www.bilingualweekly.com By Mayra Barrios (bw original) June 21, 2011
SACRAMENTO, ca —
The second part of the “California Dream Act,” Assembly Bill (AB) 131 which would allow undocumented students access to financial aid, for higher education, was approved with a 7 to 2 vote — on Tuesday June 21, 2011 in the Senate Education Committee.
“These students have the right to an education; they have embraced our values and culture,” said Assembly member Gilbert Cedillo (D-Los Angeles) sponsored of the bill. 
The California Dream Act consists of two bills, AB 130 and AB 131; if this legislation is approved it will change the status quo and amend the existing law, which does not allow undocumented college students to receive government assistance.
During the hearing Robert J. Birgeneau, Chancellor of University of California, Berkeley and Maria Luna, a recent Sacramento State graduate, testified in support of the A.B 131. “My status is not permanent, opponents are not permanent, but education is,” said Luna.
The Stockton Based Council for the Spanish Speaking (El Concilio) joined the California Federation of Teachers, La Raza Law Students Association, the Mexican-American Legal Defense & Education Fund (MALDEF) and other organizations supporting the bill during the June 21st hearing.
The Center for Investigative Reporting, California Watch published on June 17th that undocumented students make up only about 1 percent of the total student body at the California State University, the University of California and the California Community Colleges.
As these two bills move forward on the legislative process they will head to the Senate Appropriations Committee a hearing which needs to be set.
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Bilingual Weekly is your source of news in San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties.
Unfortunately Universoty of California Berkeley Chancellor Birgeneau continues his spend thrift habits that limit campus resources to the sons and daughters of californians, University of California Berkeley Chancellor Birgeneau ($500,000 salary) has forgotten that he is a public servant, steward of the public money, not overseer of his own fiefdom.
Recruits (using California tax $) out of state, foreign $50,000 tuition students who displace qualified sons, daughters of Californians from public university
education.
Spends $7,000,000 + for consultants to do his & vice chancellors work
(prominent East Coast University accomplishing same 0 cost).
University accrues $150 million of inefficiencies over his 8 year reign.
Pays ex Michigan governor $300,000 for lectures.
In procuring $3,000,000 consultants failed to receive proposals from other firms.
Latino enrollment drops while out of state jumps 2010.
Tuition to Return on Investment drops below top10.
NCAA places basketball program on probation: absence institutional control.
These are not isolated examples: it’s all shameful. There is no justification for such actions by a steward of the public trust. Absolutely none. Like with an addiction, admitting you have a problem is the first step toward correcting it.
Birgeneau’s practices will not change. UC Board of Regents Chair Sherry Lansing must do a better job of vigorously enforcing oversight by President Yudof than has been done in the past to Chancellors who, like Birgeneau, treat the university as their fiefdom.
Until demonstrable action is swiftly applied to chancellors by the UC Board of Regents/President Yudof, the University of California shouldn’t come to the Governor or public for support for any taxes, additional funding.
I have 35 years’ consulting experience, have taught at UC Berkeley, where I observed the culture & the way senior management works. No, I was not fired or downsized & have not solicited contracts from Cal.
Posted by Milan Moravec | July 8, 2011, 3:06 pm