UTA Progressive Student Union
UTA Progressive Student Union is the UT at Arlington affiliate of New Students for a Democratic Society. Formerly UTA Students for a Democratic Society.
Tampa 5 rally
On July 12, 30 organizers, activists and community members beat the 105-degree heat and joined in solidarity to seek justice for the Tampa 5, rallying at Dealey Plaza, on the day of the Five’s court appearance.
Several organizations - including UTA Progressive Student Union, National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression - Dallas (NAARPR-Dallas), Austin SDS, Dallas Anti-War Committee, Freedom Road Socialist Organization - Dallas, Palestinian Youth Movement, La Frontera Nos Cruzo, and the Dallas Peace and Justice Center - spoke in solidarity with the Tampa 5.
Jay Rodriguez of the UTA Progressive Student Unionspoke to the rally, "Protesting against the repressive laws that Ron DeSantis is absolutely justified, and students and activists should continue to do so.
Syd Loving of NAARPR-Dallas said, "We are in a new era of repression and this requires a new era of solidarity, repression is not new, but there are things about this case that are different, usually the charges are dropped but a month later, they added another person and two months later they added three new felony counts, after that they were offered a deal, the deal said that they had to apologize to the officers that brutalized and harassed them and they said ‘hell no!’ We're gonna fight repression with solidarity and we will not allow the Tampa 5 to be the canaries in the coal mine."
Jake Holtzman of the Austin SDS said, "We are going to follow the example of the heroic activists in Tampa, who continue to organize and fight for diversity programs and increases to Black enrollment on their campus at the University of South Florida. Because we know that the only way we ever win demands for the people is by organizing, protesting and fighting back! Because we say: Protesting is not a crime, justice for the Tampa 5!"
Jo Hargis of the Dallas Anti-War Committee said, "When we are attacked by the state, we need to recognize that we are the threat they see us to be to the status quo. And when we come together, and when we are in solidarity across our movements, the people our government sees as a threat. They see the Teamsters as a threat. The Teamsters are probably going to go on strike very soon. We see that they see student organizing as a threat. We see that they see diversity, people standing up for that as a threat."
Cassandra Swart, another member of the Dallas Anti-War Committee said, "The United States does not have a right to clamp to down on human rights violations internationally while clamping down on rights in their country. As a transgender woman I am deeply concerned about the attacks on trans and other rights but the attacks on these rights shouldn't not make us lose hope, we have the right to fight these attacks from Florida to Texas."
Omar Lazcano, another member of PSU, said, "The Tampa 5 told truth and the people are on their side. We know they carry the truth; we are the people, standing beside them."[1]
Stop honoring segregationist administrators
According to Tara Moraghar - in the many decades since the University of Texas at Arlington ended segregation, students have fought long and hard to end the university’s practice of glorifying white supremacy.
From protests against the university’s previous Confederate rebel mascot, to the more recent renaming of the E.E. David administration building, UTA students are continuing the struggle for equality by insisting the school stop honoring two past presidents and blatant white supremacists, Jack R. Woolf and E.H. Hereford.
Over a dozen students from the UTA Progressive Student Union (PSU) were involved in a demonstration on October 19, calling for the removal of Hereford’s name and statue from the EH Hereford University Center, bringing to attention Hereford’s racist policies as UTA’s first president. A large banner, which blocked Hereford’s statue from view, read “Hereford was a segregationist, UTA shouldn’t honor that.”
“The fact Hereford’s been honored for 60 years is a disgrace,” said Jay Rodriguez, the secretary of PSU. “A man who would have done everything to prevent me and my little brother from attending this school is being honored? That’s disrespectful and despicable.”
Justin Bent, the vice president of PSU, emphasized UTA’s hypocrisy, “UTA talks a lot about diversity, but has two buildings named after ardent segregationists. Is that right?” The crowd passionate answered “No!” Another speaker, Mark Napieralski, detailed how Hereford laid the racist foundations that the Woolf administration would continue to expand. “You can’t have ‘Old South Day’ without the Confederate theme.”[2]
"Impeachment"
On April 6 2022, the last of the impeachment hearings against then-Vice President Thomason Clayton was held regarding his harassing and misogynistic attitudes towards female coworkers during his tenure as vice president of the student government of the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA).
This impeachment proceeding was one of the longest of the three, with four witnesses called upon by the impeachment manager and two called upon by Thomason. Throughout the entire hearing Thomason did not deny any of the allegations, instead the credibility of the witnesses was questioned.
After almost three hours of deliberations students outside waited anxiously for the final verdict, which needed to be 16 senators voting “yes” in order for the vice president to be removed from office. Only 14 senators voted yes; eight voted no, and one abstained from the vote altogether. Students outside were incredibly furious, the victims of Thomason felt as if they were victimized yet again by UTA and the senate.
Immediately after his acquittal, Clayton began reneging on all of his apologetics and declared himself the student body’s president. The students had other ideas in mind. UTA Progressive Student Union, alongside allies and friends of the victims, promptly called for a protest on Monday, April 11 to demand that Thomason Clayton resign from office – as the student body should not be led by bigots or sexual harassers.
On April 11, the rally began at noon and would grow to 60 people. It featured several speakers from Progressive Student Union and those opposed to Clayton leading student government.
Four members of UTA Progressive Student Union listed out the community-focused demands which ranged from the immediate resignation of Thomason Clayton; a statement condemning the recent bigotry and misogyny of the student body executive branch; reiterating the demands for transparency regarding diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as expansion of gender-neutral housing on campus.
Mark Napieralski, flanked by Joy Wells and Justin Bent, led the rally-goers in a march to deliver their seven-point demands to Lisa Nagy, vice president of student affairs, and Seth Ressl, director of student organizations. At least 40 of the students joined in chanting “No harassers on our campus!” “We believe survivors” and “UTA, do your job!” as the demands were delivered to their respective destinations.
UTA Progressive Student Union ended the rally by stating that the struggle was not yet over, because even if Thomason resigned, there would still be much work to be done in regards to fighting for the rights of survivors.[3]
Women’s healthcare rally
On September 22 2021, UTA Progressive Student Union rallied with at least 40 students over the University of Texas Arlington (UTA) administration’s failures in following through on Resolution 18-04, which was a student resolution involving greater access to women’s healthcare products on campus. This resolution was officially passed by student government in spring 2019, and little progress has been made in regard to dispensaries being put in women’s bathrooms or having affordable products being sold in campus stores.
Several speakers from PSU gave their thoughts concerning this failed promise. Basil Hammack gave the first speech, “It is wholly disrespectful that UTA would fail in providing for students on campus in the most basic way possible. By failing to provide healthcare products that they promised, they showed us where exactly their priorities are.”
Katy Afains and Ren Utter both sounded off that UTA has an enormous population of people who menstruate, at least 61.9% based on 2019 enrollment, and that ‘period poverty’ is a serious issue that affects students who menstruate on campus. Period poverty refers to such things as spending money on hygienic products, access to menstrual hygiene education, hygienic facilities, and even access to these facilities.
Francisco Santillan, a member from the Texas State Employees Union, gave solidarity to the students rallying on campus and echoed that this would also help faculty and staff. “Even though I’m not a student or someone who menstruates, I can clearly see the benefit that this can offer the campus and am severely disappointed that UTA has fallen short of their promise for the past three years.”
Destiny Simmons stated, “As a woman, having a period is something that I can't control. I feel that because I can't control a natural body process, I think I shouldn't have to pay or be without pads or tampons. All women, including non-binary people, shouldn't have to go through the panic of finding something to use to absorb the blood. I know many people who had to rely on using rolled up toilet paper as a substitute for a pad or tampon. This is insane! UTA can afford so many other buildings but can't even put basic women hygiene products in bathrooms across campus. How can we call ourselves a ‘community that cares’ if we can't even take care of our women on campus?”
Mark Napieralski, a chief organizer in PSU, reiterated to students at the end of the march that this is only the beginning in making UTA accountable to its promises to students, be they over Black lives, undocumented rights, or access to women’s healthcare products on campus.[4]
Changing history
February 2021. Like many older American schools, some say UTA has a history of alleged racist behaviors and traditions.
Throughout recent semesters, UTA community members have called for the acknowledgement of racism and incorporation of anti-racist acts on campus. Student organizations like the UTA Progressive Student Union have pushed university administration to change the names of E.H. Hereford University Center and Davis Hall in light of racism allegations.
Simone Chalabi, university studies sophomore and UTA Progressive Student Union member, said that if a school uses diversity as a selling point, their actions should reflect that standpoint.
“Diversity” has become a buzzword, and many institutions use students of color in pictures and advertisements to prove their diversity, said Pamela Hill, African American studies adjunct professor. But diversity does not necessarily equal inclusion.
Mark Napieralski, Progressive Student Union president, proposed a resolution, entitled “Renaming the University Center,” to the Academic Affairs committee in February 2018. The resolution cited alleged racism by former university president Ernest Hereford, such as “creation of an environment where mock-slave auctions were an authorized school-sanctioned event” and claims that Hereford pushed for the college to adopt the Confederate flag as the school’s flag in 1952.
According to previous Shorthorn reporting, Napieralski later attended Student Senate’s open forum in September 2018, calling on senators to sponsor the legislation. He also created a petition for students to sign in support of the removals.
Rick Majumdar, aerospace engineering graduate student and Progressive Student Union vice chairperson, said he first heard about the push to change the building names in late 2019, but was aware of students wanting to remove Hereford’s bust from the UC as early as 2018.
Since UTA is the UT System school with the largest number of Black and brown students, looking into the history of UTA was appalling and shocking, Majumdar said.[5]
UTA Progressive Student Union
UTA Progressive Student Union April 20, 2017 ·
With Mark Napieralski and Niko Zayneb and Allysa Venzor.
UTA Progressive Student Union April 25, 2017 ·
With Tre Jones and Sumer Fatima Haider.
Defending DACA
The University of Texas at Arlington Progressive Student Union (PSU) held a rally for DACA recipients, November 14 2019. The group, led by PSU President Mark Napieralski, delivered a list of ten demands to the administration, marching across the campus chanting, “No protection, no peace,” “Stand up, fight back,” “Black and brown immigrants matter,” and “Defend DACA.”
PSU delivered their demands to President Karbhari’s office, though he was available to receive them personally. Regardless, the office received the demands and promised to deliver them to Karbhari.
PSU’s demands included more representation for African Americans. Chicano/Latinos, Native Americans, and other oppressed nationalities in the school’s faculty, as well as a ‘DREAM Center’ on campus for immigrants. The organization believes that these groups are underrepresented at UTA. In addition, they requested more jobs on campus for students, DACA recipients or otherwise, as they believe it is important for all students to have more financial opportunities in order to combat the rising price of tuition at UTA.
The PSU also demanded that the school hire an immigration lawyer in order to ensure legal protection for immigrants, and that UTA should also allocate additional funds for scholarships that would go to students of color and undocumented immigrants who attend the school.
“DACA has been in place since Obama’s presidency, and the fact that the Trump administration is trying to take that away from them is something we are strongly against,” said Napieralski.
Financial aid for immigrants is also an important policy position for PSU, leading them to conclude that UTA should spend more time promoting TASFA, the Texas Application for State Financial Aid, as it is the primary method through which immigrants receive financial aid. TASFA allows foreign students living in Texas to apply for financial aid as a Texas resident.
Ebonee Richards Taylor, a PSU member, weighed in on TASFA, “Immigrant students deserve financial aid just as much as any other student, so promoting TASFA is essential,” she said.[6]
"No kids in cages"
September 7, 2019 Arlington, TX - 60 people showed up at a protest organized by the UTA Progressive Student Union (PSU) at the University of Texas at Arlington, September 4, against the Trump administration’s change to of policy on the detention of undocumented children.
Mark Napieralski, an organizer from the Progressive Student Union, spoke about how the Flores Agreement banned holding children indefinitely - and how the Trump administration is moving to keep children in indefinite detention in concentration camps along the southern border.
Speakers at the rally included Minister Katie Hays from the Galileo Church and Harold Chong from Intervarsity. Minister Hays focused on Jesus having been born to refugee parents and how the biblical narrative says that God’s place is with the marginalized. Chong spoke on the passage from Deuteronomy that states, “you must love the foreigner, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.”
Progressive Student Union member Arissa Moore spoke of the conditions these children face in the concentration camps, such as the lack of hygiene and little access to health related products, and the fact this has happened before, both to Japanese-Americans and Native Americans
Daniel Pichardo, PSU activist and local poet, shared the experiences of Mexican-Americans at the border and the United States. He pointed out that this is not a new occurrence, especially in a state that had once allowed the lynching of Mexicans in order to steal their property.
Students, faculty and community members stayed on to listen to the experiences, injustices and stories of hardship in this system of oppression by the Trump administration and closed the rally with one final chant, “No kids in cages! Close the camps!”[7]
International Women's Day
On March 8 2016, UTA Progressive Student Union held an event in observance of International Women's Day.
Jasmine Langley, a member of Progressive Student Union, spoke about the history of Black feminism and the struggles it faced both with white feminists, who sought to avoid the supposed divisiveness of combating racism, and against patriarchal attitudes from Black male revolutionaries. She explained that Black feminism as we know it truly began in 1973 with the creation of the short-lived National Black Feminist Organization. She said, “This is where we get Assata Shakur, Bell Hooks, and so on."
Langley brought the subject around to contemporary activists and revolutionaries, including Alicia Garza, Opal Tometi and Patrisse Cullors from the Black Lives Matter movement . She mentioned in particular their inclusiveness of LGBTQA+ issues. Langley also spoke about Amandla Stenberg's use of social media as a platform to discuss these important issues. She pointed out that although the Black Lives Matter Movement is often portrayed as “Black men fighting in the streets for dead sons, but no mention of dead daughters,” that in reality many of the key founders of the movement were queer Black women.
After Langley's presentation, well-known Dallas activist Olinka Green held an informal dialog concerning the Black Lives Matter movement and its prospects. Green also cited some historical examples of female revolutionaries, including the Jamaican anti-slavery guerrilla called Nanny of the Maroons.
Green also talked about her own experiences as an activist as well as becoming an activist. She described joining the New Black Panther Party in her 20s, but said that at that time she was more concerned with working and providing for her family. She said that changed with the death of Trayvon Martin and the shock she felt at “how Zimmerman just got away with murdering this little kid, and how, each day, it seemed they're [the victims of police brutality] keep getting younger."[8]
Solidarity March for Palestine
According to Mark Napieralski the newly-formed UTA Students for Democratic Society (SDS) and Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) held a Solidarity March for Palestine at the campus, Sept. 4 2014, to bring attention to the Israeli genocide in Gaza and the whole of Palestine. About 50 people participated.
The presidents of SDS, SJP and special invitee Pastor Craig Hunter addressed the crowd before the march.
Jenny Nguyen, president of SDS, said the motivation behind the march was to protest Israeli war crimes in Palestine, and concluded by saying, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be 100% free!” Nguyen then introduced the president of newly-formed SJP Chapter, Abraham Assi, who spoke about their plans for the future.
Pastor Craig Hunter explained that he had visited occupied Palestine many times in the past 20 years. He noted that in the city of Bethlehem, many places where he used to hang out and dance with friends have been closed down due to being on the “wrong side” of the apartheid wall Israel has built. Hunter said the view that the problem is not Judaism, or “good people and bad people,” but the injustice perpetrated by Israel.[9]