Occupy Wall Street Movement Arrives at ISU Campus in Ames

Call it: Occupy Anonymous.

A group of about 100 people gathered around the University Campanile Thursday took turns standing in the center of the crowd saying why they had joined the movement.

They didn't give their names, just descriptions.

They were college students, professors, retired folks and researchers. They were upset about not being able to find a job, climate change, poor health care and wars. As they chanted their laments, the surrounding crowd repeated every word.

Rebecca Pencook, an Iowa State senior studying accounting, made a sign with a friend consisting of pigs and green dollars.

“I'm here because I feel strongly about the Occupy Wall Street Movement,” Pencook said.

The Occupy movement has spread across the country since beginning in New York City last month.

Pencook, pictured , added that she was most upset with corporate bailouts that were used for bonuses instead of helping the greater good.

“Our tax dollars are being used to make millionaires multimillionaires,” Pencook said.

At about 1 p.m., the protesters marched toward Lincoln Way down to Friley Hall and wound back through central campus repeatedly shouting, “We are the 99 percent.”

The group stopped and formed a circle in front of Parks Library and started chanting again as Iowa State students sat around looking disinterested and ate lunch.

Jack Wagner, a writer from California who watched the protest, said they were the 1 percent of the world.

“If you make more than $47,000 you are the 1 percent,” Wagner said.

Even if they made $23,000 they still are the “rich of the world.” Wagner said, adding that marchers could be doing something more productive besides marching.

The demonstration in Ames was one of many on college campuses around the country. A Faceboook group said Thursday was a day of action for college students.

An extended occupation in Ames similar to what is happening in Iowa City and other communities was not discussed during the event. An attempted overnight, extended occupation of the statehouse lawn in Des Moines ended with arrests on Sunday.

The Occupy ISU Facebook page declares the movement a success and said they will meet everyday at the Campanile at noon and hold meetings on Thursdays. Reached by email, organizers in Ames have declined to discuss their efforts on the record because they say it is a leaderless movement.