La Voz de Aztlan Special Report
ALTA CALIFORNIA: Statewide Mobilization for the Appointment of a Latino(a) Chancellor and Regent Gathers Momentum
On Saturday, January 26, 2002, some one-hundred
seventy persons from different parts of the state
representing various organizations and communities
met at Zacatecas Café in Riverside, California to
launch a statewide mobilization to secure the
appointment of a Latino/a UC Chancellor for the
University of California, Riverside (UCR) and a
regent to the UC Board of Regents from San
Bernardino and Riverside counties.
Facilitated by the National Alliance for Human Rights (NAHR), an advocacy oriented network of organizations and individuals, the unprecedented meeting focused on “jump starting” the statewide mobilization. Dr. Roberto Haro, former Director of the Cesar Chavez Institute at California State University, San Francisco, accentuated on the pervasive institutional racism that exists against Latinos who vie for high-level administrative positions in academy and noted that UCR has one of the worst records in hiring Latina/os for senior level management positions. Dr. Carlos Cortez, retired professor of history at UCR, spoke to the obstacles Dr. Tomas Rivera had to overcome in order to become the first and only Latino chancellor within the UC system. According to Cortez, “Ultimately Tomas Rivera’s scholarship, his administrative experience, and his leadership skills were crucial to him being selected as Chancellor of UCR.”
Dr. Armando Navarro, NAHR Coordinator, presented strategic steps required to initiate the statewide mobilization. In prefacing his recommendations, Navarro said, “the time is propitious for a statewide mobilization for both a Latino chancellor at UCR and Latino regent due to the fact that within the UC ten campus there is not one Latino chancellor even though state-wide the Latino population is approaching 35 percent of the state’s population and within the next ten years Latinos will constitute the majority population of San Bernardino and Riverside counties.”
He added, “This is tantamount to a growing “South Africanization,” meaning that while Latinos within the next twenty years or so will constitute the majority of the state’s population, presently they are being denied corresponding roles in the governance of the institutions of higher learning.”
A letter from Congressman Joe Baca, 42nd District was circulated indicating his strong support for a Latino/a appointment as chancellor at UCR and the appointment of a Latino/a regent by Governor Gray Davis. His letter of support for chancellor concluded with, “I fully support the appointment of a Latino Chancellor at UC Riverside.” For regent, he gave his strong support for Dr. Manuela Sosa, resident of Colton, who has a history of activism, related to educational issues and was the founder of the Inland Empire Scholarship Fund.
In attendance were representatives from several national, state, and local organizations, which includes the Mexican American Political Association (MAPA), Mexican Political Association (MPA), American G.I. Forum, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Inland Empire Latino Lawyers Association, Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan (MEChA), La Raza Unida Party, National Chicano Moratorium Committee, Los Dorados del Valle, AFSCME Local 3249, Partido de La Revolucion Democratica, and Mexicanos en United States of America (M.U.S.A).
The strategic plan calls for a massive statewide lobbying effort during the months of February and March. Meetings will be held with the leadership of the Latino Legislative Caucus in Sacramento, Governor Gray Davis, Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante, and UC President Richard Atkinson. In addition, a letter writing campaign is being initiated directed to both Governor Davis and President Atkinson emphatically requesting that Latinos be included in the applicant pool. Moreover, Governor Davis is being asked to appoint Dr. Manuela Sosa as regent, filling the vacancy by Sue Johnson whose term ends on March 1 of this year.
The next statewide meeting will be held on February 23 at University Heights Middle School, located at 1155Massasshusetts Ave., Riverside, California, from 9:30 to 12:30 with registration starting at 9:00 am.
Navarro concluded, “Understanding that this is a political year, we have an excellent chance for success on both the chancellor and regent issues provided we can expeditiously create a powerful mobilization that demonstrates the statewide unity and support of our Latino community.”
NATIONAL ALLIANCE for HUMAN RIGHTS (NAHR)
Statewide Mobilization for the Appointment of a Latina/o UC Chancellor and Regent
Contact Person: Armando Navarro, Ph.D., and NAHR Coordinator
(909) 787-4577, Ext. 1826
E-mail: navarro@ucrac1.ucr.edu
The National Alliance for Human Rights is asking the community to please write letters of support for the above effort to:
Governor Gray Davis
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 916-445-4633
governor@governor.ca.gov
and
Richard C. Atkinson
UC Office of the President
1111 Franklin St., 12th Flr
Oakland, CA 94607-5200
