Let’s be real. This past year has been full of some unpleasant realizations for me when it comes to the way the Berkeley campus is run. As Professor Ling Chi Wang said at the API Language and Education Now! conference, the reason that this campus is full of liberal, passionate, and active students is (and has been since the raging sixties) is because the administration is so incredibly conservative.
The need for us, as students, to defend our education against the administration has come yet again with the plan to restructure the International Area Studies (IAS) department at UC Berkeley. The IAS houses 6 undergrad majors such as Peace and Conflict Studies, Development Studies, and even the Global Poverty minor. The Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost (EVCP) George Breslauer recently announced that the position of dean in IAS would be replaced by a director and the IAS Teaching Program would be demoted to the Institute of IAS.
What’s the big deal about this name game? The title of dean represents a certain degree of importance and power and as such, they would have a larger role in the administrative happenings. This demotion not only takes away this power but makes the statement that Berkeley does not value international knowledge despite the fact that we live in a globalized community. In response to the student and professors’ badgering, Breslauer said that this move would save $250,000 annually. You know what, Breslauer? We’re calling your bluff because, as Prof. Ananya Roy has stated, you’re going to be hiring three individuals to replace the dean– how much money will that save? If you want to restructure a program on campus, can’t you please give us real and foolproof reasons as to why and how it will be beneficial? Breslauer has outright refused to talk to students in an open and public dialogue. This is a serious issue of transparency.
As a Development Studies major, this move impacts me in a very real way. I took on this major because I knew it was interdisciplinary and would not confine me to viewing the world’s issues from one field, one perspective. This major allows me to not only better understand the Third World but pick a geographic area of concentration. I have chosen to focus on Southeast Asia and, in doing so, I have had the opportunity to learn so much about Viet Nam, my heritage as a Vietnamese American woman, and better understand the present day conflicts of the region. This program represents the passion for cultural understanding on the Berkeley campus and we are all stakeholders in it. We cannot afford to let the administration tell us that our concerns are not valid. In true TWLF fashion, let’s tell them that this is our education and OUR university.
For more information, please go to: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=75491306920&ref=ts
To sign the petition to stop restructuring: http://www.calpetitions.com/petition/support-ias/
Every season of America’s Next Top Model, Tyra chooses some exotic theme for the new cycle (space-themed, fairies, jungle…) This season, she chooses something reminiscent of Asian culture (see picture). The makeup looks like an attempt to transform the girls into geisha and they seem to be spewing from origami bits. ummm..what is the message being sent here? Tyra, as a woman of color, you should know better. why are you perpetuating this Asian fetish? I don’t think that we would see anything Egyptian-themed or something more tribal, so why this?
Richard Masato Aoki, 1938-2009.
Fearless Leader and Servant of the People
It is with deep sadness that we inform you that Richard Aoki, due to complications from longstanding medical problems, passed away on March 15, 2009.
Born on November 20, 1938, Richard was a righteous fighter and a warrior in the truest sense – he dedicated his life to his beliefs and the struggle for human rights. He was a field marshal in the Black Panther Party, a founding member of the Asian American Political Alliance, a leader in the Third World Liberation Front Strike at UC Berkeley, co-ordinator for the first Asian American Studies program at UC Berkeley, an advisor for Asians for Job Opportunities, a counselor,
instructor and administrator at Merritt and Alameda Colleges.
We will remember him for the personal impact he made on our lives and the social impact he made on the community movements of people of all colors:
“…Based on my experience, I’ve seen where unity amongst the races has yielded positive results. I don’t see any other way for people to gain freedom, justice, and equality here except by being internationalist.” – Richard Aoki
Memorial arrangements are pending and information will be available at a later date.
The 19th UC Berkeley Annual API Issues Conference is THIS SATURDAY 3/14 at Barrows Hall, Lipman room from 9am – 4pm.
Guest Starring… Activists Yuri Kochiyama and Helen Zia and Members of the original twLF / AAPA (Asian American Political Association).
W-W-Whaaaat??
That’s right. You did not hear wrong.
This will be a kick-ass, cuh-ray-zee, mind-blowing event. If you aren’t registered, and if you hadn’t prepared yourself for this weekend yet, what the heck are you doing?? CLICK HERE.
hardboiled will be making a strong showing there: you better too!
When I think of the Third World Liberation Front (twLF), I get warm fuzzies. Why? Well, to me it’s the epitome of stick-it-to-the-man-ism. Come on, look at Richard Aoki in his fierce shades and tell me that’s not pretty kickass.
On a more serious note, the twLF represents a kind of unified activism that has become so rare these days. 2 weeks from now will mark the 40th anniversary of this epic student-led movement to instate ethnic studies classes in Berkeley and in SF State. I think that there’s so much to learn from this because it shows us that there’s not only strength in numbers but strength in multiculturalism and diversity. The basis of the movement was for different ethnic communities to acknowledge a common history of colonial oppression and to unite under that banner to promote ethnic education and equality in the eyes of a Eurocentric administration. We could use a little more of that today, no?
Interested in coming to some celebrations of the anniversary? Check it outtt
In a recent article, Ann Coulter made this statement in reference to Governor Bobby Jindal:
“Wasn’t Bobby great in ‘Slumdog Millionaire’?”
Um, excuse me? I’m actually speechless …
While Coulter, a self-proclaimed champion of Conservatives, is notorious for her extreme remarks, this one has reached another low. Not only is she assuming that all Indians look the same, she actually thinks it would be funny to make a joke about it. I’m sorry, but not all of us are heartless, anorexic, ignorant, and attention-seeking like you are.
Some other Coulter-isms, just because
“If we took away women’s right to vote, we’d never have to worry about another Democrat president. It’s kind of a pipe dream, it’s a personal fantasy of mine, but I don’t think it’s going to happen. And it is a good way of making the point that women are voting so stupidly, at least single women.” -From her book, If Democrats Had Any Brains They’d be Republicans
“We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity. ” -On Muslims, in her column
