It’s easy to be skeptical when you hear that the University of California Office of the President is spending $850,000 on a gelato truck that is touring our state.
The truck, which distributes gelato with facts about the UC on its wrappers, is part of a larger initiative called Onward California, meant to educate the public about the importance of the University ““ how many students it takes in, how many people it employs, how many lives it touches. The initiative also includes a nearly $2 million advertising campaign, which has placed ads in the Oakland airport, on TV and on news websites.
Onward California represents a good faith attempt to spotlight the far reach of the UC ““ and represents the best the University can do in light of bylaws that restrict it from political advocacy.
The money used for Onward California comes from the Edward F. Searles Fund, which goes toward expenses not funded by the state, including maintenance for chancellor housing, conference and travel expenses, and fundraising.
Despite the cost, with Proposition 30 ““ a tax increase tied to finances for higher education ““ on the November ballot, it’s more crucial than ever that California citizens recognize the value in directing state funds to the UC.
But UC legal guidelines stipulate: “University funds … may not lawfully be used for campaign purposes in connection with ballot propositions. University funds may be used for … informational activities.”
The overlap in timing between Onward California and Proposition 30 is “purely coincidental,” said Dianne Klein, a UC spokesperson.
The UC has posted a website with information about the proposition, Klein said. The Board of Regents also endorsed Proposition 30 this summer.
UC legal guidelines identify alumni associations and foundations as groups that may be allowed to sponsor propositions.
Both the UCLA Alumni Association and UCLA Parents’ Council said they have not taken a stance on Proposition 30. The Alumni Association, which has endorsed a proposition in the past, has not chosen a side because alumni may have different perspectives on the measure. The Parents’ Council receives university funds, and as a result, is barred from such political advocacy.
It seems, then, that standing up for Proposition 30 falls to private individuals. For example, two UCLA alumni are leading a political action committee that has so far raised $150,000 for the Yes on Proposition 30 campaign.
This highlights the need for every person affiliated with the UC to do what our University cannot. In other words, Onward California shows the limits of UC advocacy, and we need to pick up the slack by vocally and financially backing Proposition 30.
Simply voting in favor of the measure is not enough when millions of dollars in state funds are on the line for the UC.