USAC passes resolution to tackle racism, support activists at SJSU
By Alisha Rosenwein-Noss
Jan. 22, 2014 1:39 a.m.
The original version of this article contained an error and has been changed. See the bottom of the article for additional information.
Undergraduate student government officials voted unanimously on Tuesday to adopt a resolution that endorses the demands of black student activists at San Jose State University for tolerance and diversity.
The Undergraduate Students Association Council resolution calls for UCLA to add a race studies component to its general education requirements and supports demands at San Jose State for a similar motion.
The resolution comes in light of of an assault on a black first-year student by his three white roommates at San Jose State University in November. The three students assaulted him verbally and physically, calling him derogatory names such as “three-fifths,” in reference to a former provision in the Constitution that counted a slave as three-fifths of a person, and putting a bicycle lock around his neck.
At the weekly meeting Tuesday, several USAC officers said the incident indicated a need for greater diversity and for UCLA to take a stance on the issue.
“Remaining silent is irresponsible,” said Sam Haws, a general representative.
The news of the alleged racial abuse provoked protests at San Jose State last November.
“We as a student body were accusing the campus of negligence,” said Ashley Song, a first-year student at San Jose State University who participated in the protests.
Although the events did not occur at UCLA, Maryssa Hall, USAC external vice president and author of the council’s resolution, said racism is still an issue within the campus’s community.
“Even though it happened at a different campus, (UCLA students) are taken aback by the fact that it was allowed to happen,” Hall said. “We at UCLA are involved in a wide range of coalitions with other UCs and other state schools. We should definitely be taking a stance.”
Hall said she believes UCLA can help students at San Jose State get their demands met by taking a stance on this issue.
The USAC resolution states that UC students also experience racism and should feel invested in the issue. The resolution mentions UCLA’s low enrollment of black students and previous hate crime incidents on UC campuses.
The resolution also impels USAC President John Joanino and External Vice President Maryssa Hall to write a joint open letter to Gov. Jerry Brown endorsing a statewide review of the condition of black students within higher education.
“(The resolution is) important so that issues like this won’t continue here at UCLA, especially in light of the fact that UCLA doesn’t have a diversity requirement,” Hall said.
UCLA students have been trying to institute a diversity-related general education requirement for more than a quarter century.
Compiled by Alisha Rosenwein-Noss, Bruin contributor.
Correction: The resolution adopted Tuesday calls for the USAC President and External Vice President to write a letter to Gov. Jerry Brown.
