OASR takes UCD’s largest delegation to the conference to date

From Aug. 3 to 6, 22 UC Davis students attended the UC Student Organizing Summit (UCSOS), an annual conference hosted by the University of California Student Association (UCSA) in Pomona, Calif. UCSA, the official organization of all students in the UC system, advocates for the accessibility, affordability and quality of the UC system. UCSA hosts three yearly conferences; the 2017 UCSOS conference is the 19th student conference of its kind.

Each university in the UC system has an external vice president (EVP) who reports to the UCSA board to represent their school in UC-wide action and efforts. Former ASUCD senator Daniel Nagey is the EVP of the Office of Advocacy and Representation (OASR), a unit of ASUCD. The office of the EVP is smaller at UC Davis due to budget constraints, but with the support of ASUCD, OASR is projected to expand in the coming years.

UC Davis has taken two previous delegations to the past two UCSOS conferences. Selection to attend is open to the general student body.

“This was the most diverse delegation we’ve taken in terms of representation from different student groups and affiliations,” said OASR Legislative Director Samantha Chiang. “Our commitment to advertising to the wider student body undoubtedly paid off, especially when students not traditionally involved in ASUCD spaces spearheaded WeAre3D, the student disability access campaign that was chosen by majority vote as the next two-year UC Student Association campaign.”

Students from all UC campuses attended a variety of panels, workshops, identity caucuses and campaign proposals to learn more about different social justice issues faced by students across the UC system. Issues discussed at the conference included racial equity, affordability, access and the security of basic student needs, among others.

There were four panels spread over the first two days of the conference; ReIGNITE, Undocumented Unafraid, Sustain our Students and Fund the UC. ReIGNITE (Re-Invest in Graduation, not Incarceration, Transform Education) was a racial justice campaign panel that discussed the school-to-prison pipeline and other problems formerly incarcerated people faced both before and after college. Undocumented and Unafraid was a panel that discussed the problems and processes of securing a Sanctuary UC and Sanctuary State.

Sustain our Students was a basic needs security campaign panel that discussed students’ food and housing insecurities. Fund the UC was a college affordability and access campaign panel that discusses combating rising costs of tuition and student fees.

Saturday’s keynote speakers were Jonathan Stein and Anthony Williams. According to the Master Program, Stein is a civil rights attorney whose work “focuses on voting access for immigrant, limited English-proficient and other historically disenfranchised voters.” Williams works with the Black Organizing Project, and his work studies the disproportionate inequalities –– of both race and class –– which affect people of color.

Students also had the opportunity to propose and vote on a campaign that UCSA will organize around for the next two years.

Fourth-year political science and Chicano/a studies double major Ryan Navarrete said he enjoyed the conference and liked seeing a different side of student government. Navarrete felt the first panel he attended was the most impactful.

“The very first panel, ReIGNITE, definitely hit home for me,” Navarrete said via email. “The panelist spoke on incarceration and how it has impacted them in both their life and education. As someone who is formerly incarcerated and a member of Beyond the Stats, what she was saying definitely brought a tear to my eye; especially when [panelist] Amber Rose answered my question on advising students who had to disclose being convicted of a crime to the school that they are applying will no longer be on any school application.”

Kevin Butt, a third-year political science major and transfer student, said he liked meeting members of the UC delegation who were passionate and welcoming.

“My biggest takeaway from this conference was, it’s okay to step outside of your comfort zone and take a risk on the unknown,” Butt said via email. “I went into the conference not knowing anyone or anything about UC [Davis’] OASR office or UCSA. Leaving the conference, I had [a] new understanding of other people’s perspectives and experiences. I also walked away with […] bonds that will make my transition into UC Davis [a] smooth one.”

Butt was one of the students who helped worked on the WeAre3D disability access campaign.

“One event that was the most impactful for me was working with [our] Davis Delegation on a campaign to put forth to the UC and then collaborating with other [students] from the other UCs for one common goal,” Butt said. “It showed no matter where you come from teamwork makes the dream work.”

Scott Hwaynate, a third-year managerial economics major, was another first-time attendee.

“I enjoyed meeting the students from other UCs,” Hwaynate said. “In those short four days, I’ve gotten to know a good number of students all over California. A seven-hour drive really strengthens the bond between people who’ve never met. Take away the name tag and you could say we were all from the same school. I had no idea how many of us had so much in common. I saw the passion in each student that arrived and the campaigns presented revealed each UC’s dedication.”

Students also had some criticisms about the conference — mostly about food and food access.

“The lunch boxes provided were unnecessarily expensive for everyone,” Hwaynate said. “I heard it cost $21 to make one box. I think students would prefer a crisp $20 bill than a dry sandwich and some chips.”

Navarrete and Butt also agreed that both the quality of meals provided at the conference and the number of meals that students had to pay for themselves could be improved.

“No one should have to share a loaf of bread nor use their food stamps in order to eat,” Navarrete said.

Chiang said she hopes that these issues can be resolved next year and that the conference will be accessible to more students.

“Next year, we’d love to bring more students, as this is one of the most welcoming and rudimentary conferences that UCSA holds,” Chiang said.

Written by: Jayashri Padmanabhan — campus@theaggie.org

Leaders condemn recent actions of white supremacists, discuss current state of free speech on college campuses

In light of the chaos which occurred in Charlottesville, Virginia after a “Unite the Right” march led by white supremacists escalated into violent altercations between the marchers and counter-protesters that left at least one person dead, statements have been issued from administrators at both the UC and university level.

On Aug. 12, the day of the march, UC President Janet Napolitano issued a brief statement via Twitter.

“We abhor the violence & hate in Charlottesville that have tragically perverted Americans’ right to speak freely,” a Tweet credited to Napolitano from the University of California Twitter account stated.

A few minutes after the initial Tweet, Napolitano affirmed the UC system’s stance alongside the University of Virginia in “condeming this shameful display,” via the University of California Twitter account.

On Aug. 14, Napolitano sent a lengthier letter in response to the aftermath of the events from Aug. 12. Napolitano began the letter by condemning the actions of “white supremacists” and restating the UC system’s adamant support for “diversity and inclusion.”

Napolitano’s letter also addressed protections for free speech on college campuses. Marchers gathered at the University of Virginia, which has condemned the “hateful and violent activities” of late.

“University campuses in particular are meant to foster an exchange of ideas, and to teach students how to respectfully approach viewpoints different from their own — even when those viewpoints are offensive and hurtful,” Napolitano stated. “But the acts of domestic terrorism we saw in Charlottesville represented an assault on our cherished values of diversity, inclusiveness and tolerance. We must continue to speak and act against the shameful behavior we witnessed over the weekend and ensure that our colleges and universities, and our nation as a whole, remain safe and civil for all.”

Napolitano’s statement also offered “profound condolences” for the loss of Heather Heyer, who was killed when a car was driven into a group of counter-protesters, injuring 19 others.

UC Davis Chancellor Gary May issued a brief statement via Facebook.

“We condemn the violence and hate on display in Charlottesville today,” the post stated. “Freedom of speech is not about provoking and inciting violence. Our thoughts are with our University of Virginia colleagues.”

ASUCD President Josh Dalavai issued a personal statement via Facebook.

“This movement can […] no longer be labeled anything other than white angst, supremacist and reactionary,” the post stated. “Chants of ‘we will not be replaced,’ ‘white lives matter,’ and ‘Jews will not replace us’ all prove that statement beyond a shadow of a doubt, if the Confederate and Swastika flags weren’t enough proof. This is no longer a game (it never was), and they are out here looking for blood.”

Dalavai credited the uprising of white supremacist ideology to the presidency of Donald Trump.

“To not be outrightly upset and ready for action is dangerous at this point,” Dalavai’s post stated. “Nazism and Fascism is growing in America and you can no longer disregard that notion as an overreaction. We are at a tipping point.”

In regards to the upcoming start of the 2017-18 school year, Napolitano’s letter stated that the UC system “remains committed” to creating and promoting a “safe, responsive and equitable environment” for all students, faculty and staff members.

“We reject all forms of discrimination, commit to fostering an atmosphere of respect and inclusion and pledge to defend the right to free speech,” the letter stated. “This summer and fall, as UC students, faculty and staff return to their campuses, I ask that we all recommit to these enduring values of diversity, equity and inclusion and work to live up to these ideals in all that we do.”

Written by: Hannah Holzer — campus@theaggie.org

At the press meet-and-greet, May responded to questions about student protest, Katehi’s salary, sexual assault prevention

To kick off his first day on the job, Chancellor Gary May attended several meet-and-greets in both Sacramento and Davis on August 1. The first event of the day, a breakfast from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., was held at the UC Davis Health Education Building at the UC Davis Medical Center in downtown Sacramento.

From 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., a press meet-and-greet took place at the UC Davis Welcome Center. Around 30 members of the press were in attendance. May arrived with his wife, LeShelle, and gave a personal remark before welcoming questions.

“It’s very nice to be with you this morning, on my first day on the job,” May said. “Although, actually, when the announcement was made in February, I […] started working for UC Davis then. I’m very pleased to be in a leadership role here, at one of the nation’s very best public research universities in the nation’s best university system. Everyone so far has been extremely warm and welcoming to me […] and I really appreciate that very much.”

When asked about his vision for the university, May said he hopes to improve the national and international reputation of UC Davis as well as create a holistic strategic plan.

“I’m very interested in raising the visibility of the campus and making UC Davis one of those handful of universities on the tip of your tongue when you think of the nation’s top research universities,” May said. “There’s a lot of different pieces [to that]. It will mean continued excellence in […] academic research. It’ll mean a continued emphasis on our well-deserved and well-earned reputation for affordability. Our continuing emphasis on community service, sustainability […] –– I’d like to bring all of these ideas together into a coherent strategic plan that will work for the university.”

May responded to several questions about former Chancellor Linda Katehi, who resigned after her questionable actions caused much controversy. A reporter from FOX40 stated that May follows an era of controversy –– “I hadn’t heard that,” he joked.

“My nature is to look forward,” May said. “I think I will be hopefully able to turn the page onto the new era. I understand that there were some challenges with the previous administration, I think that I’ve put those behind us.”

A recent Sacramento Bee article reported that Katehi will earn about the same salary she had previously made as chancellor. She will earn her $318,000 annual salary by conducting research and teaching a graduate engineering course each quarter. May said he did not personally sign off on Katehi’s salary, but did defend it when asked if he thought it was fair.

“Professor Katehi is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and is a world-renowned scholar in her field,” May said. “That salary is certainly consistent with others of that same [caliber]. As [a former] Engineering Dean, I’m familiar with those salaries and her salary is not in any way out of bounds.”

May also responded to questions about student advocacy. At the Pack the Patio event, May was the subject of student protests regarding his outside board positions.

“I’m a strong advocate of a student’s right to express themselves,” May said. “As an undergraduate student myself, I was involved in similar things. It was, in my case, the Apartheid demonstrations I was involved in. I think it’s an important part of development and the education process for our students. I may even participate in a protest if I feel they’re relevant and I agree with what the goal is. I’ve already been the target of protests, so I [have that] experience as well. I’m enthusiastic about [a] student’s right and ability to question […] authority.”

At the end of the 2016-17 school year, a Rally Against Rape Culture was held in response to an article published by The Aggie which stated that the university had not “investigated a student organization in connection with a sexual assault” in at least the past 25 years. At the federal level, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has begun to reexamine the policies of former President Barack Obama, who expanded the means by which universities investigate sexual assaults.

Recently, in an interview with The Davis Enterprise, May said that his wife is interested in becoming involved with work involving sexual assaults. When asked what the university could do at a policy level if the federal government moves forward with dismantling Title IX protections, May responded, “Secede.”

“We’re going to follow that very carefully,” May said. “I think there’s enough resistance and debate even at the federal level to such actions that I’m optimistic that we won’t have to face that particular question. We have certainly a strong interest in protecting Title IX here, locally. One of the issues that myself and in fact my wife will be interested in tackling locally is sexual assault on campus and […having] some proactive measures to both prevent [it] from happening and also to come out and support a system for the victims of sexual assault.”

May was also asked to respond to Janet Napolitano’s pledge to protect undocumented students within the UC system.

“The president’s pledge is our pledge,” May said. “We’re part of the system and we will be complying with the system policies. I personally am dedicated to this issue as well, so I think we won’t have an issue there. I think it’s important for us to remain a place that welcomes people from all backgrounds, particularly folks from disadvantaged backgrounds such as the undocumented students.”
On a more local level, May was asked to respond to the City of Davis’ extremely low vacancy rate; he said that although there are no set plans to address expanding local housing for students, talks are underway.

“I had a very good meeting with the mayor of the city and the city manager over dinner […] a few weeks ago to talk about these issues,” May said. “I think part of the Sacramento initiative might have some impact there, we might be able to explore some housing opportunities. It might be a distance away, but it might relieve some of the stress here locally, in the city.”

May emphasized his hope to establish a mutually-beneficial partnership between the City of Sacramento and the university; he referenced the success of Technology Square, a partnership between Georgia Tech and the City of Atlanta which transformed a “fairly run-down, depressed area” of the city into a “highly vibrant live, learn, work, play environment.”

May answered questions from the press until approximately 10:47 a.m., at which point he met with reporters who had requested personal interviews.

Later in the day, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., May attended an Ice Cream Social in Davis, which took place on the North Lawn of Mrak Hall. Around 1,000 people were in attendance.

Written by: Hannah Holzer — campus@theaggie.org