UC Priorities?

Esther Ho

Section A02

Reading Reflection #4

"A Tale of Two Campuses: Berkeley and Davis respond to Occupy movements"

This article really opened up the reality of strikes and occupy movements. The two differing responses from UC Davis and UC Berkeley seems to highlight the two different possibilities that might be a result of strikes and occupy movements based on the values emphasized. In the case of the UC Davis Occupy Movement, it seems that the administration focused on the financial repercussions that the movement caused on Dutton Hall, rather than the purpose of the movement. It is ironic how they care about the cost that the students implicated on them, but neglect the cost they have implicated on the students with the rising tuition. While in UC Berkeley’s case, they acknowledged the movement and created the Middle Class access plan to lower university fees for middle class families to address their concerns. These two responses show how a strike could either be not effective in instituting a change or it could facilitate a positive change that addresses the issue at hand. The difference in response seems to trace back to the administration’s ideals and priorities. I personally think as an educational institution, the UC campuses as a whole should consider the welfare of the students as one of their priorities and respond to their needs, like UC Berkeley did. The policies should also be across campuses, in order to implement a sense of equality and coherence across the UC system for the students that are occupying for the same cause.

Are occupy movements and strikes just a temporary solution? Does the administration only respond if public attention is brought to the issue? Would the issue be ignored without public pressure?