Racism Motivated Tree-Sit, Chancellor Tells Donor (UC Berkeley)

The Straight Story

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Thu Sep-25-08 06:15 PM
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Racism Motivated Tree-Sit, Chancellor Tells Donor (UC Berkeley)

Racism Motivated Tree-Sit, Chancellor Tells Donor

�acism against our minority student athletes ... underlies much of the opposition to our student athlete high performance center,� declared UC Berkeley Chancel-lor Robert Birgeneau in a letter sent to two major donors to the school.

That allegation in a June 27 letter stunned the recipients, Berke-ley residents and long-time university donors and supporters Thomas and Janice Boyce.

The appearance of the letter, given to this newspaper by a third party, comes as the campus is launching the public phase of a $3 billion endowment fund-raiser, with Birgeneau in the lead.

The chancellor�s letter followed earlier letters from the couple questioning the university�s handling of the tree-sit protest at the now-leveled grove at Memorial Stadium, as well as the expense of rehiring campus police chief Victoria Harrison.

Stephan Volker, one of the attorneys who challenged the university�s plans to level the grove to build the four-level high-tech gym and office complex, called Birgeneau�s claim �beyond bizarre.�

http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2008-09-25/article/31169?headline=Racism-Motivated-Tree-Sit-Chancellor-Tells-Donor

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OmahaBlueDog

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Thu Sep-25-08 06:16 PM
Response to Original message

1. ..and the point would be? (edited)

Edited on Thu Sep-25-08 06:22 PM by OmahaBlueDog

On edit: I'm not trying to be extrordinarily snarky, really. However, as a Cal grad, I have pretty much 0 tolerance for the tree-sitters, in spite of the idiocy of the Chancellor's statement on the topic.

To be clear:

a) the Coastal Oaks that were removed aren't endangered
b) the evidence of an ancient burial ground has more basis in Zacahry Running Wolf's imagination than reality
c) the money people behind the tree sit are nothing more than folke on Panoramic Hill who would like Memorial Stadium taken out of their back yard
d) the state of the athletic facilities for the Golden Bears football team are abyssmal

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The Straight Story

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Thu Sep-25-08 06:22 PM
Response to Reply #1

2. Hell if I know

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OmahaBlueDog

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Thu Sep-25-08 06:27 PM
Response to Reply #2

3. FWIW, I really liked this post of yours from yesterday, but I hope you'll overcome despair

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4088027

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The Straight Story

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Thu Sep-25-08 06:29 PM
Response to Reply #3

4. more frustration than anything

Seems like not matter what the people desire we are overridden by big interests.

And thank you very much!

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