UC students petition Brown, Napolitano: “Come out of the shadows”

By Nanette Asimov

The idea of a secret cabal deciding the fate of the University of California is enough to set off the activism gene in any self-respecting student of the revered institution.

That’s why nearly 1,000 students and their supporters from across the state have so far signed a petition urging Gov. Jerry Brown and UC President Janet Napolitano to emerge from seclusion and hold their “Committee of Two” meetings about university finances in public.

“California voters deserve full transparency around the decisions being made,” says the petition created Thursday by the UC Student Association, which represents students on UC’s 10 campuses up and down the state. “The choices being made in these private meetings will affect the higher-education opportunities available for ourselves, our children and future generations of Californians. We call on you to come out of the shadows of the ‘Committee of Two’ by participating in a public forum regarding UC costs and funding this spring,” to be hosted by the student government at UC Davis.

The so-called Committee of Two, or CO2, was born in January after Napolitano and Brown butted heads over UC’s finances, and students were livid over the regents’ plan to raise tuition by up to 28 percent over the next five years. Napolitano says UC needs an extra $220 million from the state to avoid raising tuition next fall. Brown is offering just $120 million–but only if tuition stays flat. To resolve the impasse, the two agreed to meet periodically — but in private.

After that, UC Davis students invited the two to meet in public on their campus on April 1.

Napolitano responded by letter on March 17, telling the students she was busy that day. (No fooling.)

On March 19, at the regents meeting in San Francisco, she and Brown offered an update on the two private meetings they’d held so far — yet revealed nothing. Napolitano said, “We’re still in the midst of our work together.” Brown said, “My goal is to spend a little less money.”

Now the students hope their petition will force a public meeting. They say their goal is to collect at least 3,000 signatures before presenting it to Napolitano and Brown, also a regent, at the next regents meeting in late May.

“We figured it would be the best way to put up a lot of pressure for them to accept,” said Jefferson Kuoch-Seng, who majors in management at UC Merced and is president of the UC Student Association.

Students want the C02 to meet in public “so we can get an idea of what they’re trying to do at the UC, what cost-cutting structure they want to put in place — and for us to know what’s going on,” Kuoch-Seng said. “We’re left out.”

But will Napolitano and Brown agree?

When The Chronicle asked how Napolitano would respond to the petition, Dianne Klein, her spokeswoman, said, “President Napolitano already declined the invitation.”

How about the governor?

“Further discussion is expected at the next regents meeting,” replied Evan Westrup, Brown’s spokesman.

That was a bit confusing. So The Chronicle asked: “Does that mean he’s thinking about it?”

“It means there’s a process in place,” Westrup said.

“Not to belabor the point,” The Chronicle said. But is that a “no” or a “maybe?”

No reply.

Meanwhile, the students continue collecting signatures.

[Source]: SF Gate