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Political science professor Alejandro Orozco waved a $1 bill in front of the crowd of students like a matador waving a red cape in la plaza de toro. He was also the raging bull as he warned students not to be trampled by Wall Street and corporations.Students got a wake up call from Orozco and professors Phil Saenz and Victor Chavez, who teamed up to organize a raucous forum on economic and political issues. Students were urged to vote and became more politically involved.

Saenz charged in with a call to action against his favorite villain – textbook publishers.

“Students are being ripped off nationwide,” he said  “We will not stand for it anymore while they profit at the expense of the students who can’t afford to pay for the materials. Knowledge should be free. They are hitting you in your pocketbooks, you must respond to this!”

Saenz urged other professors not to use new editions of texts and spoke out against publishers manufacturing new editions with insignificant updates.  His example was a metaphor for corporate greed in America and the harm it has done to our nation – particularly low-income students.

Dubbed the “Occupy Democracy” forum, students received a wake up from the feisty professors.

Students trickled into the small area as they heard the booming voice of Saenz.

“Today is the day,” he said. “Every movement has a start. You are the people that can make a change. Be willing to make the change, be willing to change the course of history. It is all within your power.”

An advocate for informed voting by young citizens, Saenz urged the crowd to be more politically aware. It is a class requirement for students to register to vote. Saenz said the Occupy Democracy forum was born when he said he saw people protesting but not doing anything to directly fix the problem.

“You cannot simply protest, you have to follow up,” he said. “It is time to have an action plan. Pointing fingers is not going to do anything. You have to be willing to mobilize.”

Orozco stepped to the microphone and waved his dollar.

“What is this?” he asked the crowd. “It’s not much these days, but this is more than many corporations paid in income taxes in the year 2010.”

Orozco handed out tax data on major corporations, along with a list of the 10 highest paid corporations contracted by the United States. Verizon, for instance, paid zero tax in 2010.

“Wall Street is not on its own,” said Orozco. “When it drove this country into the worst financial crisis that we have seen since the Great Depression, the lobbyists had their back. Who has your back? It is time to tell your representatives if they are not going to fight for you, you’re not going to vote for them.”

Chavez came armed with what he called his most powerful weapon, his pocket U.S. Constitution. Holding it high in the air he explained to the crowd why it was the most powerful weapon in the world.

“This moment in history is not new,” he said. “Over 200 years ago, a group of people decided to occupy their destination. The Founding Fathers said no more to oppressive government, no more to the exploitation of the American colonies and they bolted out and grabbed hold of their destiny. They produced this beautiful document. This is where our power lies.”

Chavez brought a box of pocket Constitutions courtesy of Congressmen Dr. Bob Filner, himself a former SDSU history professor.

SWC students were the next to speak up.

“Who I am is not important,” said Ronnel Buckhannon, 37, business administration major. “What is important is who you are. You need to realize who you are and what you are a part of. Having a part in your future is huge. Pick up the pace because you are going to be involved one way or another. Participate and find an agenda you are willing to support. If you don’t support yours someone will support theirs and you will get run out of the game completely.”

Tanya Lozzano, 18, agreed.

“Everyone wants to make a change,” said the business major. “But the problem is that no one is moving. This is a wake up call. If you want change, do something about it, make your voice be heard, become the change. Don’t wait for others to start. Let’s do this guys!”

The professors said they will host weekly forums and invited participants from every part of the political spectrum to talk about student issues and put them into action.