On April 26th, the Stop BP-Berkeley student group opposing the $500 million dollar contract between oil giant British Petroleum and the University of California Berkeley held its first teach-in on the issues surrounding the agreement. The 7pm teach-in on Biofuels at the UCB campus was webcast live on Indybay.

The newly formed Phoenix Coalition that emphasizes direct action to "Free the University of California" continues to occupy a redwood tree in the heart of the campus. On April 25th, two of the tree sitters descended the redwood and marched to the UC Police Department to turn themselves in. Article from Daily Cal | Phoenix Coalition Press Release. The group is a coalition of groups that have come together under the banner "Democratize, Demilitarize and Divest." Their principle demands include stopping the pending BP agreement, payment of promised equitable wages to custodians and workers, preserving the Memorial Oak Grove slated for destruction, and barring military recruiters from campus, amongst others. Photos | Flickr Photo Gallery of the Phoenix Coalition.

Last week, on April 19, the university Academic Senate had a tumultuous special session discussing a faculty resolution calling for oversight of the agreement . Audio recording of academic senate.

Previous Indybay Coverage: Resistance Against the BP-Berkeley Agreement | The Struggle to Save the Oaks