{"id":502831,"date":"2026-10-21T01:42:10","date_gmt":"2026-10-21T01:42:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/502831\/"},"modified":"2026-10-21T01:42:10","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T01:42:10","slug":"we-will-not-be-silenced-and-we-will-not-be-divided-studio-art-students-address-administration-in-a-letter-the-state-hornet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/502831\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018We will not be silenced, and we will not be divided,\u2019 studio art students address administration in a letter \u2013 The State Hornet"},"content":{"rendered":"

Studio art students of Kadema Hall have come together to draft a letter to Sacramento State\u2019s administration addressing deteriorating infrastructure, along with \u201cgaslighting\u201d and \u201cintimidation\u201d tactics from administration. The letter is following two silent chalk protests and a student disciplinary conference<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The letter detailed dismissive behavior from President Luke Wood during a face-to-face conversation, in regards to Kadema Hall\u2019s current state. Students compared the university\u2019s response to a \u201cnarcissistic parent child relationship\u201d between the art department, athletes and administration. The students also detailed unclear communication regarding funds taken from the facility budget. The letter ended with a thank you to maintenance workers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Art
\n <\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe State Hornet cannot confirm discrepancies or validities in the letter. \t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Stefani Figueroa, a studio art graduate student, said over a dozen Kadema Hall students contributed to the letter. The voices of students throughout the studio art major are represented, including those with emphasis in ceramics, print making, drawing, painting and more<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not gonna be swayed, we\u2019re not gonna be silenced and we\u2019re not gonna be put in a position to turn against each other, or gaslit into thinking that the student athletes cause this problem,\u201d Figueroa said.<\/p>\n

The studio art students are looking for equity between the athletic and art department. Figueroa said art studio students feel their art department is not prioritized as much as sports because there is a lack of transparency in their budget.<\/p>\n

The university recently paid $23 million<\/a> for its football team to join the Mid-American Conference in July.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI understand why the student athletes have some of the amenities that they do. I\u2019m not arguing that they shouldn\u2019t have those amenities,\u201d Figueroa said. \u201cI\u2019m saying if some students are going to get amenities, like private tutors, meals and transportation around campus, there should be action plans to make those amenities accessible widely.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Student Athlete Resource Center offers tutoring through their The Student-Athlete Academic & Life Skills Lab<\/a>, and raised these funds during Give Sac State Day<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Figueroa said the studio art students wrote the letter to focus on current issues between upper administration and the department\u2019s lack of accountability. She stated that an Instagram Direct Message conversation between a former student and Wood helped prompt the letter. The former student requested to stay anonymous in concern of their future education.<\/p>\n

RELATED: Sac State ceramic department holds silent protest<\/a><\/p>\n

The DM on Instagram from Wood, as mentioned in the letter, said, \u201cThousands of dollars of damage defacing Latine murals during Hispanic Heritage Month. All for a message that could have been an email.\u201d Figueroa stated the message from Wood was dismissive of the studio art student\u2019s concerns.<\/p>\n

The State Hornet reached out to Wood in regards to the Instagram Direct Message and the current state of Kadema Hall via email. He replied with \u201cno comment\u201d.<\/p>\n

Elaine O\u2019Brien<\/a>, a retired art professor who taught for 26 years at Sac State, said her Art 7 class created the murals in the early 2000s under the theme of art history. Through the murals, students expressed their own cultures, including Japanese, Egyptian and Hispanic culture along with a theme of women in art, stated O\u2019Brien.<\/p>\n

\u201cI actually think that the students who made the mural, and I, would encourage students to speak up,\u201d O\u2019Brien said. \u201cAnd if they\u2019re just using chalk, I have no problem with that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since the silent chalk protests, Figueroa and other studio art students said they have seen an increase of facility workers checking on infrastructure and equipment, but not addressing the bigger issues within the hall. Figueroa said that there is often unclear communication between administration, facility workers and art students.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all felt like it was a good idea, not only to address the facilities and facilities management, to kind of say, \u2018Hey, we\u2019re not blaming you, we\u2019re not mad at you. This isn\u2019t between students and facilities workers,\u2019\u201d Figueroa said.<\/p>\n

Tyler Mickschl, a senior studio art student with an emphasis on ceramics, is currently in an open investigation after talking<\/a> to The State Hornet about the second silent chalk protest. He said that students are not highlighting \u201cpetty\u201d details, but trying to eliminate environmental and health risks. Students are worried about faulty electrical, lack of appliances compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and improper ventilation for silica<\/a>, dust, ceramic mixers and more.<\/p>\n

RELATED: UPDATE: Student in active investigation after silent chalk protest<\/a><\/p>\n

Studio art students have previously crowdfunded over $2,500<\/a> for an ADA compliant ceramics throwing wheel in 2025, stated Mickschl. The fundraising ended on Dec. 31, 2025, and the studio art department has not received the throwing wheel.<\/p>\n

An instructional support technician, who asked to remain anonymous out of concern for their employment, said wheelchair users and individuals with mobility issues cannot access the current ceramic wheels.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving an ADA compliant, throwing wheel opens up the course,\u201d said the technician.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The technician stated students with disabilities who have previously expressed interest in the course were required to enroll and show a need before any ADA accessible equipment is added. They said that the department has standing fixtures spread out in the classroom to make the environment as ADA compliant as possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s enough room between wheels and tables, but the second that you put bodies in that room, the second that there\u2019s students in those chairs, it is no longer accessible to somebody in a wheelchair,\u201d said the technician.<\/p>\n

\"\"The space between throwing wheels and the rest of the pottery studio 131 in Kadema Hall Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. The room is inadequate for any individual who uses a wheelchair to move around freely. (Claire Harrell<\/a>)<\/p>\n

A sophomore studio art student, who requested to stay anonymous due to safety, said they were shocked to see the studio art facilities at Sac State after transferring from Cosumnes River College.<\/p>\n

\u201cCRC has a very large wheel room, with very tall ceilings, proper ventilation and a large kiln yard,\u201d said the sophomore student. \u201cThey have proper drains and proper traps on the sink, for getting that treatment from a community college and then moving to a CSU, I thought the facilities would be elevated too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kadema Hall has ties to both Indigenous and studio art students, having this space not being properly maintained is frustrating for both parties, the sophomore student stated.<\/p>\n

Figueroa stated this is a campus wide issue, the studio art students have been the voices at the front of these issues.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith painting and sculpture being considered fine art, and ceramic and print making being considered craft, this is technically a craft building,\u201d said the sophomore student. \u201cCraft is often, within the art world, considered less than because it is Indigenous.\u201d<\/p>\n

The sophomore student said as an Indigenous student they feel administration is not considering the implications of their actions. Kadema Hall is named after the Niesan Maidu village<\/a>, which previously occupied the location of Kadema Hall.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe really want to make sure that we are keeping the community strong, reminding the student body that this is not us versus them,\u201d Figueroa said. \u201cIt\u2019s about unity, making sure the people here, and the people that pay to be here are taking care of, and the decisions the university makes need to have that mindset.\u201d<\/p>\n

The State Hornet reached out to Wood for a statement in an email in regard to the letter and he stated, \u201cOpen letter? Would you please share with me? They delivered this to my office?\u201d<\/p>\n

After a follow up email asking for a comment and resharing the letter previously sent by Kadema Hall students, Wood did not respond with a statement by press time.<\/p>\n

Correction 10\/20\/2026 5:44 p.m.: This article previously contained an additional photo gallery, this has since been removed due to updated information.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Art
\n <\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA clogged drain in vestibule eight located in Kadema Hall Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. This is one example of the improper draining system throughout the hall.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n