Right to education should not be ‘screwed’
By Peter Simithka
Until completely drunk with their hideous successes, Pete Wilson
and his UC Regents adhered to their version of a Lincoln dictum:
you can screw some of the people some of the time, but not all the
people, all of the time.
But things have begun to change: The Regents have announced
annual 10 percent fee increases for students, while one of their
number, Ward Connerly, a Wilson appointee, has begun an assault on
affirmative action. Now, in contrast to when they targeted just
immigrants, they believe that they can screw most of the people,
most of the time.
In the past, they succeeded, in large measure, because
progressive forces have been slow to mobilize with the necessary
vigor. This time around, however, the progressive forces must begin
their resistance early.
As part of this effort, the Network for Public Education &
Social Justice has organized a workshop series to address some of
the burning issues of our day. The series is directed both at
individuals who want to hear an alternative perspective to that
provided by Pete’s crowd, and to those who want to begin active
organizing to defend affirmative action, immigrants rights, and the
right to a public education.
The first workshop, "The Immigration Debate," will bring to life
some of the ideas debated in the Daily Bruin pages. Professor Mark
Ellis of the UCLA Geography Department will examine some of the
issues underlying immigration. Pro-Immigrant Mobilization Coalition
organizer Alvaro Maldonado will discuss efforts to defend immigrant
rights and the opportunities for students to participate. The
two-hour event, scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 25, in Dodd 200,
starting at 1 p.m. will provide opportunities for students, staff
and faculty to ask questions and air their own views.
In the weeks to come the Network will host a discussion on the
fate of the Democratic Party, featuring State Senator Tom Hayden
and Professor Bob Brenner (UCLA History Department); a program on
welfare, entitled "Whose Family Values;" and, a review of the
issues involved in the criminalization of poverty entitled "Crime
and Punishment" with activist Anthony Thigpenn of Action for
Grassroots Empowerment and Neighborhood Development Alternatives
(AGENDA).
The Network meets on Wednesdays at 5 p.m. in Bunche A170. For
more information, call (310) 390-0695.
Simithka is a junior history student.