On Feb. 20 the Ché Café will host a showcase of the best of local San Diego rock. The Liquorice Quartet, the Pinwheels, the Displaced and the Glossines will all perform at a benefit show for Free Radio San Diego, a local pirate radio station.

Each band playing at the Ché Café features female vocals and heavy reputations: The Glossines (nominated for Best Local Recording at the San Diego Music Awards) run down the garage rock alley, the Displaced (nominated for both Best New Artist and Best Alternative Album) take a heavy rock sound to the top of the San Diego scene, and the Pinwheels bring a sweet taste for melody and style to the bill.

The Liquorice Quartet throw their diverse influences together into an organ-driven, guitar solo-laden attack led by the complementary voices of Kelley Mitchell and Lauren Spears. Their songs walk the line between bright, psychedelic unreality and darkness beneath: One moment you’re in Candyland (the inspiration for the group’s incredible Web site, http://www.theliquoricequartet.com), and the next you’re in the midst of a dirty, haunting trip. Underneath all of it is a throwback rock aesthetic that emerges in Chris Field’s affecting, grungy guitar work.

Walter Bitts supplies the staccato snare-drumming, and with these elements the Liquorice Quartet achieve a unique, three-dimensional sound. The group has made a few good recordings which are available on its Web site, but it is looking to go into the studio to record more.

The show benefits Free Radio San Diego, a politically minded pirate station struggling to put out a somewhat subversive message over the din of corporate radio. The station, which broadcasts at 96.9 FM, plays everything from Al Green to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs on a mind-bogglingly diverse playlist.

All proceeds from ticket sales go to Free Radio San Diego. Tickets are $5 and doors open at 8 p.m.

The Che Cafe Collective is currently under investigation by campus officials due to a possible violation of federal law for providing technical support to a foreign terrorist organization.

A non-UCSD-affiliated complaintent from the East Coast, whose name is not being disclosed by the Office of Student Policy and Judicial Affairs, alleges that the Che-maintained Web site, http://burn.ucsd.edu, is providing support for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. The FARC has been labeled a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization by the U.S. State Department.

In a letter to the Che Cafe Collective signed by Director of the University Centers Gary Ratcliff, the collective was informed that it is in violation of UCSD policies as well as Federal law for ""using UCSD computer network resources to provide access to a terrorist organization."" The letter from Ratcliff stated that the ""links supporting the FARC"" violate a portion of the USA Patriot Act.

Members of the Che Cafe Collective responded to the letter from Ratcliff, stating that they believed the administration had violated the ""Memorandum of Understanding"" between UCSD and the Associated Students, the Graduate Student Association and the co-ops by not notifying the A.S. Council and the GSA of the alleged violations, as is stated in the memorandum.

In support of the Che Cafe's complaint of noncompliance with the memorandum, A.S. President Jenn Brown wrote a letter, dated Sept. 25, to Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Joseph Watson expressing the A.S. Council's displeasure with the administration's actions against the Che Cafe. The letter also cited prior interactions the administration has had with the Groundwork Collective -- interactions that, Brown argues, also violated the memorandum. Brown's letter included five allegations of misconduct on the administration's part against the Groundwork Collective and the Che Cafe Collective.

In the letter to Watson, Brown called for the administration to ""desist with their harassment of the co-ops.""

However, Nicholas S. Aguilar, director of student policy and judicial affairs, believes that protocol was followed properly because the initial letter was not a formal charge of misconduct.

""The letter was written to the Che in an attempt to give them a heads-up as a precautionary measure,"" he said.

Although Ratcliff's initial letter described the alleged violation as a problem with hyperlinks to the FARC Web site, the Student Policy and Judicial Affairs Office now says that links are not the problem. The problem, Aguilar said, is with the burn site ""hosting"" the FARC Web site.

""It wasn't merely a link,"" Aguilar said. ""It was more than a link.""

Aguilar also said that this is not the first time the burn.ucsd.edu site has been accused of hosting a terrorist organization.

The university considers any address that includes ucsd.edu in the address ""hosting"" that Web site. Hosting provides direct access to UCSD computer resources.

Aguilar said that the Che Cafe Collective will be receiving a letter clarifying the allegations that were first outlined in Ratcliff's notice.

Aguilar declined to say whether he was the actual author of Ratcliff's letter.

Students representing the Che Cafe are still working on negotiations with UCSD Grounds and Landscapes Services concerning the placement of a storage shed and containers behind the Che Cafe.

The shed will take the place of several smaller storage containers previously situated in the same general area. Those that oppose the shed's placement fear that the new shed will decrease area parking, block access to the organic garden behind the cafe and intensify traffic to the area.

Kris Bohling, a graduate student in the music department, said the cafe has received a written response regarding the storage shed.

He said the written response did not include any new concessions, which the Che Cafe was anticipating. He felt that Grounds and Landscapes Services were simply reiterating statements they made before, such as the promise that the shed will only be temporary. The response did not contain a date that the storage container will be removed.

""Their biggest fear is that the shed will be there forever,"" said Chuck Morgan, manager of Grounds and Landscapes Services. ""This is not true.""

The response contained other details. For example, it states that the shed will not block access to the cafe's organic garden.

Bohling remained firm in his stance that the shed would be a nuisance to the cafe.

""The shed will still be wedged up against the main path to the garden,"" he said.

The memo also claimed that the cafe's structure will not be altered. Originally there was a possibility the Che Cafe would be subject to drilling for pipes and wires to conduct electricity. However, Bohling said such an agreement was already made, and that the promise means nothing new to the cafe.

""[The promise of no alteration to the cafe] is the only substantial statement in the response we received,"" Bohling said. ""But we knew it anyway.""

The cafe has prepared and sent several requests concerning the shed's erection. Some of the requests include a guarantee that the parking situation will be not be impacted and the certification that the shed will be temporary, with a date established for its removal.

So far, the construction of the shed and container has been delayed for weeks.

""We already ordered the shed and containers,"" Morgan said. ""Now we can't have them delivered because of this impasse. The vendor is threatening to charge us a storage fee. The cost is multiplying exponentially.

""We were originally evicted from our prior location at Urey Hall because of safety concerns. What we want is a permanent facility, but that will not be possible until 2007. We have no other options ... and we don't like it either.""

The junk pile placed in the area the shed is to be constructed has expanded, having four-foot walls adorned with a ladder and a lookout platform. The protesters plan to assemble a full-scale demonstration if and when the construction takes place.

""We're in a state of continual readiness,"" Bohling said.

Morgan is upset at the way the issue has expanded.

""We want to be good neighbors ... and we're dealing with [the obstacles] the best we can,"" he said. ""We're just trying to take care of the campus.""

Che Cafe workers and patrons are coordinating an ongoing protest against Physical Plant Services' plan to build a 30-foot-long storage shed behind the cafe.

Chris Padfield
Guardian

This shed would replace several smaller storage containers in the same area. Protestors say the new shed will decrease parking around the cafe, increase traffic to the area and block access to the organic garden behind the cafe.

The space where the storage shed will be located is now covered by a large pile of branches, mattresses, broken boards and yellow ""caution"" tape placed there by the protesters. A sign on the pile reads, ""We are willing to remove this obstruction when we have a written agreement both parties can agree upon.""

Kris Bohling, a graduate student in music, is one of the primary protestors.

""Personally, I feel that this is part of a larger trend by the administration involving getting rid of the Che Cafe,"" Bohling said.

""[The construction of the shed] is allowed to happen without consultation, the fact that they ignore the students,"" Bohling said. ""There is a history of administration trying to close the co-ops because they are independent. [The administration] doesn't want to lose control.""

Gary Ratcliff, director of the University Centers, strongly disagrees.

""[The protestors] are expanding the issue beyond what's really happening: an effort by grounds to locate a storage container so they can accomplish their work,"" Ratcliff said. ""There is no larger plot. There is nothing sinister going on here.""

UCSD has cooperated with students' concerns about the storage shed, according to Ratcliff.

""The university has been open and responsive,"" Ratcliff said. ""I'm optimistic that a mutually satisfactory resolution will be achieved.""

The Che Cafe was originally notified about the shed's construction during winter quarter. The cafe was unhappy with the development, Bohling said.

However, the cafe was willing to negotiate as long as some terms were met, including guarantees that the shed would be temporary and that parking for cafe patrons would not be impaired. The administration verbally agreed that these demands were reasonable.

However, the administration has not signed any documents acknowledging these negotiations.

Warren freshman Erik Borowitz said, ""I am irritated because we had a verbal confirmation that our proposed agreement was reasonable and would be signed. This has not happened.""

The Che Cafe is part of the student-run cooperatives affiliated with the Student Center, which also includes the General Store and a the Food Co-op. The cafe is home to a number of activist groups, serves vegetarian food, and regularly hosts special events, political meetings and musical shows.

The Che Cafe now resides in a building that was originally part of the Camp Matthews military base. Once UCSD was established, the structure became a part of the original Student Center in the late 1960s. In the mid-1970s, the building stood empty for two years, at which point the administration was planning to turn it into a faculty club.

According to Bohling, students objected and produced documentation revealing that former students had originally paid for the establishment's construction. Thus the building was renovated, and by 1981 became what is now known as the Che Cafe.

According to Ratcliff, the cafe was never purchased with student fees, and UCSD is still the owner of the facility as part of the Student Center. He also said the area in the vicinity of the cafe is not considered a part of the Student Center.

""The 'Memorandum of Understanding' ... states clearly that the Che Cafe is allowed by the university to occupy the 1,050 square feet of space inside the facility,"" Ratcliff said. ""This is not defined as any exterior space.""

Bohling feels differently.

""Everything around Price Center is considered part of the center, from the ATM machines to most of Library Walk,"" Bohling said. ""This area is not clearly defined, but it is part of the structure's responsibilities. In the same way, the Che Cafe takes responsibility for the area around it.""

""Students and volunteers have put a great deal of work into maintaining [the Che Cafe],"" said an angry cafe patron who requested to remain anonymous. ""The university takes the cafe seriously enough to want to get rid of it, but not seriously enough to stop playing games.""

However, Ratcliff said their concerns will be addressed.

""We don't want to minimize the students' concerns,"" Ratcliff said. ""We want to make sure they are addressed. Yet the students have expanded the issue: In a way, they're keeping this storage container hostage in order to add other things on their agenda. This is not tied to any other initiative. It's just a storage container ... there is no 'next move.'""

UCSD administrators and the C.H.E. Cafe recently came to a resolution regarding the future of the facility. After meeting with collective representatives earlier this month, Chancellor Pradeep Khosla rescinded...