A UC Santa Barbara doctoral student announced her hunger strike from March 8 to March 17 in an email to UC Santa Barbara administration, Associated Students and other members of the campus community.

Department of Education doctoral student Charlene Macharia listed several demands to administration on March 9 in the wake of the suspension of the MultiCultural Center following anti-Zionist and pro-Palestinian signage posted at the Center and subsequent protest of the suspension. She said her strike will not end until all demands are met. 

Macharia sent the email to an extensive list of campus community members and the UC system at large. Courtesy of The Gevirtz School

“I AM ON STRIKE – I WILL NOT CONSUME ANYTHING BUT WATER UNTIL YOU LISTEN AND FULFILL THESE DEMANDS, UNTIL WE WIN,” the email read. 

Macharia sent the email to an extensive list of campus community members and the UC system at large, including Chancellor Henry T. Yang, the UC Regents office and members, A.S. boards, committees and commissions, campus activist organizations, Educational Opportunity Program entities, the Office of Black Student Development  and various professors. 

Macharia clarified that she announced her strike on its second day to avoid potential attempts at negotiations from the University. 

Macharia listed 10 demands for the University to fulfill, including seven demands presented at the Department of Black Studies’ teach-in held on March 7. The teach-in was part of the department’s call for a “day of interruption” in response to the temporary suspension of the MultiCultural Center (MCC). 

Their demands to the University include the following: call for a ceasefire in Gaza; denounce the ongoing crises in Congo, Sudan and Haiti; re-open the MCC and create a taskforce on intersectional racial justice; oppose UC policies that allegedly censor departmental websites and other communication; hire faculty who specialize in defending academic freedom and students who have been doxxed or harassed.

“And to our comrade organizers, LISTEN TO BLACK PEOPLE, DEFEND BLACK PEOPLE, LOVE BLACK PEOPLE. THANK YOU,” the seven demands concluded in the email. 

Macharia added three demands she created herself in addition to demands presented by the Department of Black Studies. She called for the University to divest from investments in weapons manufacturing companies profiting off of the crisis in Gaza, citing a Nexus editorial calling for such divestment; divest from the Thirty Meter Telescope; and rename North Hall to Malcolm X Hall. 

Macharia claimed that the University responded to her email announcement by offering mental health services and resources — a gesture that she claimed was “questioning [her] sanity.” 

“OF COURSE I AM NOT OKAY WITH THIS SYSTEM and you shouldn’t be either. YOU ARE NOT FIT TO LEAD AND HOLD POWER IN THIS INSTITUTION IF YOU DO NOT CARE ABOUT ALL THE STUDENTS THAT YOU CLAIM TO BE SERVING,” the email read. 

The email also denounced the University’s actions in light of campus climate as being “an enforcer of this hate-based system.” 

The issue is that you stay reacting to the symptoms, covering them up with bandages, without treating the roots and hence the disease continues and worsens and you still don’t pay attention to it (since you have more important things to do) until its next eruption,” the email read. 

“Thus in loyalty to the system that feeds you and crowns you, you are actually an enforcer of this hate-based system rather than being a committed agent in your alleged mission of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and poster Principles of Community,” the email continued.

Macharia said she will continue her professional duties as a teaching assistant at UCSB through her strike. 

“I am not here to punish my students,” the email read. “I am here to show you that you are the ones who are punishing us, by the decisions you are making, and by your silence and inaction.”

She also clarified the strike is not a suicide attempt. 

“This is NOT a suicide attempt. I LOVE LIFE which is why I am fighting for all our lives. If anything, this would be a HOMICIDE attempt, and you are the “homies” that are being held responsible,” the email read. 

Macharia urged the University to “do the right thing” and ensure her demands are being met. 

“And in conclusion, please don’t do “your jobs” – Now is the time to DO THE RIGHT THING. Actually serve us all. Heed the call: FREE US ALL!…For this cause (ONE LOVE at the UC and US) I hunger, and if not taken seriously, I will certainly thirst,” the email read. 

“I’m not here to play games with you so please don’t play games with my life,” the email continued. 

The Nexus will continue to report on this topic as more information becomes available. 

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Asumi Shuda
Asumi Shuda (they/them) is the Lead News Editor for the 2023-24 school year. Previously, Shuda was the Deputy News Editor, Community Outreach News Editor for the 2022-23 school year and the 2021-22 school year and an Assistant News Editor during the 2020-21 school year. They can be reached at asumishuda@dailynexus.com or news@dailynexus.com.