Feature Archives

On Wednesday, May 30, black student activist Alette Kendrick and the administration of the University of California, Santa Cruz reached a landmark deal ensuring Alette’s future at the school. While the administration had previously announced their intention to suspend Alette for 3 years, she will now only be suspended for the Summer and Fall Quarters – returning to UCSC next Winter. Acting Vice Chancellor, Jean Marie Scott signed off on the deal Friday, June 1.

Ethnic Studies Committee writes: On May 3rd, the Ethnic Studies Committee planned an informational meeting to inform the community about the battle for Ethnic Studies at UCSC and the state of the movement today. The program included a timeline of our struggle accompanied by 5 testimonials (given by a UCSC professor, graduate student and 3 undergraduate students) and a guest motivational speaker along with a short clip of the TWANAS hunger strike in 1981 (in support of Ethnic Studies).

However, the program was unintentionally altered; intruded upon when Oakes Provost, Pedro Castillo, took it upon himself to barge in and take for himself the power to say what he felt. As a coordinator walked up to the stage to introduce the next speaker, Pedro Castillo followed her and insisted that he be heard. After invading this space, he was still treated with respect. He went on to relay his satisfaction at seeing such an event, and applauded the students that had come. Then, he started expressing his feelings about Ethnic Studies at UCSC, which completely contradicted his general rhetoric and the overall purpose of the event. He went on to scorn students, questioning their involvement by naming specific ethnic-based classes he had taught at UCSC and asking who had taken them. Read More

previous coverage: The Need for Ethnic Studies

Administrators of the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) have announced their intention to “suspend” Alette Kendrick, a prominent Black activist, for a period of three years — in essence, a sentence of expulsion for the third-year student. In response, Alette has immediately requested a formal hearing — her right under the school’s judicial process — while supporters have organized a week of action culminating in a large rally on Thursday, May 24th, featuring Angela Davis as a speaker.

Vinny Lombardo writes: "In this photo-essay, I've got alot more questions, than answers. "Jews Are Poison." "Jews Caus Wars." "Jews Spread Porn." These are the messages I've scene angrily scrawled on many benches along Pacific Ave."

In February, Oakland's Intertribal Friendship House (IFH), the oldest American Indian Urban community center in this country, announced that it was facing possible closure. IFH had to raise $30,000 by March 23rd, to pay current and back taxes. Several benefit events were held in Oakland from March 15th through 17th. "We are pleased to announce that we have sufficiently raised the funds to pay the taxes and protect IFH and the Urban Native community from yet another encroachment on Native American territory - a tale very familiar to our people" states George Galvis of IFH

Two benefit events are taking place in Santa Cruz for Native American (Dineh) families at Black Mesa who are resisting forced relocation from their homeland and the continuation/expansion of devastating mining operations by Peabody Coal. There will be an educational film screening at the RCNV on Saturday, March 10th, and a fundraising concert at 418 Front Street on Wednesday, March 14th.

The 1st annual Social Justice March in Fresno. This event took place on Saturday, March 3, 2007 and went from Justice Corner (Fresno & C Street) to the Free A.M.E. Church. In addition to the march, activities included: food, poetry, singing, community speakers, concession booths, and the launching of a new civil and human rights organization " National Network In Action " (NNIA)!
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