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Socialists of Caltech

By peishi

  • Dinner meeting to discuss founding

    Initially as Young Democratic Socialists (YDS)
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    First gen SoC leadership

    Charles and Hannalore (Co-chairs)
    [Positions below added later]
    Jane (Action WG chair)
    Arian (Agitprop WG chair)
    Peishi (Education WG chair)
    Charles (Community WG chair)

  • First discussion group

  • May Day flyering

    Inviting people to a rally downtown

  • Sit in protesting Christian Ott's return to campus

    Christian Ott is an abusive and sexually harassing professor who was put on leave and almost allowed to return to Caltech.

  • SoC Slack created

  • Became Socialists of Caltech

    Formerly Young Democratic Socialists (YDS) Caltech
  • Period: to

    CA Single Payer Healthcare Canvassing

    SB 562 was a bill that would have given CA a single payer health insurance system. It was stalled in committee.

  • Start of the SoC library collection (physical)

    In the Millikan library
  • Period: to

    Second gen SoC leadership

    Jane and Charles (Co-chairs)
    Aaron (Treasurer)
    Brigitte (Secretary)
    Jane (Action WG chair)
    Peishi (Education WG chair)
    Arian (Outreach WG chair)

  • Grad Tax Walkout

    Protesting Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provision that would have increased grad student tax burden significantly. Pressuring Caltech to take more action.

  • Joining city hall protest of beating of Chris Ballew

    Chris Ballew was severely beaten by the Pasadena Police and there was an action hosted by Pasadena and Altadena against Police Violence(?)
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    Joining PTU signature gathering for rent control

  • Joint discussion with Feminist Club on prisons and gender

  • Movie Night: Century of the Self

  • "What is Socialism" Presentation

    Presentation slides

  • "People's History of Science" event by Free Rads

  • Period: to

    Prop 10 canvassing

    Proposition 10 was a ballot measure on the 2018 midterms that would have repealed Costa-Hawkins, a bill that significantly restricts rent control and vacancy control. It would have opened up the way for localities to decide for themselves what kind of rent control they want. It was defeated 60-40. Ballotpedia link
  • Period: to

    Third gen SoC leadership

    Vasilije and Peishi (Co-chairs)
    Brigitte (Secretary)
    Jane (Treasurer)
    Charles (Discussion group)
    Sean (Anti-imperialism)
    Roman (Housing)
    Milan and Reggy (Recruitment)

  • Formal affiliation with Science for the People

  • First rent control MOU meeting

    MOU = Memorandum of Understanding for potential groups interested in coalition work for rent control

  • Housing Workshop with PTU

    Panel discussion format
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    Work on Pasadena Rent Control Campaign

    [Website link](ptjc2020.org) We were involved in writing the text of the rent control measure, but were held up by pro bono law firms that were looking over the measure we had written. Significantly delayed in gathering signatures. Have not started gathering signatures yet.
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    Organizing town halls in all Caltech divisions

  • LA Teacher's Strike (1/14 - 1/22)

    United Teachers Los Angeles organized a strike to which won better conditions for teachers and students like more nurses/librarians, smaller class sizes, and pay raises. SoC members joined the picket line almost every day

  • "Science and Imperialism" workshop

    Presentation slides

  • Aaron Leonard Talk

    Author of books about state infiltration into radical orgs.

  • Rent Control Campaign Launch Party

    Website
  • Period: to

    Fourth gen SoC leadership

    Brigitte and Sean (Co-chairs)
    Vasilije (Treasurer)
    Peishi (Secretary)
    Francesca and Zander (Housing)
    Zoya and Charles (Anti-imperialism)
    Jane [later Ashay] (Discussion group)
    Erica (Recruitment)

  • Organizing with the Washington 16 (PTU)

    News article about the organizing

  • Actions to win Pasadena Eviction Moratorium (PTU)

    News article about the organizing

  • SASS Talk: Housing Justice and Tenant Justice

    Presentation slides
  • Period: to

    Pandemic Organizing

    Beginning of LA Stay at Home Order Mar 19

  • Formation of Caltech for Affordable Healthcare

    After GSC COVID town hall
    Facebook page
  • Period: to

    Health insurance organizing (Caltech for Affordable Healthcare)

  • Caltech for Affordable Healthcare Petition

    Petition text

  • First Organizational Health meetings

    Initially started as "What is to be done 2020" and General Meeting about how to make more welcoming organizing spaces
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    "Capitalism and Disability" reading group

  • Joining uprisings after murder of George Floyd

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    "End of Policing" reading group

  • BSEC Town Hall

    To build support for their petition which had over 1000 signatures. Petition text