Protests: "save my education"

• Protesters Receive Coy Embrace (Inside Higher Ed)

The tricky thing about viruses is that it’s impossible to know where they might spread next or what damage they might do if they mutate. The same could be said of “viral” protest movements like the one that started in California months ago.

Talk of a series of March 4 demonstrations across California began in October, and since that time a loosely connected cyber network of angered faculty and students have planned their own protests across the country. What has emerged is the promise of the collective angst of cash-strapped public education -- from K-12 through the college sector -- bubbling over in hot spots from sea to shining sea….

• California Education: Tallying Cuts and Costs (New York Times)

A new round of rallies are planned for next week to protest the budget cuts in higher education and the resulting layoffs, furloughs and fee increases. Here are some numbers — from state and nonprofit sources — that describe education in public schools and colleges….

Sent tonight, 7:37 p.m.
From UC Irvine 
Chancellor Drake:

Dear Students,

On February 17th, as many of you have read, I wrote about the manner in
which we discuss and debate our differences, our values and how we use
those values to guide our decision-making. An unfortunate series of
recent events requires that I revisit and reinforce this message.

During recent days, several events on the UCSD campus have opened
painful wounds. As I stated in my commencement address last June, we
are all particularly offended (and astonished) when campus groups behave
in ways that are harmful to other members of our community. On our own
campus, we have unfortunately seen an increase in inflammatory rhetoric
and actions, rather than an increase in problem solving efforts. At
Berkeley, just last night, we witnessed a regrettably destructive and
violent confrontation. The list goes on.

This is a stressful time for all of us in the University of California
family. And it is at just these times that we must remember and
rededicate ourselves to our values and guiding principles, particularly
respect, integrity and empathy, to light the way forward from the
distressing events of the recent past.

I have joined my colleagues in a statement reaffirming our commitment to
promote and defend the principles and values of the University of
California. Fortunately, as I stated, the overwhelming majority of us
are fully aligned in our efforts to continue to advance as a campus and
as a community, and that is just what we shall do.

Chancellor Michael Drake