Whoa! That's the informal, affect level of discourse. OK for you guys to express your feelings. That's essential to good faith listening and getting out the frustrations inherent in governance discourse. The affect certainly got my attention. But now you need to get some information, from which you will build arguments and figure out where to work together to make those arguments heard. That's how you transform dominant discourse.
In this case, it seems to me you're saying that dominant discourse on this campus seems to expect that campus land will be sold for the benefit of bringing capital to the university, and that you feel that somehow one million seems like very little, and your personal experience doesn't show you any benefit. Your ending suggests that you'd definitely like to change that dominant discourse to one that recognizes the extent of student need on this campus and the diversion of some of those surplus funds to student needs. And given that we're in classes that teach governance discourse, I'm assuming that you'd like to be included in the discourse that makes those decisions.
Message 1358: Carly James wrote on transform_dom on Thursday, November 18, 2004:
"I did know of the internships offered for HDC, but
only because I worked with the Outreach department on
campus. I'm curious as to where the money is going as
well. Maybe the new Student Union? My first thought
when I heard about the hotel was "Good, more money for
our school". But Andrea brought to my attention that
we don't know where that money is going. So now what?"
Message 1384: Sabra Trevilla wrote on transform_dom on Thursday, November 18, 2004:
"I think it is a shame how the school is using that damm pain in the neck for people that want to park Depot Center to get money that is not benefiting the students which are the current residents at the school. Hell if they did not have students there would be no school. Can we get a little somthing!!!!
Message 1398: Michelle Simpson wrote on transform_dom on Friday, November 19, 2004:
"Something I'd like to know, why did CSUDH only get 1,000,000.00 when
HDC made well over 8,000,000.00? Why doesn't the school get more
money, and how much will the school get from the hotel every year?
How long will CSUDH remain open before Home Depot takes over all the
land?
"I think the student's should protest. There's not enough parking.
We lose parking to visitor's, guess of HDC now as it is. Plus, as
most of you know CSUDH allows more student's in the school than they
can provide parking for. But i'm sure the city is happy because of
all the parking tickets. Something has to be done before CSUDH is no
more.
Message 1407: Tara Rochelle wrote on transform_dom on Friday, November 19, 2004:
This is a school not an entertainment center????? What
benefits do we get from the Home Depot Center?
NOTHING! What benefits do we get from the hotel??
NOTHING!! It is really sad that funds are given to the
University but we never see what they are used for.
That Sucks!!!!!!!
On Saturday, November 20, jeanne suggested:
Why don't you gather all the messages about this issue, and then categorize them? For example, your concerns include not enough parking, clashes for parking during finals with Home Depot Center parking, a fair share of the profits from the Home Depot Center for student needs, and more accountability to students about what's happening with such financial deals as the Center, and now the Hotel. Rumor is rampant on the campus, and solid knowledge would make for much better governance discourse.
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Dear Habermas:
Teaching web site with original text and imagery.
Jeanne Curran
and Susan R. Takata
Updated November 2004
A Justice Site
jeannecurran@habermas.org
Parking Problems Encountered by Students: