Another Chapter in the History of Race: UCSD Edition

SoCal is roiling with race-related cacophonies as UCSD and its students twist in the wind.... here is an email update from a colleague and more...

Dear Colleagues,

It is with a very heavy heart that I forward this information to you. This incitation to racist violence occurred last night in the library at UCSD. It is the third such event in 10 days and a reminder that the racist violence of segregation times is still alive and well, not just in the south and not just among uneducated people as some like to believe, but in Southern California universities today.

According to the UT, a female student who confessed is being questioned and authorities are classifying the crime as “hanging a noose with the intent to terrorize.” (see http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/26/noose-protest-ucsd/). We have had our share of incitations to hate when the Koala rag is distributed on our campus every semester. I hope that perpetrators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Instead of feeling smug about SDSU being "better" than UCSD on these issues, I also hope that these events are a reminder to all of us that we need to engage in the kinds of structural changes Professor Yang and the Black Student Union at UCSD have called for, such as:
--creating structures to increase enrollment and graduation of African American students and of other students from other underrepresented groups
--creating structures to increase the numbers of African American faculty, staff, and administrators as well as the numbers of faculty, staff, and administrators from other underrepresented groups (for example, we currently have 3 open high-level administrator searches for the AVP for Faculty Affairs, the Dean of the Library and the Dean of IVC, so this is a good opportunity to begin to make immediate changes, especially given that we have only ever had a handful of top level administrators from underrepresented groups and have only had one female top level administrator from an underrepresented group in the entire history of our university)
--providing the office of the Director of Diversity with staff and a budget
--developing diversity training for faculty, staff, administrators, and students and continuing to support current initiatives (Cultural Competency certificate, Safe Zones program, Center for Teaching and Learning, etc.)
--funding organizations that support underrepresented students.

Best,
Anne

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Matthew Vu <matty.vu@gmail.com>
To: southerncalicoalition@googlegroups.com
Sent: Fri, February 26, 2010 12:44:11 AM
Subject: [SouthernCaliCoalition] Noose Found at UCSD

On the night of February 25th, a NOOSE was found on the 7th floor of Geisel Library.

It has been exactly a week since the piece of cardboard marked with "Compton lynching"

was found at SRTV (Student- Run TV). This is a direct threat to students of color

and their allies. UCSD is in a state of emergency. Please pass this on.

Makibaka, Huwag Matakot! (Resist, Struggle, Do not be afraid!)

Isang Mahal (One love.)

peace. love. JOY. solidarity. always.

--
Matthew Vu
University of California, San Diego, Thurgood Marshall College
Human Biology, Ethnic Studies
AS UCSD, Office of Local Affairs, Chief of Staff
408.887.6313
matty.vu@gmail.com

"Love shows itself better through deeds than by words." – St Ignatius of Loyola

--  Anne Donadey, Professor European Studies and Women's Studies Graduate Adviser in French Chair, University Committee on Diversity, Equity and Outreach San Diego State University 5500 Campanile Drive San Diego, CA 92182-7704