The CSULB Campus Progressives Collective is dedicated to promoting political, cultural, and social awareness on campus through education, demonstration, art, and action. We are an eco-friendly, pro-feminist, gay-positive, culturally-diverse progressive student voice without political party affiliations or organizational hierarchy.

There are no presidents; there are no officers: we are a collective of independent individuals who unite for social justice and human equality.

We make decisions as a collective through discussion and consensus in an anti-authoritarian, inclusive manner. Membership is open to any student at CSULB, but participation is unlimited. There are no membership fees or dues.

Meetings for Spring 2007 are scheduled for Mondays at 3:30pm in the University Student Union, USU-307, except for on the following dates: March 5th, April 9th, and May 7th. Alternative locations for these dates will be announced.

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CAMPUS PROGRESSIVES F.A.Q.s:::

Q: What were some of your first projects?
A: We started right away during Fall 2001. The anti-sweatshop movement was big on college campuses then and it was a natural impulse for us to address it here at CSULB. We contacted President Robert Maxson and got the administration to sign onto the Workers Rights Consortium, which monitors the labor practices of college clothing manufacturers. It’s a small gesture, but an important one for the long run.
That same semester, we also had Blasé Bonpane, a prominent human rights activist come and talk about Plan Columbia. Our federal government was funneling tons of money and weapons into a failed war on drugs, so we wanted to know about that. Lots of us were activists off campus and had our own causes, so we’d share ideas and teach other.
In Spring 2002, we hosted a “Globalizing Humanity” conference, with 200 people in attendance. We had our own CSULB professors and local activists speaking about the different aspects of globalization, and its effects on places, people, and economies. In an age of global inequality, was a way to foster dialogue about social and economic justice. And the rest is history. Since then, we’ve organized over 2 dozen events on all sorts of topics.

Q: Tell us about your events.
A: We’ve done everything from vegan bake-sales to punk rock & hip-hop benefit concerts at the Nugget. We’ve mobilized for spontaneous anti-war demonstrations and CSU budget cutback rallies. We’ve hosted debates and forums with elected officials. We’ve had speakers come talk about labor, free trade and NAFTA’s effects on women in Chiapas, the PATRIOT Act, Conscientious Objection, and the latest political developments in Haiti. We had a survivor of the El Salvadoran death squads come talk about her activism. We’ve hosted radical, independent films at the Beach Auditorium and Multicultural Center, and have had the directors come talk about their documentaries. It all depends on the creativity and energy of our members.

Q: And…
A: Our members publish their opinions in the 49er and Union. We raise our hands in class when our professors omit something and we contribute to the conversation. We carpool or go individually to outside marches, meetings, book-signings, social justice conferences. After 9/11, we had ASI pass a resolution for Non-cooperation with the PATRIOT Act, which was of course, just symbolic. But we do what we can. We volunteer and are involved in tons of struggles outside school. It really came full circle when some of our members ran for student government seats—and won.

Q: How do you decide what social/political issues to address?
A: There are so many great causes and struggles out there. We recognize the interdependence and complexity of all the big issues of our time, so we never want to be a single-issue group. What happens in Long Beach may affect people in Asia and Africa and vice versa. Nothing exists in a vacuum. We want to talk about anything and everything. The environment, indigenous struggles, LGBT and feminism, racism, youth issues, unions, the corporate media.
But in terms of process, it’s really organic. Someone will come to a meeting with an idea: “Let’s invite so-and-so to come talk about this.” If people agree on it, and it’s plausible, then we run with it. The person who came up with the original idea is the bottom-liner for that event, and everyone else pitches in however they can.

Q: How is the group organized?
A: Instead of the traditional, hierarchal organizational structure, our club has managed with a loose, egalitarian model based on consensus, in which students individually determine the levels of their own commitment. From the beginning, we knew we wanted the group as democratic as possible. We set up where every member had equal (voting) power. We did not want a majority ruling over a minority. Everyone has a voice; no one is marginalized. There aren’t any presidents or VP’s, just temporary event committees, if even that. It’s a really informal, DIY operation.
Most of our funding comes from our own pockets, so it’s really a labor of love. Lots of our supporters can’t even make it to our meetings, and that’s why we have a listserv.

Q: What has been CSULB’s response to your organization?
A: We’ve enjoyed some good faculty support. Some of our professors have been life-long activists in their own right and have helped us out financially and morally.

Q: Where can students go for more info on you or activism in general? What would you say to a student who’s interested yet hesitant about getting involved?
A: Our updated website can be found at www.csulb.edu/progressives. We really emphasize alternative and independent media. So KPFK 90.7fm, alternative public radio, for instance, is a good way to start. It’s everything that they didn’t teach you in school.
No one should be intimidated. We’re really friendly people. Activism can be an overwhelming thing, but it helps to remember that we’re all still learning. Isn’t that what college is about anyway? Learning and living? Anyone is welcome to our meetings. You can sit and observe and walk away and never come back. Or you could have the CPC become a big part of your CSULB career. It’s up to you. Just come by and say hi.