University of California President Janet Napolitano hasn’t come into office yet, but she is already facing an uphill battle to prove herself to students.
After toying with the idea of a vote of no confidence in Napolitano, Associated Students University of California, UC Berkeley’s undergraduate student government, passed a measure called “A Bill in Support of Undocumented Students and Immigrant Communities,” which calls for Napolitano to fulfill a list of student demands by the third week of October. If the list is not met, the ASUC will pass an official vote of no confidence in her leadership.
On Sept. 11, the bill was approved by ASUC and passed on to the University of California Student Association for an official vote. At UCLA, Maryssa Hall, the Undergraduate Students Association Council external vice president, said she is drafting a resolution regarding Napolitano and will bring it to a vote at Tuesday’s USAC meeting.
The demands outlined in the Berkeley bill range from Napolitano holding town hall meetings with undocumented student groups across the UC, to banning the use of riot police during acts of student civil disobedience such as protests. Many of the items aim to ensure on-campus student safety as well as to improve student retention rates.
Although these demands are reasonable, the deadline is not. Napolitano’s official first day is Sept. 30, and it will take more than three weeks to implement the changes listed in the bill. Moreover, imposing a hard ultimatum before Napolitano has even taken office sets a negative tone for communication between students and the president.
Rather than consigning her to failure, UC student leaders should extend the deadline of their demands until at least the end of fall quarter and wait for the president to actually begin her time in office before expecting any policy changes.
All of the demands require implementing new programs, often with other departments such as the UCPD. With an extended deadline, Napolitano will be more likely to successfully address student needs.
If she can meet the demands listed in the bill, Napolitano will strengthen the relationship between the UC Office of the President and the UC student body, opening a forum for productive discussions and positive changes.
While the UC President doesn’t have the responsibility to meet the demands of every student group, taking action on the ASUC’s demands would reassure students that she is listening when they voice their concerns.
It is extremely premature to judge the capabilities of someone who hasn’t entered office yet. If Napolitano is unable or unwilling to address student demands after an extended deadline, then a conversation about her leadership would be warranted.
Addressing these particular student concerns will help Napolitano and the student body move past the politics and negativity associated with her previous job as the Secretary of Homeland Security.
The demands lay out what undocumented students want to see across the UC to ensure their safety and the continuation of their education. The negative feelings associated with Napolitano’s previous position create extra responsibility for her to prove herself to the students.
Now as UC President, Napolitano’s entire focus should be on the students, regardless of their status as documented or undocumented. Napolitano has the potential to bring much-needed change to the UC, but she needs to listen to the students first. Let’s give her some time to do that.