UC race-oriented events under fire

[jamesinca]

UC race-oriented events under fire
Regent Connerly resurrects 1998 proposal

Tanya Schevitz, Chronicle Staff Writer Saturday, July 12, 2003


University of California Regent Ward Connerly will ask fellow regents next week to cut funding and sponsorship of nonacademic events held for groups of a specific race, ethnicity or sexual orientation -- the same proposal he unsuccessfully advanced five years ago.

Connerly, the architect of Proposition 209, which in 1996 banned the use of racial preferences in university admissions, said events such as black student orientations and Latino graduation ceremonies held at all nine campuses of the university system are divisive and exclude the public.

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But critics worry that if Connerly's proposal is passed by the regents at their meeting next week, many cultural celebrations could be disbanded.

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Many students and organization officials say the events are open to anyone who wants to participate, and are important because they allow a celebration of various cultures and a recognition of the hurdles some students have overcome to get through college.

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"It is not just graduating from Berkeley but it is being able to graduate with people from my own background," said Jessica Cendejas, 21. "I felt more proud when I graduated with all the other Latinos because then I know that I'm not alone. We are able to be successful."

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At least some regents disagree. Regent Tom Sayles said he has no problem with the individual groups holding their own university-sponsored events as long as they are open to anyone who wants to participate. "If students want them and people support them, I see no reason to preclude them," Sayles said.


http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/07/12/BA227471.DTL

[jamesinca]

1. If somebody could figure out what is wrong with Connerly

They would be able to fix the world. Maybe people like him are needed to keep us from taking things for granted, things like life liberty and the pursuit of happiness.