<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Hi all:<div><br></div><div>Here is a letter that's been sent out, and which I am passing along, to help explain the reasons for the UC-wide walkout. Please note that you are neither being encouraged nor discouraged from taking part, this is purely informative. </div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Times New Roman'"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Helvetica"><br></font></font></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Dear students,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">On September
24, thousands of students, faculty, and staff across all UC campuses are
engaging in a Day of Action to save access to public higher education in
California. These actions have been endorsed by the University of
California Students Association, which represents over 200,000 undergraduate,
graduate, and professional students at the University of California.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">This message
is to inform you on what will happen at UCR on September 24, and why different
groups are getting involved. We are not saying that we expect you to
participate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Ultimately, it is
*your* decision, after getting informed on the issues, to decide if you want to
get involved, and/or how.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">WHY THIS
ACTION?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The UC system,
the world's premier public university, is now at a breaking point. Students are
facing three fee hikes in two years, totaling over 40%, including a proposed
15% tuition increase for the middle of this year. Staff who support low-income
and middle-income families are facing furloughs and pay cuts as much as 8%. Faculty
are concerned about a future UC where thousands of eligible students are turned
away, or take longer to finish their degrees. All are deeply concerned about
the future of the UC system that remains affordable and accessible to
California's residents.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">WHAT IS
HAPPENING AT UCR ON 9/24?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Teach-in:
Speakers, hip-hop theater, and rallies from 10am to 3pm. The teach-in will
occur at the corner of Canyon Crest and University Drive.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Strike: UPTE,
representing 12,000 University Professional and Technical Employees, will
strike and picket on 9/24. At UCR, the picket line is at the campus entrance at
Canyon Crest and University.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Student and
Faculty Walkout: Over 800 UC faculty, including 88 so far from UCR, have chosen
to participate in the day's activities. The UC Student Association will
participate in the walkout and is calling on all its members to get involved.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">FOR MORE
INFORMATION on the issues at stake for public higher education, see<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Understanding
the Crisis at UC:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="color:#004FAF"><a href="http://keepcaliforniaspromise.org/?p=230">http://keepcaliforniaspromise.org/?p=230</a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">UCSA
resolution:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="color:#004FAF"><a href="http://www.ucsa.org/board/resolutions/UC%20Walk%20Out%20Resolution%20Final.pdf">http://www.ucsa.org/board/resolutions/UC%20Walk%20Out%20Resolution%20Final.pdf</a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Open Letter to
UC Graduate Students:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="color:#004FAF"><a href="http://www.gradstudentstoppage.com/">http://www.gradstudentstoppage.com/</a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">UPTE Strike:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="color:#004FAF"><a href="http://www.upte.org/publication-mm/2009-08-31.html">http://www.upte.org/publication-mm/2009-08-31.html</a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">UC Faculty
Walkout:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""><a href="http://ucfacultywalkout.com/"><span style="color:#004FAF">http://ucfacultywalkout.com/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">UC's Hidden
Wealth: Presentation of report by economist Peter Donohue</span></p>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Wednesday, Sept.
23 at noon, Watkins 1000<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Times New Roman'"><br></font></div><div class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Times New Roman'"><br></font></div><div class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Times New Roman'"><br></font></div>
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<div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div>Robin Russin</div><div><br></div><div>Associate Professor & Graduate Advisor<br>Department of Theatre<br>University of California, Riverside<br>Riverside, CA 92521<br>(951) 827-2707<br>(213) 949-1061 cel<br><a href="mailto:robin.russin@ucr.edu">robin.russin@ucr.edu</a><br><br>"I try all things; I achieve what I can." - Ishmael in "Moby Dick," written by Herman Melville</div><div><br>"Deserve's got nothin' to do with it." - William Munny in "Unforgiven," written by David Webb Peoples</div></div>
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