Dear UC Davis Faculty Members:
On September 24th we began the year by walking out of our classes and work- places in solidarity: students, faculty, workers, and staff who faced furloughs, lay- offs, pay cuts and tuition hikes, all left their buildings, classes and jobs to rally and march together against the privatization of education.
Workers and students showed overwhelming support for faculty grievances that day. We called attention to the lack of budget transparency and to faculty issues around self-governance. When administration claimed the Sept 24th walkout was led chiefly by faculty concerns, we refused to let that claim stand. We insisted we shared one struggle, and wouldn’t be divided by departments, titles, age or salary. We called ourselves equals—and took the future of our education, workplace, and university into our own hands. But since the walkout, the faculty voice has been almost entirely absent from the opposition to student fee increases and worker layoffs.
From September 24th to November’s UC-wide Days of Action and Strike against the 32% Fee Hikes, the UC protests have escalated and spread to include state colleges, junior, and community colleges and K-12 public schools throughout California. What began in the fall is now the largest coordinated protest movement in UC history. While the UC Davis students and workers continue to act, organize, and protest, the UC Davis faculty has all but disappeared.
We want to know why.
All but a small, committed handful of you have been absent at rallies, assemblies, a 3-Day Strike, three open occupations, bike protests, teach-ins, and recently, a weekend-long study-in at Shields Library.
As the March 4th State-Wide Call to Action to Defend Public Education approaches, we call again for your solidarity and participation. We invite you to join us to discuss the barriers to faculty participation at UC Davis, in a Public Forum on Wednesday, February 24th, at 8pm in Wellman 6.
Please join us in the conversation on Wednesday.
This is a mysterious invitation. The authors want answers from UC faculty, but they aren’t even saying who they are. As written, this is has a tone of, “we want you to meet us in a dark alley.”
It is true that most faculty members above all want to see UC academics funded to the level of what it costs. The state funding cuts are a big mistake, but in the face of these enormous cuts, UC has no choice but to raise fees. I think that most faculty members would agree that UC can’t cover student education by blowing its endowment or raiding its hospitals. (The hospitals have most of the top salaries at UC.)
It is also true that most faculty don’t favor protests that disrupt campus operations.
That said, the administration and some faculty are happy to join protests that go in the right direction. I just got e-mail today from Chancellor Katehi that says:
[quote]On Monday, March 1, the UC Student Association will hold a march, rally and press conference at the State Capitol between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. UCSA leaders have asked UC President Mark Yudof and several regents and chancellors to join them in meetings with key legislative leaders throughout the day. I am pleased to do so, and am looking forward to accompanying our students to Sacramento. If you’re able, I hope you will join us and add your voice to others advocating for keeping our public university truly public. If you need transportation, our Government and Community Relations Office is working with student leaders to coordinate UC-provided buses; phone 530-752-9796 to sign up.[/quote]
Having UC administrators join students in protest is an unusual step, and quite possibly a good idea.