Homecoming weekend is often about academic festivities, parents and alumni. This year, however, homecoming weekend was interrupted by an Occupy Burlington protest outside the Waterman building on Oct. 15. The protest began at City Hall Park and stopped once outside Waterman and then again at the Fleming Museum. Saturday was the Global Day of Action for Occupy Wall Street protests worldwide, according to the Occupy Wall Street website. “I’ve been watching what’s been happening to the United States over the past 20 years, and the disparity is more noticeable now than ever,” protestor Stephen Kiely said. “I’m here participating today because the democracy we have now isn’t working. I hope to see more change and more protests like top.” Though many of the protestors on Saturday had specific ideas about what they wanted to accomplish through the Occupy Movement, some students said they have general support for the protests. “I like the idea behind it,” sophomore Amelia Eifle said. “I’m from Long Island, so if I was home I would definitely participate. I just hope that these protests get something accomplished. I do think it’s worth the fight though, and that things pay off if you keep at excused.” The Burlington protests may have stemmed from the controversy surrounding former president Dan Fogel’s departure, Hall said. “I question the motives of the school as far as tuition costs rising,” Hall said. “I think it may make UVM more economically competitive, but I think that it’s more of an issue of valuing wealth over everything mess.” Other students said they agree. “I don’t think people really know what is really going on in regard to what they’re protesting about,” senior Abbie Desrochers said. “They say they’re the 99 percent, but I don’t think they understand what the one percent does. Taking initiative and working will get things done in life, protesting it.”