Meeting Disrupted

Students and community activists succeeded in their goal of shutting down the UC Board of Regents meeting last Thursday, when protesters forced board chair Clair Burgener to declare an "illegal assembly" and close the meeting to the general public.

Constant day-long protesting by students opposing the Regents' decision this summer to strike down affirmative action ended at 2:15 p.m. when Burgener, protected by 20 SF police officers, ordered the eviction of everyone in the UCSF Laurel Heights auditorium except the press.

Although affirmative action wasn't on the agenda, students began filling up the auditorium at 9 a.m. By noon, most of the 200 spectators were vocal supporters of affirmative action.

"Well, it started out as an orderly meeting, but we finally got out-numbered. I think the clear objective was to break up the meeting at any cost," Burgener said.

The meeting was stopped twice because of excessive noise from the gallery after the public comment period.

An exchange ensued between board member Ward Connerly and alumni regent Ralph Carmona regarding the rights of public comment.

"We, as regents, should be allowed to deliberate without disruption. It isn't public comment time," Connerly said.

Carmona responded with "it is public comment time. Their (the students) input isn't being considered. They have fundamental rights."

Protesters erupted with chants of "no justice, no peace," and "education taking away liberation."

Led by Gov. Pete Wilson, the regents struck down all considerations of race and gender and other factors when determining acceptance into the UC system last July. The board opted to admit students based on merit only.

In the past 14 years, the proportion of white male UC students has dropped from 40 to 24 percent, while students covered by affirmative action has risen from 11 to 20 percent. The protesters believe these figures will reverse when the vote takes effect in January, 1997.

While the regents were in recess, the groups bickered amongst themselves about proposed resolutions, plans of action and representative power.

"It will take some time to organize," said Becky Roberts, a nursing student at Merritt. She emphasized that besides each of the UC campuses, coordination was needed between UC, CSU and the state community colleges. Suggestions by the protesters resulted in the creation of a committee to involve high schools, too.

"Berkeley just started at the end of August. The other (UC) campuses haven't even opened yet," said Lee Felarca, Berkeley graduate. A general meeting of the protesters has been scheduled for 6 p.m. this Thursday at UC Berkeley's Wheeler Hall. The UC Student Association, in coordination with each of the UC campuses, is planning a state-wide protest of the regents' decision. The protest will take place Oct. 12, according to student regent Ed Gomez. Oct. 12 is also "Indigenous People's Day."

Among those in attendance were students from SF State, Hastings Law School, Merritt Community College, and the UC campuses of Berkeley, Riverside, Santa Barbara, Davis, San Francisco and Santa Cruz. Groups represented included the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action by Any Means Necessary, Spartacus Youth Movement, and Diversity in Action.

While the UC Regents were meeting at UCSF, the Community College Association Board of Governors was meeting at Ventura Community College in Ventura.

Approximately 20 students representing the Movimento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztalan club addressed the board, as well as a number of faculty members who support of affirmative action.

"We have zero tolerance for discrimination in our programs," Joe Dolphin, president of the board, said of the 106 state community colleges.

The community college's process of reviewing policies and procedures is in contrast to the UC Regents' action in July, according to Kyle Orr of the chancellor's office.

"The regents adopted a broad policy to disband the concept of affirmative action in the design of programs.

[ back to Golden Gater Online September 19, 1995 ]

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