investments.
• The immediate suspension of capital improvement projects like the tearing down of 65 fifth Ave.
• Instead, money towards the creation of an autonomous student space.
• Instead, money towards scholarships and reducing tuition.
• Instead, money for the library and student life generally.”
A number of members of Filipino-American youth groups also expressed their support for the occupation. According to a ranking member of the organization, several of their members are heading over to the campus along 14th street and 5th avenue Thursday night after work hours. And even if they do not get inside the campus, they will remain there in solidarity with the protesters.
“ Students have every right to do this. They are the real ones running the school and these administrators are their employees, “ said one member of a prominent organization.
Earlier, Mr Kerrey appeared in the building lobby to address the students, however, student leaders decided not to hear him out and instead continued their demand for him to resign. Mr. Kerrey is a former governor and state senator from Nebraska. He or other school administrators were not available for comment.
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CHICAGO – Cristina V. Franquia, the 51-year-old Filipina who tried to claim her casino winnings by presenting fraudulent identification data (ID) cards, was sentenced Thursday (Dec. 11) to 18 months probation and to pay fine and court costs of $700.
Judge Grant Wegner of the Kane County’s 16th Judicial District at the outlying suburb of St. Charles, Illinois also sentenced Ms. Franquia to perform 60 hours of community service.
Illinois Assistant State Attorney Reagan McGuire of Kane County told this reporter in a phone interview that at the hearing of the case Thursday, Ms. Franquia pleaded guilty to a reduced one-count of possession of fraudulent Illinois State ID card.
Ms. Franquia was originally charged with two counts of “unlawful possession of fraudulent” Illinois State ID card and a Resident Alien Card (Green Card), which are classified as felony. Ms. Franquia’s lawyer, Scott Sheen, did not answer email request for comment.
Judge Wegner sentenced Ms. Franquia to “attempt to possess fraudulent ID card,” which according to Ms. McGuire is a “Class A misdemeanor whose sentence ranges up to one year in jail and up to $2,500 fine.”
Because Ms. Franquia was sentenced of misdemeanor charge, it would likely prevent authorities from initiating deportation proceedings against her because only those sentenced of felony charges are liable to deportation if they are not U.S. citizen. Franquia speaks only Tagalog.
First Assistant Illinois State Attorney Clint Hull of the Kane County said a panel of community citizens had earlier ruled Ms. Franquia out from entering a “pre-trial diversion program” known as Second Chance Program. Reasons for rejection in the program range from behaviors which show when enrollees to the program do not acknowledge their mistakes or do not appear remorseful. Ms. Franquia tried to enter the program after she waived her right to a preliminary hearing so that she will not be presented to a Grand Jury.
Kane County Assistant State Attorney Nemura Pencyla told this reporter earlier that “when she agreed to enter the Second Chance Program, Franquia had accepted that there is enough evidence to hold a trial against her. This is tantamount to pleading guilty to the crime that she was charged."
Ms. Franquia, a resident of 907 Shorewood Drive of the neighboring suburb of Bartlett, Illinois, was arrested last June 8, 2008 when an 83-year-old man, who is also from Bartlett, tried to collect the jackpot she won in Grand Victoria casino in Bartlett’s neighboring Elgin,Illinois.
When police asked for her ID’s, Franquia whipped out two cards – an Illinois State ID card and a Green card (Resident ID card) – which both turned out to be phony. Police said that even if Franquia presented genuine ID cards, there was still likelihood that she still would not be able to collect the jackpot because she voluntarily included her name in the “banned list" of casino players. According to game officials, if a winner’s name is found in the banned list, the winnings go to a charity.
Franquia was freed on a $15,000 bond. (lariosa_jos@ sbcglobal.net)
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