Fire Katei Social Disorganization Theory

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This paper explores the vandalism and graffiti birthed as a result of the “Fire Katehi” movement analyzed with the use of sociological lenses. This movement arose as a result of the UC Davis Chancellor’s decision to take part in a textbook company- a total conflict interest for the students she is supposed to be leading to success. In addition, rumors that Linda Katehi took a seat on a school board for DeVry University when student of UC Davis needed her support and encouragement on her home campus. Using the social disorganization theory and the concept of collective efficacy, social ad communal delinquency and the motivations for vandalism will be defined and accounted for. There are three distinct types of vandalism, each of which are categorized …show more content…

Shaw and McKay’s theory of social disorganization helps to address this concept. In essence, social disorganization theory states that when the common culture of a community is lost, there is disorganization which in turn, leads to delinquency (Burfeind and Bartusch 2006). In retrospect, the “Fire Katehi” movement was a result of a combination of an uninformed student body and a group of outraged young adults looking for answers and demanding justice. Despite the mistreatment of public artwork, they were able to break the media and grab the attention of news networks and their fellow …show more content…

In this case, participants of the Fire Katehi movement challenged the University of California to lay off Chancellor Katehi. Vandalizing the school with these blunt, yet moving words gave students a voice in the matter and inspired more people in the community to take a stance on the issue. “Groups which find or consider themselves deprived of political representation or which cannot elicit favorable decisions from government will resort to the drama of protest,” (Eisinger 1973). The spray paint on the egg-heads led to students leading a march and protest outside of the University’s registrar building with the intent to be heard. Those who were not physically at the protest were able to use graffiti to make a