During the last few weeks, the campus administration has offered a number of declarations of anti-racism. We have no doubt that they are expressions of genuine concern. Yet the financial decisions of the administration appear to be seriously at odds with their words. At this historic moment of heightened consciousness of racial injustice, the administration chose to announce the closure of the Institute for the Study of Societal Issues (ISSI). For over forty years, this pioneering research unit has fostered the education and training of graduate students of color from different disciplines. This has been possible because, in its Anna Head Complex, the ISSI contains the Center for Research on Native American Issues, the Latinx Research Center, the Berkeley Center for Social Medicine, the Center for Right Wing Studies, and the Center for Research on Social Change. As Troy Duster, founder of the Institute, relates in his letter, ISSI has been a priority for successive Chancellors. The last (2015) review of ISSI commended the institute for its leadership, high-quality research, and “commitment to serving diverse graduate and undergraduate students.” And yet the campus appears to be resolute in closing this exemplary institute. As Duster writes, the defunding decision is at best “tone deaf,” and even more troubling if regarded as a “deliberate statement of institutional priorities.”
At the same time that the administration has chosen to defund ISSI, Chancellor Christ largely sidesteps growing calls to defund the police. While acknowledging the need to “reexamine the role of police in society and reimagine alternative systems of community safety,” and admitting “the time for incrementalism is past,” the Chancellor proposes a series of (incremental) “first steps” (banning carotid holds, reviewing tools and equipment, reducing the role of armed police in non-criminal calls, and even the possible relocation of the police department). Undoubtedly, these are well-meaning gestures, but there is no commitment to public deliberation nor to considering abolition. Whereas the administration explains the decision to close ISSI by citing budgetary constraints, it is silent on the budget of UCB PD–yet currently, ISSI receives no more in central campus support ($350k) than the UCB PD racks up in yearly deficits. Taken together, the ISSI closure and the Chancellor’s statement on policing suggest a sadly anemic attempt to “reimagine” community well-being.
As if this was not enough, last week we witnessed another scene of administrative hubris, this time from UCOP’s team negotiating a new contract with AFT-UC – the union that represents lecturers and librarians. The UCOP team showed up two hours late, failed to deliver a response to the AFT-UC proposals and then took a recess – never to return. Fortunately, there were almost 150 witnesses – senate faculty as well as lecturers – in attendance, watching the arrogance of power. Is this the way to treat poorly paid, precarious lecturers, devoted to bringing the best possible education to our students? To show your support for our lecturers you can enlist as an observer for the negotiations on June 24th (10a.m. – 12p.m.) by registering here.
There was good news this week, including a Supreme Court decision upholding, at least temporarily, DACA status that affects many of our students. The UC Board of Regents reversed their 1995 opposition to Affirmative Action (see below). The annual meeting of all UC faculty associations (CUCFA) took place on June 17. Discussion centered largely on the cascading crises affecting the University of California and how to imagine its future. CUCFA’s primary aim continues to be to reclaim the California Master Plan for Higher Education, recognizing that what’s being reclaimed is an egalitarian, anti-racist project rather than an actual past. Sharad Chari and Amanda Goldstein reported on the meeting.
Michael Burawoy and Celeste Langan for the Board of the Berkeley Faculty Association.