UC-Berkeley Hunger Strike in 10th Day

by Bill Carpenter (wcarpent [at] ccsf.edu)

Tue, May 10, 2011 9:59AM

Many of us are wary whenever our boss comes out with a plan for change. But if s/he then decides to call it anything like "Operation Excellence" -- well, in October 2009 Chancellor Robert J. Birgeneau announced his "OE" for the Berkeley campus of the University of California.

When this video was filmed, May 6, 2011, Berkeley students were in the tenth day of their hunger strike against Operation Excellence.

Nine-minute QT movie. 63MB.

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Download Video (60.0MB) | Embed Video

Twelve people started the hunger strike on April 26 following a larger protest criticizing the consolidation of three departments under Operational Excellence, UC Berkeley’s initiative to cut costs and streamline its bureaucracy. The administration has proposed consolidating Gender and Women’s Studies, African American Studies, and Ethnic Studies to save $500,000 in staff costs.
--Berkeleyside, article by John C. Osborn (MORE)

§Sacramento Students Present Torch

by Bill Carpenter

Tue, May 10, 2011 9:59AM

Sac State students reach out to hunger strikers
The State Hornet
Mallory Fites
May 9, 2011

Sacramento State students delivered a solidarity torch on Friday to hunger strikers at UC Berkeley.

Senior anthropology major Estevan Hernandez and senior sociology major Amanda Mooers made the hour and a half drive to deliver the torch, which was intended to encourage seven students who haven't eaten since April 27.

"We gave the strikers a solidarity torch as a symbol of our support for them, encouraging them to pass on the torch to the next campus (that's) fighting the good fight," Mooers said. MORE

§Hunger Strike: 10th Day

by Bill Carpenter

Tue, May 10, 2011 9:59AM

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§UC Berkeley Chancellor Birgeneau

by Mlan Moravec

Tue, May 10, 2011 12:52PM

University of California Berkeley (Cal) Chancellor’s incompetent actions: recruits (using California tax $) out of state $50,000 tuition students that displace qualified Californians; spends $7,000,000 for consultants to do his & many vice chancellors jobs (prominent East Coast university accomplishing same at 0 cost); pays ex Michigan governor $300,000 for lectures; Latino enrollment drops while out of state jumps 2010; tuition to Return on Investment (ROI) drops below top 10; NCAA places basketball program on probation: absence institutional control.
University of California Berkeley and Californians have been badly damaged by Chancellor Birgeneau. Good people are loosing their jobs. Cal’s leadership is either incompetent or culpable. Merely cutting out inefficiencies does not have the effect desired. But you never want a crisis to go to waste.

Increasing Cal’s budget is not enough; we believe the best course of action for University of California is to honorably replace Cal Chancellor Birgeneau ($500,000 salary)

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§Bridging Birkeley's (University of California Berkeley) Budget Gap

by Milan Moravec

Sat, May 21, 2011 11:57AM

Californians pay toward University of California (UC) costs: the UC 10 campus system is not untouchable. As Californians face foreclosure, unemployment & depressed wages it's time the timid Governor, UC Board of Regents, whining President showed leadership by curbing costs, particularly wages, benefits. As a Californian, I don't care what others earn at private, public universities. If wages are better elsewhere, chancellors, vice chancellors, tenured, non tenured faculty, UCOP should apply for the positions. If wages keep employees committed to UC, leave for the better paying job. The sky above UC will not fall. California suffers from the worst deficit in modern times. UC wages, benefits must reflect California's ability to pay, not what others are paid elsewhere. Campus chancellors, vice chancellors, tenured & non-tenured faculty, UCOP are replaceable by more talented individuals.
Curb UC tuition increases:
No furloughs
18 percent reduction in UCOP salaries & $50 million cut.
18 percent prune of campus chancellors', vice chancellors' salaries.
15 percent trim of tenured faculty salaries, increased teaching load
10 percent decrease in non-tenured faculty salaries, as well as increase research, teaching load
100% elimination of all Academic Senate, Academic Council costs, wages.

A rose bush blooms after pruning.

The Governor, UC Board of Regents, whining President can bridge the trust gap to the public by offering reassurances that salaries reflect depressed wages in California. The sky above UC has not, will not fall.

Californians are reasonable people. Levy no new taxes until an approved balanced budget: let the Governor/Legislature lead: make the tough-minded (not cold hearted) decisions of elected leadership. Afterwards come to the public for specified, continuing or new taxes.

Thanking you in advance for your partnership & for standing up for Californians, University of California system.

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