tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10781944.post5334852681953985088..comments2024-03-28T00:36:36.460-07:00Comments on The Tree of Life: Should #UCDavis faculty "walkout" from teaching to "support" students? I do not think soJonathan Eisenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07953790938128734305noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10781944.post-34100884885523071702011-11-25T19:04:10.752-08:002011-11-25T19:04:10.752-08:00Thanks DanielaThanks DanielaJonathan Eisenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07953790938128734305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10781944.post-42316035587990795402011-11-25T12:05:12.824-08:002011-11-25T12:05:12.824-08:00To organize a teach-in you should contact Lauren C...To organize a teach-in you should contact Lauren Cockrell : lrcockrell at ucdavis dot edu <br /><br />Let me know if I can help with anything else.Daniela Palmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04663477500309858973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10781944.post-43717723458186920342011-11-24T14:55:41.427-08:002011-11-24T14:55:41.427-08:00Jon,
The issue is not at all complicated. Given t...Jon,<br /><br />The issue is not at all complicated. Given the master plan, there is no reason for a state university system to charge fees for educating the residents of a state.<br /><br />If you agree that it is acceptable to charge for Higher Education, then why is it not acceptable to charge the parents of each student for primary and secondary education? Why not make primary and secondary education "OPTIONAL" and start charging a hefty fees at that level also. After all attempts have already been made towards that end. The California Voucher initiative would have been a step in that direction while keeping an illusion of public education.<br /><br />As I said earlier, why not just end the California State University System and bring the ongoing charade to a stop. I think it is time for for all the faculty and students of the entire state university system to declare a strike. A refusal to pay any tuition fees by the students, and willingness on part of the faculty to continue teaching those students who have not paid the fees (even if this results in drastic pay cuts for the faculty.)<br /><br />Such a move would be in the spirit of #OWS, and very likely would produce the impact that is sorely needed today.Clonalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18290009954839887975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10781944.post-31927562003501793682011-11-24T12:04:48.167-08:002011-11-24T12:04:48.167-08:00Daniela - I am not lecturing Monday though our cla...Daniela - I am not lecturing Monday though our class does meet (Brad Shaffer is lecturing). I was already thinking of proposing an "open science' teach-in out on the quad since, well, I do not have to go to class. <br /><br />Do you know how one proposes a teach-in?Jonathan Eisenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07953790938128734305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10781944.post-51865763483892820602011-11-24T12:00:23.319-08:002011-11-24T12:00:23.319-08:00So far I am one of the people who has been blessed...So far I am one of the people who has been blessed enough to receive generous financial aid and stay safe from loans and the threat of not being able to afford UCD. I am striking on Monday because I am a person who still has the option of sacrificing a day of class to support those who don't anymore.<br /><br />For social change to happen I think it is crucial that those who still have their rights (in this case the right to higher education) forgo them in order to contribute to the efforts of the disenfranchised. Not only does this add participants to the movement, but it also urges those who feel they are unaffected by the changes taking place within the university to reevaluate their attitudes. <br /><br />So many students are apathetic toward taking action because they can still afford tuition in spite of fee hikes. It is important to show them that they are affected and that they have the privilege and duty of helping their fellow students who are less fortunate.<br /><br />I understand that a faculty member's position is different since you have a whole class to respond to. Maybe you could still use the lecture hall as usual but hold a 'teach-in lecture' (maybe on Open Access/Open Science) that is also announced by the General Assembly.Daniela Palmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04663477500309858973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10781944.post-81105024324490905362011-11-24T10:08:08.427-08:002011-11-24T10:08:08.427-08:00Clonal - I get your argument. I will be at the ra...Clonal - I get your argument. I will be at the rally/strike myself. But I think it is a complicated issue. The students walking out and striking - that is an individual choice where their decision does not affect others so directly. A faculty member walking out makes a choice for others - and forces the issue upon them. I am not sure that is the right thing to do here.Jonathan Eisenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07953790938128734305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10781944.post-53520486392905791962011-11-23T21:42:16.422-08:002011-11-23T21:42:16.422-08:00Jon,
When considering at the issue of student fee...Jon,<br /><br />When considering at the issue of student fee hikes, please look at the <a href="http://www.ucop.edu/acadinit/mastplan/mpsummary.htm" rel="nofollow">California Master Plan for Higher Education</a> <br /><br />From there, I quote:<br /><i>3. Reaffirmation of California's long-time commitment to the principle of tuition-free education to residents of the state. However, the 1960 Master Plan did establish the principle that students should pay fees for auxiliary costs like dormitories and recreational facilities.</i><br /><br />The fact that California has strayed far from this goal should be of intense concern to all faculty members and students. The attempt by senior administrators of the UC system to get around the assault by the legislature, on the education system by attempting to convert a STATE University System into de facto a PRIVATE university system is contemptible. The administrators of the UC system should be fighting in Sacramento and DC, and not attempting to apply band aids to the system by increasing the burden on the student and the parents. Student loans to offset the tuition hikes are totally inappropriate.<br /><br />The response of the faculty and administrators to the assault on Higher Education by the State legislature should be met by a unified strike on part of the students and faculty.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.newdeal20.org/2011/11/23/a-feast-for-the-1-a-famine-for-the-one-third-65571/" rel="nofollow">The Bottom third of the population has already been totally impoverished by the 1%.</a> It is time for the faculty to show that it cares. The only way IMO that they can show that solidarity is to go on a strike to bring to fruition the goal laid out in the Master Plan.<br /><br />If this goal cannot be met, IMO, you will be better off shutting down the State Higher Education System. At least the pretense of having a state system will not be there. And today, the California's State Higher Education System is a shadow of what it once was, and is merely pretending to serve the Public Good!<br /><br />I am speaking as one who has availed of the UC system before the decimation of the system started.Clonalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18290009954839887975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10781944.post-18365078751826276782011-11-23T19:31:36.854-08:002011-11-23T19:31:36.854-08:001. Since I am not actually supposed to be teaching...1. Since I am not actually supposed to be teaching Monday not sure what I would have done if I had to choose<br /><br />2. I completely agree that first amendment rights are more important than one class - but if students want to learn, I think we should teach them. After all, they paid for class ...<br /><br />3. I like your idea of optional office hours and not covering new material. I am in fact supposed to have office hours Monday during the rally. I am going to reschedule that - partly so I can go ----<br /><br />4. I know many faculty are planning to hold "teach ins" of some kind, possibly during the demonstration - as a replacement for normal classes. This is a bit harder with our class which has 600+ people in two sections ...Jonathan Eisenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07953790938128734305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10781944.post-42228529227593528152011-11-23T19:23:30.574-08:002011-11-23T19:23:30.574-08:00If I were a UC Davis student, I'd have to choo...If I were a UC Davis student, I'd have to choose between being a conscientious student and going to class, vs. being a conscientious American and demonstrating for my first amendment rights. (I personally am more concerned about the UCs ignoring rights to peaceful assembly than the budget cuts, but that's just my opinion as an outsider.) I think many reasonable students will choose the latter. To be fair to them, maybe the professors could hold optional office hours during class time and not cover any new material.Maureenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00383807357506953524noreply@blogger.com