Academic Council’s letter addresses student concerns
By Neil Paik
Dec. 6, 2009 9:44 p.m.
Early last week, the Academic Council sent out a letter to University of California students regarding the on-campus protests at several campuses during the Board of Regents meeting in late November.
Between Nov. 17-19, hundreds of students at UCLA expressed their enraged sentiments over the UC’s mid-year fee increases. Protesters stormed Campbell Hall, barricaded doors and stayed at an overnight “tent city” to stage their opposition to the fee hikes.
In response, the UC Academic Council felt it was necessary to address students’ concerns.
“We really wanted to encourage peoples’ passionate advocacy but to do that in a way that is really consistent with our roles as students and scholars and respectful members of the community,” said Robin Garrell, chair of the Academic Council at UCLA.
Students who contacted Garrell said they were unhappy with the letter’s specific objections to student activities.
“We are especially concerned about group protests in which a number of individuals attempted to move past police barricades, physically threaten and throw objects at police and surround vehicles to trap those within,” the letter stated.
Although Sofia Campos, a third-year political science and global studies student, appreciated receiving the letter, she thought it failed to mention real solutions for financially struggling students.
“I don’t think that we should remain victims,” Campos said. “I think that we should take action.”
The Academic Senate has also received negative feedback from students who feel the letter was more critical of student protests than of law enforcement.
Garrell said she has personally spoken with the chief of the university police and the chancellor regarding any instances of police using excessive force.
“We want to assure the campus community that incidents that would have raised concerns are being taken care of,” she said.
According to Garrell, the issue of fee hikes began in Sacramento and not with the regents.
“The root of the problem is that this year, the state funding was cut 20 percent,” Garrell said. “We should be making the case with Sacramento.”
Peter King, a UC spokesman, said the Office of the President is currently working to redirect the energy of student protesters to a more constructive battle in favor of increasing state funding for the university.
“The problem isn’t the regents, (the) problem is Sacramento,” he said. “With this behind us, maybe we can go to Sacramento and start working there, which would have a meaningful result.”
According to King, the Office of the President is currently working to build advocacy for the university among students, faculty, alumni and unions under what he calls an “army of one concept.”
For now, King said students who are struggling to pay the bills should visit their school’s financial aid office.
“It’s not like we just shoved people off the end and said swim,” he said. “There is stuff out there.”
King said with the newly approved Blue and Gold Plan, students who come from households that make $70,000 or less per year should have all their student fees covered by financial aid. Households that make $120,000 or less should have a significant portion covered.
According to Garrell, the chancellor is also devoting energy to helping undocumented AB 540 students fund their education.
Both the Academic Senate and the Office of the President agree that the passion and energy of the student protesters should be redirected to Sacramento.
“I just want to stress that nobody’s saying that the students who protested don’t have a right to be angry,” King said. “Understand the politics that are going on in California and channel that righteous anger to the right place, and you’ll get the best result.”
