Students of Occupy NCSU protested before, during and after a speech by Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf , as police stood nearby Nelson Hall Wednesday afternoon.

Protesters made their opposition to the CEO clear, citing the famous 99 percent example of an unequal distribution of wealth.

Katina Gad, a member of Occupy NCSU and senior in fashion textile management, said Stumpf was the wrong person to be teaching students.

“Considering the light of the economy, we feel that it is inappropriate that John Stumpf , out of all people, is speaking to students,” Gad said. “It is delivering a message to students to ‘do as we do.'”

Gad explains as the highest paid bank CEO in the country, Stumpf holds too much of the country’s wealth, as the company itself has taken a “bailout” twice.

“This is not the man who should be speaking,” Gad said.

Ryan Thomson, member of Occupy NCSU and graduate student of sociology, said he believes instead of giving money to large corporations such as Wells Fargo, CEOs like Stumpf should see larger taxation by the government.

“This man’s tax bracket is disgusting, it’s criminal,” Thomson said as he held a sign protesting Stumpf on Hillsborough Street.

“He needs to begin paying up into the collective commons, into our education system which his bank depends,” Thomson said. “That’s what needs to be done. I’m not saying it is on him personally, I would like to see the state step it up.”

Thomson explained that he, along with several members of Occupy NCSU , had planned to speak to Stumpf at the presentation but Nelson Hall Auditorium was over capacity. Several students did get the chance to speak during the event. Some were escorted out and others remained.

The popularity of Stumpf’s speeches, whether good or bad, can be seen at our University as well as other venues across the country.

“Stumpf has received this greeting everywhere,” Gad said. “We are all speaking in agreement with each other.”

John Drewyor , a junior in business administration, expressed his opinion to protesters while walking by saying, “get a job.”

Drewyor explained while he understands the position of Occupiers, he does not think they are getting anywhere with their tactics.

“I honestly think that these people are ill-informed and they don’t have a job,” Drewyor said. “I definitely understand why they are upset but going into the lecture series was not the way to do that.”

Gad explained 75 percent of Occupy protesters do have jobs — a common misconception by those viewing the protests.

Bryan Perlmutter , member of Occupy NCSU and junior in business administration, said Occupiers were protesting Wednesday to expose big banks and their leaders, like Stumpf .

“We just want to continue bringing awareness to what is going on in our community and the way that people are being oppressed by these large institutions,” Perlmutter said.

Clark Goldentyer , Occupy NCSU member and graduate student of mathematics, thought the event was an overall success.

“I think we made our point that wealthy bank CEO’s are not leaders,” Goldentyer said.

As media coverage has settled down toward the Occupy movement, members of Occupy NCSU say they plan on working together into the future.

“I don’t see [Occupy NCSU ] getting smaller. I don’t see it going away, even if our land is taken, I don’t see it stopping,” Gad said.

Thomson explained while the actual occupying has slowed down around the country, due to harsh weather among other reasons, the movement plans to keep a political presence among the community.

“There are students that I’ve never seen before who are just mad about the state of the economy and the job market,” Thomson said. “We’re growing substantially.”