Tag Archives: ucsd

Boulevard of Broken Promises?

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Alec Weisman, Alumni (Editor-in-Chief 2008-2011)

Originally posted on The Word From the Wise, Alec’s personal blog.

On April 13, 2011 the Associated Students at the University of California, San Diego voted to endorse a principle of neutrality on political and divisive issues and refrain from passing resolutions.

Yet this promise has faded quickly, with the announcement that the AS Vice-President External Affairs Samer Naji will be introducing a resolution on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 that will explicitly announce the Associated Students support for the Occupy movement.

Although I am generally sympathetic with some of the goals of the Occupy movement, such as their concern that big business is in collusion with government and that bailouts for banks are wrong, yet other claims, such as debt forgiveness for all and “magic” money for every pet project they could imagine are hollow demands and are stupid. In addition, the recent acts of violence in Washington DC, Oakland, and San Diego (among others) has slowly eroded their positive attributes.

In addition, the resolution conflates the recent protests that have been met in some cases with what could be characterized as “excessive force” in the UC System with the Occupy movement at large. The resolution opens with statements claiming: “reckless greed committed by Wall Street firms and Executives,” “corporations prey[ing] on the hopes and aspirations held by millions of people with the simple and selfish aim to maximize profit,” “these corporations are responsible for the eviction of millions of people from their homes due to predatory lending practices.”

Most concerning of all however, this resolution calls upon the “Associated Students [to] provide support for protests and or occupations, should students decide to set up an occupation on campus.” This means that the A.S. will be using your student fees to bring the Occupy movement to UCSD and then proceed to disrupt traffic and interrupt classes and speeches. If members of A.S. want to use their stipends to cover the “Occupy Movement,” then that is their prerogative. But it is a shame that the Associated Students at UCSD continue to try to misrepresent more than 23,000 undergraduates, display their biases in a official capacity, and for revealing their belief that they know whats best for you.

I hope that UCSD students will tell AS to keep itself out of political and controversial matters and let them get back to problems that they have direct influence over, such as improving the parking situation at UCSD, dining dollar inflation, and restoring SunGod.

To express your disapproval for the Associated Students at UCSD passing this resolution, email asvpexternal@ucsd.edu or contact the council members directly: http://as.ucsd.edu/council

Below is the Resolution in full.

***

Resolution to Support the Occupy Movement

Whereas, individuals in the United States and across the world have been severely impacted by the reckless greed committed by Wall Street firms and Executives;

Whereas, these corporations preyed on the hopes and aspirations held by millions of people with the simple and selfish aim to maximize profit1;

Whereas, the profits made by the major businesses and corporations are being used to influence the American political system and the choices it makes, regardless of the impacts to ordinary individuals2

Whereas, these corporations are responsible for the eviction of millions of people from their homes due to predatory lending practices3;

Whereas, University of California, San Diego students, faculty, staff, and workers have been deeply impacted by the 2008 Financial Crisis and following recession that was caused by reckless management of domestic and international financial systems;

Whereas, billions in taxpayer dollars were committed to bailing out selfish and predatory corporations at the cost of neglecting Main Street America and cutting public funding for vital public services4;

Whereas, funding cuts to institutions of higher education, including the University of California, have led to skyrocketing tuition and fees, service cuts, and faculty, staff, and worker layoffs;

Whereas, personal and student debt has and continues to skyrocket5;

Whereas, concerned individuals have committed to peaceful occupation of symbolic centers in protest of the symbiotic relationship between corporate and government institutions, in addition to protesting public service cuts and the continual reduction of their standards of living,

Whereas, the demands made by the various occupations are closely aligned with the demands made by the University of California Student Association, including but not limited to:
The demand for corporate accountability,
The demand for a separation between corporate money and the American political system,
The demand to reform Proposition 13 to raise corporate property tax rates,
The demand to return for public higher education to return to be fully publicly funded and affordable.

And whereas, local police departments, including the University of California Police Department, have resorted to forceful eviction and suppression of peaceful demonstrators, in violation of their First Amendment rights to peacefully assemble6;

Let it therefore be resolved that the Associated Students of the University of California, San Diego endorse the Occupy movement;

Be it further resolved that the Associated Students provide support for protests and or occupations, should students decide to set up an occupation on campus;

Be it further resolved that the University of California, San Diego Chancellor sign a pledge, ensuring students’ rights to free speech and assembly on campus;

And let it finally be resolved that the Associated Students strongly condemns and demands that the University of California, Davis, and the University of California, Berkeley Chancellors and Police Chiefs resign immediately for authorizing the use of force by the University of California Police Department on UC students, faculty, staff, and workers

1. http://www.nhi.org/online/issues/109/bradley.html
2. http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/10/13/the-10-biggest-corporate-campaign-contributors-in-u-s-politics/
3. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12184365

4. http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/national/200904_CREDITCRISIS/recipients.html
5. http://www.npr.org/2011/05/16/136214779/college-student-debt-grows-is-it-worth-it
6. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/nov/03/occupy-militarisation-policing-protest

Sacrificed on the Altar of the Regents

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Alexander Kreedman

After increasing tuition nine times over the last ten years, undergraduates in the UC system will now be paying more than 200 percent what their contemporaries ten years ago had paid, in order to pay for a bigger UC bureaucracy. Since 2000, the UC administration has also increased in size by more than 200 percent.

At the UC Regents upcoming meeting on July 12-14 in San Francisco, the Regents plan to discuss an additional 9.6% tuition increase. If this tuition increase is passed, it will raise costs for an instate student from $11,124 to $12,200 for the coming academic year.

In March 2011, the President of the UC Regents, Mark Yudof, told students to be prepared for a possible mid-year tuition increase of 32% for 2011-2012 if state funds are not restored. At the current rate of tuition increases, it has been estimated that instate student tuition could hit $25,000 by the 2015-2016 academy year.

To understand the effect of this increase on a UCSD undergraduate, the cost of fall tuition alone in 2003-2004 was $2,035.50 while in 2011 it will have increased to $4,352.56.
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The Black Hole of the UCSD Libraries

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Alexander Kreedman

***Editors Note: This article was printed in the May issue of the California Review

This article is the second in an ongoing series to inform and educate the undergraduate population at UC San Diego regarding the health and longevity of the library system and how stopping services and closing down facilities affects the average student.

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Graduating Editor-in-Chief’s thoughts on the UCSD Associated Students

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By the way, for everyone who cries at AS about “gender neutral language,” you guys can suck it. – Alec

A transcript of my remarks can be found below.

***

Hello.

Thank you Mr. Thompson, I have never seen anyone filibuster AS as well as you do.

Just a heads up, I’m going to stand in front of the podium, because I’m not coming before you as a petitioner for alms, but as your equal.

By now almost all of you know who I am, often as a thorn in your side. Although I enjoy hanging out with some of you as individuals, most of you know that I view you, the Associated Students at large, as nothing more than petty bureaucrats, but that’s not quite correct. In fact, I view you as a nest of sycophants engaged in a massive circle jerk. In fact, I believe that a bunch of four your olds playing government do a better job than you. At least they don’t get paid and steal money from their constituents.

But what is worse than your ineptitude and incompetence is that you’re a gang of authoritarians & statists. This year alone you’ve sought to ban smoking, styrofoam and water bottles; and you would have tried to ban more stuff except your terms ran out and some of you are graduating.

Instead of wasting students lives and debating worthless propaganda resolutions about foreign policy, or writing up quizzes over who is most likely to wear their AS polo, how about you start censuring people and organizations that are directly responsible for the crisis we are in.

How about you censure the administration for increasing in size by 200% over the last ten years, comprising the highest payed positions at UCSD?

How about you censure Transportation and Parking Services for their lack of accountability and transparency?

How about you censure Housing, Dining, and Hospitality Services for ignoring what students want and instead limiting choice on campus, dramatically inflating prices, and for rent seeking?

You know why you won’t though? Because you’re spineless and because you think that the resolutions you pass and the bans you institute are going to lead you to the dystopia so many of you crave.

Finally, I’m terribly ashamed at how the UCSD AS continues to bend over backward to take it from the Administration regarding SunGod. You’ll never “uncage it” and the fact that you pat yourselves on the back about how “good” you’ve made SunGod is just pathetic. SunGod is not the festival of the AS, it’s the festival of the students. Thats why it should be free and campus wide. It is times like SunGod, when the students can finally let loose and act like a real college. As a good friend of mine once put it “fun first, booze second, and safety third.”

Whatever, I’ve had enough of ranting at all of you for the evening. I’m graduating, so congratulations (or my apologies) to those of you who remain on this campus, you won’t have to deal with me chastising you online whenever you do something stupid. However the staff of the California Review and the new editor are much more willing to play ball with you despots than I was at first.

I have more entertaining and enjoyable things to do with my life, so I’ll let you get back to having your asinine meeting.

Goodnight.

Breeding Hatred on Campus: Justice in Palestine Week

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Steven Perlin

As a supporter of the freedom of speech and open dialogue, I am not opposed to Justice in Palestine Week. I despise that the hosting organizations use student fees to fund their events, although I understand that everything is all done in a university-approved fashion. The truly disturbing part of Justice in Palestine week is the one-sidedness of the information presented. The perspective of the material leads to reactions that contribute to a community climate that hinders my ability to carry on with my daily life.

The best way to express my feelings is through a story. Last year I was on the 201 bus heading back from the UTC mall. As I boarded the bus, I saw a middle-aged, overweight woman wearing all black sitting on the bench waiting to board the bus. As I sat down on the bus, she followed me onto the bus and took a seat not far away. The bus pulled away from the stop and what began as a bus ride back to campus turned into something far more memorable. This lady began to shout some of the most disgusting comments about Jews. At first I was confused as to her audience, but I soon realized that I was her target. Amongst other things, I was called a “filthy Jew”, a “baby killer”, a “kike” and I was told to get out of the Middle East before she killed me.

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This Year, Time for Real Accountability

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Daniel Friedman

It was merely seven years ago when Justice in Palestine week began to take place on college campuses in Canada and across the United States. Depending on the campus, the official goal of the week varied, but ultimately it comes down to telling over the Palestinian narrative.

There are many components to Justice in Palestine week. The most visible aspect is the wall erected every year on the main walkway on campus. A wall littered with pictures, paintings, statistics and quotes. Depending on the year and space allowed, there have been mock checkpoints, fake graveyards, coffins, and even fake refugee camps.

Throughout the day, loud music can be heard echoing across campus, generally playing the song Free Free Palestine over and over again. Sometimes there are speak-outs, rallies, and sometimes even fake killings. At night, speakers famous for their extreme rhetoric are brought to campuses to spread their messages.

Where then does the problem arise?

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Blast From the Past: The 2003 Attack on Students First

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***Editors Note: This piece is to be taken with a grain of salt. This piece is heavily dramatized and only those who participated in the AS elections in 2003 know exactly what happened that fateful year. We believed that this account should be told to help fill in one portion of the history of the UCSD Associated Students.

***
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The Dream Act Comes to UCSD

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This email was sent out via the AS Listserv earlier this afternoon, unfortunately it did not come to our attention until late tonight. As this event is hosted by SPACES and their affiliate organizations, that means that student fees went to pay for this banquet in support of AB540 aka the California Dream Act.

For older articles by staffers of the California Review about the Dream Act, view Article 1) 2) 3) and 4).

Alec Weisman
Editor-in-Chief

***

Happy Monday, Council!

Just wanted to invite you all to come to the AB540 Scholarship Banquet tonight 5-7pm. It’s in the PC East Forum and there will be food and speakers. Come through and show support for our students, and learn more about how you can help provide an empowering network for undocumented students at UCSD. They’ll also be taking donations to build an AB540 scholarship!

Peace&Love :)

Alyssa Peace
Associate Vice President of Diversity Affairs, Associated Students
Student Promoted Access Center for Education and Service, Board of Directors
University of California, San Diego
asdiversity@ucsd.edu

AS Resolution Passed 4/13/11

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*** Editors Note: This resolution was passed on 4/13/11 with the intents of having AS restrain themselves from passing Resolutions that will divide the undergraduate student body.

Resolution Upholding Commitment to the Principles of Community

WHEREAS, the ASUCSD is dedicated to serving all students and to upholding the Principles of Community; and,

WHEREAS, on June 2nd 2010 the ASUCSD passed a Resolution for the Commitment to the Principles of Community stating that acts which “target and offend a specific community [are] a contravention of the UCSD’s Principles of Community” and resolved that such actions are unacceptable and in violation of the principles; and,

WHEREAS, past considerations of contested political resolutions brought forth to the ASUCSD have resulted in antagonization and feelings of polarization communities within UCSD, in stark contrast with the Principles of Community’s stated goal of “foster[ing] understanding and tolerance among individuals and groups…through education and constructive strategies for resolving conflict.” and,

WHEREAS, as per the ASUCSD Vision Statement, “the vision of the ASUCSD Council is to foster a cohesive community,” and the Council “will represent a diverse but unified voice”; and;

WHEREAS, divisive resolutions may target or offend certain communities, fail to promote a cohesive community, and circumvent constructive processes of conflict negotiation; and,

WHEREAS, conducive debate in professionally moderated settings is available for students at UCSD and should be encouraged; and,

WHEREAS, students should feel free and safe to hold their views, and community beliefs should not be censured by the ASUCSD; therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, maintaining a positive campus climate and safe learning environment is an utmost concern of the ASUCSD; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, concerning divisive external political issue, ASUCSD will bear respect for students of every race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, and political belief by remaining neutral; and,

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, the ASUCSD supports constructive dialogue for a conflict resolution among the communities of UCSD.

***

Below was the vote on the Resolution:
Roll Call Vote was follows:
Jeremy Akiyama, yes;
Andrew Ang, yes;
Anish Bhayani, yes;
Matt Bradbury, no;
Kristian Castro, no;
Baldeep Dhaliwal, yes;
Elizabeth Elman, no;
Victor Flores, no;
Benjamin Hass, yes;
Kevin Hoang, yes;
Karen Liang, yes;
Daniel Liu, yes;
Erica Morgan, yes;
Samer Naji, no;
Ryan O’Rear, yes;
Kristina Pham; no;
Thao Pham, yes;
Deyna Roberson, yes;
Parminder Sandhu, yes;
Zoe Seher, yes;
Adi Singer, yes;
Lynne Swerhone, abstain,
Shunya Wade, no;
Jacob Wisdom, no;
Leah Wong, no;
Mikey Yamane, yes;
Mac Zilber, yes;
Rena Zuabi, no;
Melissa Etehad, no.
Motion approved.

SunGod Guest Ticket Fiasco

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Alec Weisman

SunGod guest tickets were “sold out” before Box Office even opens this morning. At 7 am the line had stretched down to Round Table Pizza. By 8 am, Box Office staff told people in line that the 150 remaining tickets had been essentially “sold out” as temporary vouchers were given to the first 150 people in line, essentially insuring that no students beyond that point could get tickets.

The Lucky Few

The tickets will officially be sold out within 30 minutes of publication of this article.

The lucky few

How did these students get to be so lucky? Most of them camped out in PC, and some had been there since 1 am.

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