Stand By Your Students.

In the four months since Trump took office, dozens of federal investigations have been opened against universities, specifically targeting programs that serve historically marginalized communities. Hundreds of international students have had their visas revoked and lives upended. Tens of billions of dollars in funding for research and grants have been cut or frozen at universities across the United States. 

The future of higher education, and of UC Santa Cruz, is at risk now more than ever.

UCSC’s mission statement clearly states that this campus will “support programs for students from all backgrounds.” These programs are what define the culture of UCSC. To not protect these spaces is to directly harm the retention of underrepresented students, and doing so weakens our campus community.

UCSC’s official communications regarding the attacks thus far have, in many cases, only amplified confusion and concern among our students, faculty and staff. We don’t need perfect answers — we need the truth. Through vague language and limited outreach to our community, UCSC’s administration has furthered the authoritarian climate that the Trump administration seeks to create. 

That needs to change.

Recently, University of California Faculty sent a letter to state and UC leadership urging action in response to the attacks on free speech occurring at universities in California and across the country. Over 2,100 members of UC faculty from across the 10 campuses called on the UC to “publicly affirm [its] commitment to academic freedom and constitutionally protected free speech,” and to “resist and legally challenge any federal mandates that violate the First Amendment, academic freedom, or other applicable state and federal laws.” 

As students of UCSC, we stand by these calls. We all must work in solidarity with one another, and we thank the faculty for taking action in this time of crisis. While a system-wide response is necessary, we call on our campus to take action of its own.

We call upon Chancellor Larive, CP/EVC Kletzer and the whole of UCSC’s administration to stand by its mission statement and maintain both funding and support to student-run spaces and resource centers that have particularly supported historically marginalized groups on our campus for decades. 

We call upon UCSC’s administration to provide clear and timely communication, and most importantly action, in response to federal efforts that victimize our community.

We call upon UCSC’s administration to restore quarterly press conferences — spaces that bring transparency, dialogue and democratic participation — and reintroduce a forum for students to actively involve themselves in the governance of our campus. 

And we call upon UCSC’s administration to demonstrate humanity and stand in solidarity by taking a public stance against any action that threatens this campus’ students, faculty and staff.

UCSC’s website claims this institution is at the forefront of “challenging systems of oppression to create a more just and equitable society.” As students, we have already taken up this fight. Now is the time for you to join us.

Signed,

Student Media Council

Endorsed by:

City on a Hill Press

Student Union Assembly

TWANAS Press

Alay Anthology

Chinquapin Literary Magazine

EyeCandy Film Journal

Film Production Coalition

Fruitcake Magazine

Leviathan Jewish Journal

Matchbox Magazine

Student Alliance of Native American and Indigenous Peoples (SANAI)

Rachel Carson College Council

College Nine Senate

UCSC College Democrats

Chinese Student Association

Cultural Arts and Diversity Resource Center (CADrc)

The Mixed Ethnic and Cultural Student Association (MECSA)

Stevenson Student Council

Fish Rap Live!

Merrill Student Government

Arab Student Union

Students for a Democratic Society Santa Cruz

On the Spot

KZSC

Student Union Governance Board

Young Democratic Socialists of America UC Santa Cruz Chapter

The Student Environmental Center

Engaging Education

Bayanihan

Asian Pacific Islander Student Alliance (APISA)

MEChA de UCSC

The Oakes Student Senate

Cowell Senate

Iranian Student Union

Comedy Joust