Shortly after students called on university regents to rethink
fee increases and address minority enrollment Thursday, many
removed their shirts as a symbolic protest.
“We have nothing left to give but the shirts off our
backs,” said Christopher Sweeten, a third-year student from
UC San Diego.
The University of California Student Association organized the
protest and students spent about a minute during the public comment
period at the regents’ meeting voicing concerns about
financial aid, fee increases, outreach and minority enrollment.
After they had all finished speaking, the students lifted their
shirts, a couple to bare backs, and walked out of the meeting
room.
But while some of the regents said the student’s protest
made a good point, regent Ward Connerly said he was not fazed by
the demonstration and the students’ actions have no bearing
on his decisions.
“These kind of symbolic things, you laugh at them but you
don’t really listen to them,” Connerly said, adding
that he was not affected by the protest and that on a scale of one
to 10, the demonstration and students’ actions ranked at a
negative five.
“One minute per student saying the same thing over and
over again has no effect,” Connerly said.
Students often run out of time when addressing regents during
the public comment period but are allowed to submit written
statements to all of the regents.
Connerly said the regents often never see the written
statements.
“It’s just a way to soften the blow that you drove
400 miles to speak a minute,” Connerly said.
By Any Means Necessary, an affirmative action activist group,
also demonstrated Wednesday in hopes that Connerly will not be
reappointed as a regent when his term ends in March after serving
for 12 years.
Connerly is notorious for spearheading numerous anti-affirmative
action policies and campaigns within the UC.
“We do not want Ward Connerly reappointed to this body.
Twelve years has been too long. Twelve years of promoting
segregation has been too long,” said Tania Kappner, a member
of the group, referring to what he believes have been the negative
effects of the state’s affirmative action ban.
Undergraduate Students Association Council President Allende
Palma/Saracho gave a charged lecture to the regents during the
public comment period Thursday, telling them they were accountable
to students, had failed at their jobs and could use the day for
redemption.
“For each of the things that they are discussing today,
there is a viable solution that is different from what they are
doing,” Palma/Saracho said.
Regent Odessa Johnson said she thought the demonstration made a
good point but wasn’t going to change her decision on fee
hikes.
“I think it made a statement that the raise of fees will
take the shirt off their back,” said Johnson, who
nevertheless voted later in the day to increase student fee rates
in the overall budget.
Both student regents and Regent George Marcus came outside the
meeting to address the protestors. Marcus asked demonstrators to
understand that the regents care about students and the decisions
regents make are difficult.
Some students felt the gesture was not strong enough.
“It was nice to see that some regents came out to address
the students at the rally; however, it was three out of 26,”
said Bill Shiebler, a UCSA board member and a student at UC Santa
Barbara.
Other protestors said there needs to be more collaboration
between regents and students, and that there are not enough open
lines of communication for dialogue.
“I feel that there’s a lacking in student input.
There was no student input in this process,” said Jenn Pae,
president of the Associated Students at UC San Diego.
“Ideally, they should have regular contact with the
UCSA.”