Walkout tohelp faculty protest Regents’ policies

Wednesday, October 21, 1998

Walkout tohelp faculty protest Regents’ policies

WALKOUT: Board must be accountable to students, professors for
key decisions

As professors and students participate in a system-wide walkout
Wednesday and Thursday, it is important to note that this protest
is not only about affirmative action. It addresses issues that go
right to the heart of what it means to live in a democracy,
specifically that decisions can not be made by a select few without
the full consultation of those they represent.

According to the California Constitution, the University of
California (UC) Regents hold the ultimate power to ³adopt
policies pertaining to the governance of the University of
California.² Their decisions should, however, reflect the
desires and attitudes of the Academic Senates from each of the
universities. This official policy of ³shared governance²
was virtually ignored when the regents passed SP-1 and SP-2 in July
of 1995, ending affirmative action at the University of California.
All nine of the Academic Senates, comprised of administration and
faculty members, voted overwhelmingly against these actions. The
Regents still passed both bills.

When the regents disregard faculty opinions, they should expect
to hear about it.

The regents ignored the powers the faculty share with them. If
the regents are charged with making decisions pertaining to the UC
system, they should be aware of the policies stated in the
California¹s constitution ­ namely, shared governance.
This policy is based on the same system of checks and balances that
we as Americans use, the entire purpose of which is to prevent
abuses of the system by a privileged few.

The regents misused this system. Their decisions should reflect
the deliberation of the Academic Senate, faculty and students, not
their own political sentiment. Regents have often acted as mere
political puppets for far too long. Their adherence to the whims of
Gov. Pete Wilson has superceded their concern for higher education.
They have failed to properly consider the advice and proposals of
those most involved in higher education ­ the students and
staff.

The UC faculty members have a right to influence university
policies on behalf of the students they instruct. When the regents
passed SP-1 and SP-2, the opinions the faculty were not taken
seriously. The UC-wide walkout provides professors with a way to
make their voices heard.

The schedule for the walkout includes speakers, teach-ins,
symposia and outdoor classes. Professors hope to do more than just
protest ­ they hope to educate students. Professors are
reacting in a positive and responsible manner with their intentions
to educate students.

The fact that professors are willing to risk their reputations,
credibility and potentially even their jobs lends more clout to
their cause than affirmative action protests have received in the
past. The professor walkout serves as a wake-up call to regents who
have ignored earlier student protests.

This protest marks the first time that faculty have joined
students in saying, ³This must change.² The Board of
Regents have exceeded its authority, sidestepped shared governance
and ignored the concerns of faculty and students at every UC
campus. This walkout will educate those who have abused their
power. The regents will learn that the faculty will not stand by in
silence while this state¹s public university system is
subverted by a few politically minded individuals.

This walkout is an opportunity for professors to support
activism and utilize their First Amendment rights. It is a chance
for them to speak their minds. It is a chance for them to exercise
the powers of shared governance which the regents disregarded
earlier.

As former student Regent Ed Gomez said in 1996, ³When you
disrespect the students, faculty and the staff, the reaction will
come.²

Comments, feedback, problems?

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