Save Our Languages

Why Are We Here Again?
The Fight to Save Languages Continues


Hundreds of UC Santa Cruz students are finding themselves unable to access their needed and wanted language classes in the course of Chancellor Denice Denton’s “commitment to diversity”, as reports of immense increases in tuition and administrative perks force many students to question the priorities and decisions being made by the administration at this university (as if you weren’t already). There is overwhelming support and need for language classes at UCSC, yet many of us stand confused and frustrated about the priorities of this administration. In order to survive in a rapidly evolving global community it is often beneficial as well as necessary to learn world languages.

Administrators keep using the same old story about a “budget crisis.” They claim that this is why they cannot centrally fund languages or allocate more money to academic programs. However, many of us know that there is a surplus of UC money ($5.2 billion in reserves according to the CUE union fact finding report) and that it is being diverted to raising executive salaries. And what about all the tuition we pay every quarter? We all know that many executives are rolling in the green. Many of you have heard by now that our own Chancellor is making “enough” money to spoil her two dogs with a $30,000 dog run. Is this really a “budget crisis” or is it actually a “priorities crisis?”

Over the years the Language program at UCSC has been severely cut to a fraction of what is necessary in a global community. After rumors that the program was threatened with a 20% budget cut for a second year in a row, language students became concerned and mobilized a petition drive. They collected over 4,000 signatures in two days (about 25% of the undergraduate population), which caused administrators to regress earlier “threats” and claim that “it was just a misunderstanding.” How can we really trust that this “misunderstanding” won’t happen again?

In Spring 2005 language students and faculty gathered at the Academic Senate meeting outside the College Nine and Ten dining hall to support languages. They called for a secure budget for this academic school year and for 2006-07, which was promised to the relief of many language supporters. So, why was the language program “mistakenly” threatened again? In response to this situation, students under the name ‘Save Our Languages’ have initiated efforts to organize for prioritization and permanent funding of languages to help diversify this campus.

Denton’s commitment to increasing diversity at UCSC to ensure that everyone has access to the opportunities made available by higher education is moving slowly and frustrating the masses. Many students who want and need to take language classes are unable to access classes due to a lack of sections offered. Language classes are some of the most impacted classes at UCSC.

Along with Denton’s commitment to increasing diversity she has outlined six priorities that will guide decisions and the distribution of resources. One is to “build on the quality of existing academic programs, particularly interdisciplinary programs.” The Language program fits nicely in this priority because it does not receive consistent funding independent from other programs, which always leaves the program vulnerable to cuts no matter how much the administration promises the program a “secure” budget.

Would making language a general education requirement secure more funding for the program? Writing is a GE, but their budget is slowly being reduced. Language use to be a general education requirement at UCSC, but it was not considered a significant requirement for students to accomplish at the university. However, every other UC has a language requirement. Why are we the only UC without one? (We’re also the only UC without an Ethnic Studies department). Even if language was made a GE it would still be vulnerable to cuts. The program needs to be prioritized and centrally funded.

Language is an important aspect of culture and culture plays an important role in diversity. There are more than 6,000 known languages spoken throughout the world. Mandarin-Chinese is the most common spoken language with over 800,000,000 native speakers and Hindi comes in second (beating English) with approximately 366,000,000 native speakers (anthro.palomar.edu). Conversing in other languages creates opportunities for students to experience cultures and communicate with other people throughout the world.

Denton wants to showcase the excellence of students who are making a difference in the world, but how can they when they cannot or have a difficult time accessing needed language classes? They only offer three Chinese courses next quarter and Hindi was on the verge of being cut last year even though it is the second most common language spoken in the world! Many of us will have a hard time making a difference in the world with the lack of language diversity. For example, this university does not offer any African languages, Tagalog or American Sign Language (just to name a few). Why isn’t creating more opportunities for students to experience different cultures a bigger priority for this university?

It is obvious that aside from the lack of language diversity there is also a lack of priorities at UCSC. Broken promise after broken promise many of us continue to have faith that the administration is going to magically change their priorities. I suppose you can keep your faith if you want to, but little faith that I had I’m taking back as well as taking action. We can’t expect the UC’s priorities on a number of issues to change whether it is increasing UCSC Custodians’ salaries, creating an Ethnic Studies department, resurrecting the Journalism program or prioritizing and centrally funding the Language program unless we as the students voice out against the bad decisions (and sometimes none at all) made by this administration. This is OUR education and we as the students have the power and say to make a change in the quality of our education if we work together and organize.



UCSC Students Rally to Prioritize Languages

On Wednesday, March 8, 2006 a freshly styled pack calling themselves Save Our Languages (SOL) attracted a substantial crowd over at Kresge Town Hall in an effort to extend and solidify awareness surrounding the University’s recent threat of a twenty- percent budget cut into the Language program. Approximately 100 people came out carrying picket signs and sporting green apparel in solidarity with SOL to express support and commitment to keeping the language curriculum afloat.

In many language classes the student population has grown drastically because faculty for this program is understaffed. According to Mike Cilley, a UCSC student and member of SOL, “People have to compete for spots that aren’t there, and teachers are taking more students than they should have to.”

Melissa Mewborn, also a UCSC student and member of SOL, made the point that many times foreign language class sizes exceed the capacity mandated under university fire code regulations.

Community members who attended also indicated concern that, were the budget cuts to be accepted the cultural context courses will most likely get cut first. “We care about the culture. We’re not just here to learn how to say things. We want to be able to go to these places and have something to do with the culture, and have an involvement in it,” said Mewborn.

Another question on many people’s minds was, ‘If the university is promoting diversity, then why cut language classes?’ The rally was successful in exposing the University’s hypocritical stance on this issue. As described by Mewborn, “Languages are diversity, and for most of us it’s the only way to get in contact with diversity.” Gouging financial support for language classes does not show respect to the knowledge that only diversity can bring to the table.

This is a played-out story for another member of SOL. Stephen Terán reflected on a personal struggle. “During elementary school I wasn’t allowed to speak Spanish, and it’s my native language. That connection has brought me out here to support the languages.”

In addition to a healthy turnout, the rally featured performances by Kasama, a ballroom dance team representing the Filipino Students Association, as well as the Latin American Ensemble. Blake Allen, a musician in the Latin American Ensemble, expressed this point of view, “In any department, language can help, so if they [University] value other departments they should value language, cause it’s the bridge.”

This rally was only a preview of what will hopefully become a branch to bolster UCSC’s vital Progressive Movement.

On March 14, SOL will meet in the Stevenson Game Room at 8pm to discuss plans for their next move. According to Stephanie Tam, an organizing member of SOL, “What we are hoping for is some plan for how languages are going to be made a priority in our school. This is just the beginning.”