Preserve California's world-class university system
POSTED September 10, 2009 by Misha Leybovich '05
As a proud Cal alum and former student body president, I am joining thousands of alumni from around the world to speak out against the California State Legislature's proposal to take over the University of California.
Join me by signing the Hands Off UC petition today!
I chose to attend UC for its world-class reputation, its academic freedom and integrity, and its unrivaled commitment to teaching, research, and public service. But all of that is in danger as the state legislature considers a proposal to take over direct control of the University. The UC has served its students well for 140 years, and has made innumerable contributions to art, science, and the state, national, and global economies -- in a system that's free of legislative micromanagement.
The UC President and Board of Regents are already open and receptive to the ideas and concerns of all Californians, including state legislators. When problems emerge, they solve them. When good ideas are suggested, they implement them.
Here's the bottom line: I am not going to let the state legislature's risky, unnecessary attack on UC's independence jeopardize my cherished alma mater -- and neither should any UC alumnus.
Please sign our petition, support Hands Off UC on Facebook, and post a video of your own to speak out against the UC take-over.
The latent power of our body of alumni is enormous. We can affect real change when we speak up together to protect our alma mater. Already, thousands of us have signed the petition and emailed our state legislators. We need your help today to add your voice to this effort.
Together we can preserve California's world-class public university system for all of its students: past, present, and future.
Go Bears!
A Solution in Search of a Problem
POSTED July 29, 2009 by Marites Ares '05 and Allan Kingston '58
Welcome to our new website and blog at HandsOffUC.com, a campaign by the California Alumni Association on behalf of our 95,000+ members and 431,000+ alumni to preserve the academic integrity and political autonomy of our cherished alma mater.
A broad coalition is coming together to oppose two constitutional amendments currently pending in the Legislature -- SCA 21 and ACA 24 -- that would strip the UC Board of Regents of its responsibility and put UC under direct legislative control. It's a solution in search of a problem -- an unnecessary power grab that risks causing irreparable harm to California's world-class public universities.
Learn more about why SCA 21 and ACA 24 are wrong for UC and California. Then, please take a moment to e-mail your state legislators, spread the word, and join us on Facebook and Twitter to oppose this misguided legislative takeover!
