DIVEST FROM DEATH
organized by
UCR DISSENTERS
Make Art, Not War
On Friday, October 7th, 2022, Chancellor Kim Wilcox shut down the entire 3rd floor of the HUB, including R'Pantry, to host recruiters from the Pentagon. Armed security guards blocked the elevators, and students were prevented from using their spaces for the sake of sucking their peers into the military-industrial-complex.
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In response, Dissenters gathered to make a display of public art against these institutions of suffering.
R'Pantry Shutdown
Information on the DoD event was being circulated by UCR well before October 7, yet UCR failed to notify students in advance that access to the third floor of the HUB would be prohibited. Consequently, students could not access resources located on the third floor such as, the R’Pantry, the Campus Advocacy, Resources & Education (CARE) program, Transfer & Commuter Lounge, and Graduate Student Lounge. Chancellor Wilcox deprived students from accessibility needs, mental health needs, food insecurity needs, and a place to rest in an air-conditioned space.
UCR students gathered on October 7 at the HUB to condemn Chancellor Wilcox for hosting the DoD and for his decision to deprive students of their resources. UCR Dissenters, an anti-war/anti- imperial/anti-militarism collective, hosted an art-build on the second floor of the HUB to condemn Chancellor Wilcox. Additionally, a teach-in was held to educate the UCR community about why the DoD mass recruitment event is harmful to students and their loved ones. Chancellor Wilcox scurried past the art-build–twice–and ignored the students who gathered to voice their concerns.
Art Creation
Students Voices Are Ignored
Dean of Students, Christine Mata walked past the concerned students several times and stood at the bottom of the second-floor staircase right across from the art-build. Ironically, Dean Mata sent out an e-mail at 10:50 a.m. addressing concerns during the event, stating that “UCR is committed to upholding the dignity and human rights of all in our community. I encourage everyone in our community to support one another because this is what we do as Highlanders.” Students at the art-build did not receive support from neither Chancellor Wilcox nor Dean Mata.