Tobin W. Keller & Sadie Reynolds
While the shocking presidential election results have sent the world into a tailspin, California’s statewide elections handed us several victories, among them the passage of Prop 55.
On October 19, CCFT held a YES on Prop 55 rally in the quad on the main Cabrillo campus. CCFT Adjunct Committee and COPE Chair Sadie Reynolds and I worked with COPE & Council members Susan Stuart and Gail West, to organize the event, which included the very successful pop up T-shirt screen-printing booth that featured a unique and dynamic Yes on 55 design by Cabrillo College student, Rachel Huang. Rachel’s design was the winner of our $100 competition. Two hours of non-stop printing fun was had by seven of my current students who printed several dozen shirts.
Tobin W. Keller with students from his screen printing class, L to R, Forrest Dillon-Hurley, Sammy Gervacio, Natalie King (in back), Lea Rickers, Milly Newton, Rachel Huang (in back), Sal Bretter.
Shirts for printing were provided by The Accountable Intersectionality Student club and were sold on a sliding scale. The dynamic student club also served pizza to the crowd that was hosted by the CCFT. Participating members included Walker Doven, Kayl Bourgault, and Lupe Forrester. Their support and enthusiasm was a wonderful and important addition.
Sadie Reynolds, Karl Ewald in the background, and members of The Accountable Intersectionality Club. L to R, Walker Doven, Kayl Bourgault, and Lupe Forrester.
Club members, Candace Ashley and Natasha Burja, pictured here with Sadie Reynolds, generously spent time registering voters.
Theatre Instructor Susan Stuart emceed the rally and helped to facilitate the speakers. Faculty, local union activists, politicians, and students rose to share their thoughts about the great importance of funding public education. Student speakers included Candace Ashley, Kayl Bourgault, and Alex Griffin. The inclusivity of the event allowed for ad hoc speakers both in support and opposed to the proposition.
Emily Fotheringham, Student Senate Treasurer, organized Senate participation that included help with the event set up, voter registration, and speakers. They also provided free drinks.
The rally was followed by a press conference where Cabrillo President Laurel Jones spoke in favor of the proposition, along with Francisco Rodriguez, Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers President; Karina Cervantez Alejo, former Mayor of Watsonville; Candace Ashley, Cabrillo student and President of the Intersectionality Club; Robin McFarland, Faculty Senate President; and John Govsky, CCFT Vice President and Faculty Senate Secretary.
The proposition extends a tax on the state’s highest income earners for twelve years. It will fund public schools at the K-12 and Community College levels, as well as healthcare for low-income children in the state.
The passage of Prop 55 will help sustain Cabrillo for the next twelve years – a beacon of light in the otherwise dim outcome of the congressional and presidential election.