In December 2019, we launched a campaign to get the UC Regents to include Climate Justice and Action focus in the search for a new UC President. This had 4 phases:
1. We created a petition to include a climate focus in search for a new UC President (January 2020)
The petition garnered 2400 signatures, from all 10 campuses, including a Nobel Prize Winner, Deans, Provosts, students, staff, faculty, postdocs, and research scientists; 36 environmental and climate advocacy organizations also signed.
2. We recruited allies from other UC campuses and gave comments at UC Regent Town Halls focused on the Selection of a New President (Jan.-Feb. 2020)
Media coverage:
Daily Bruin (UCLA): https://dailybruin.com/2020/01/16/community-advocates-improved-higher-education-access-equity-from-new-uc-president/
Daily Nexus (UCSC): http://dailynexus.com/2020-01-16/the-uc-should-strive-for-better-students-faculty-and-stakeholders-share-suggestions-for-the-next-uc-president-at-ucla-public-forum/
Highlander (UCR): https://www.highlandernews.org/37227/uc-board-of-regents-hosts-first-town-hall-forum-to-search-for-next-uc-president/
Daily Nexus (UCSB) http://dailynexus.com/2020-01-30/uc-regents-hold-town-hall-at-uc-berkeley-to-discuss-selection-of-new-uc-president/
Daily Bruin (UCLA): https://dailybruin.com/2020/02/04/board-of-regents-to-consider-climate-change-in-choosing-next-uc-president/
Triton (UCSD): http://triton.news/2020/02/uc-board-of-regents-presidential-search-committee-hosts-town-hall-on-campus/
3. The UC Regents acknowledged that a climate crisis focus should be added to the UC Presidential search
Media coverage:
Los Angeles Daily News: https://www.dailynews.com/2020/02/27/as-uc-cal-state-seek-new-chiefs-here-are-wish-lists/
Daily Bruin (UCLA): https://dailybruin.com/2020/02/25/new-uc-president-must-prioritize-addressing-systems-climate-change-shortcomings/Â
The Aggie (UCD): https://theaggie.org/2020/04/07/uc-continues-search-for-new-president-amid-campus-closures-cola-strike/
4. The UC Regents selected Michael V. Drake as incoming UC President (July 2020); and he flagged the climate crisis as one of this three main concerns.
We recruited activists from UCSD GND and other UC allies to make comments at the UC Regents meeting for strong UC leadership in tackling the climate crisis and injustice.Â
President Drake stated he looked forward to working with UC colleagues to meet such major challenges as the global pandemic, climate change and “the yawning wounds of social injusticeâ€Â
Press release: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BqrPD__2b33WsLIYftI3NtSKHpBWxcnXFxVS4CQSZEU/edit?usp=sharing
Media coverage:
Los Angeles Times: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-07-07/michael-v-drake-is-expected-to-be-named-uc-president-first-black-leader-in-systems-152-year-history