Activism
Community Steps Forward to Protect Holy Names University
The university has served the Oakland community for over 150 years. The student population is 37% Latino or Hispanic, 18% African American, 13% Asian and 21% white. One website summarized the university’s diversity, “The school has very high racial diversity – 79% of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC).

“It is vital to our community that Holy Names continue to be an independent university”
By Ken Epstein
The Faculty Senate of Holy Names University in Oakland voted unanimously this week to work collaboratively with community, civic and business leaders in the wake of simmering budget difficulties.
Already many community leaders and local politicians have come forward to volunteer to work with Holy Names to stabilize and protect the university’s long-term work as a major educational institution in Oakland for undergraduate students and training of teachers, nurses and administrators. And community leaders have proposed a number of solutions to the financial problems.
The university has served the Oakland community for over 150 years. The student population is 37% Latino or Hispanic, 18% African American, 13% Asian and 21% white. One website summarized the university’s diversity, “The school has very high racial diversity – 79% of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC).
Post Publisher Paul Cobb, who has been involved in several cooperative projects with the college said, “I’m concerned that Holy Names should not enter into a partnership like the one between Northeastern University and Mills, which destroyed existing Mills College programs and culture.”
In comments to the Post, a faculty member said the school has had decades of significant accomplishments but now needs new top leadership, because the current leadership has not done fund development or worked well with diverse communities.
Councilmembers Carroll Fife and Rebecca Kaplan are drafting a City Council resolution encouraging support and cooperation with Holy Names University.
Post Publisher Paul Cobb, who received an honorary doctorate degree from HNU has also been involved with several cooperative projects to raise funds for HNU said, “I’m concerned that Holy Names should not enter into a partnership like the one between Northeastern University and Mills, which destroyed existing Mills College programs and culture. The City of Oakland and Alameda County can’t afford to lose a vital part of our health and education infrastructure because closing HNU negatively impacts nursing, health workers and teacher graduation rates. The Mayor and city administrators were asleep at the wheel while chasing down and offering money to sports teams while Mills and HNU are being lost, due to our neglect,. We need the county supervisors, Senator Nancy Skinner and Assemblymember to join with the city council and community and save these Universities.”
In an open letter in support of Holy Names, community and local political leaders pledged to support efforts to protect the school:
“We are concerned with the future of Holy Names University,” the letter said. “This 154-year-old local Oakland institution is one of the most diverse four-year colleges in the country and it has educated thousands of Oakland young people.
“Its program for educating teachers is the best in the area; its nursing program is legendary; its sports program is robust; and its graduates include city council members, education leaders, entrepreneurs, and non-profit leaders.
“It is vital to our community that Holy Names continue to be an independent university, responsive to the needs of Oakland and surrounding communities, serving both graduates and undergraduates and expanding its service to more students.
“Toward that end we seek the participation of the government bodies, community-based organizations and individuals that represent Oakland, along with the students, faculty and administration of Holy Names.”
The open letter was signed by:
- Rebecca Kaplan, Vice Mayor of the City of Oakland, At-large member of the City Council
- Carroll Fife, Oakland City Council, District 3, and Holy Names 2022 Alumnus of the Year
- Janani Ramachandran, Oakland City Council Member-Elect, District 4
- Gay Plair Cobb, Alameda County Board of Education (ret)
- Paul Cobb, publisher of the Oakland Post; Holy Names University Honorary Doctorate
- Kitty Kelly Epstein, Ph.D., professor, Host of Education Today, KPFA 94.1 FM
- Victor Littles, EdD, Merritt College program leader, and HNU Adjunct Faculty
- Walter Riley, John George Democratic Club
- Sheryl Walton, MPH, Community Organizer, Activist
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of February 5 – 11, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of February 5 – 11, 2025

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.
Activism
OP-ED: Like Physicians, U.S. Health Institutions Must ‘First, Do No Harm’
Coupled with their lack of government and healthcare-related experience, we are concerned these nominees will significantly undermine public health, increase the number of uninsured people, worsen health outcomes, and exacerbate health disparities. Physicians observe Hippocrates’ maxim to “First Do No Harm,”, and we urge Trump administration officials to do the same. It is critical that the leadership of HHS and its agencies make decisions based on facts, evidence, and science. Misinformation and disinformation must not guide policymaking decisions and undermine evidence-based public health strategies. Spreading these falsehoods also erodes trust in our public institutions.

By Albert L. Brooks MD
Special to The Post
Presidential administrations significantly impact the health and wellbeing of our patients and communities.
Through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the agencies within it, such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the National Institutes of Health, this new administration will decide how financial resources are allocated, dictate the focus of federal research, and determine how our public health care insurance systems are managed, including the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Children’s Health Insurance Program, the Vaccines for Children program, Medicare, and Medicaid.
The decisions made over the next four years will impact all Americans but will be felt more acutely by those most underserved and vulnerable.
As physicians, we are greatly concerned by the nominations announced by President Trump to critical healthcare related positions. Many of their previous statements and positions are rooted in misinformation.
Coupled with their lack of government and healthcare-related experience, we are concerned these nominees will significantly undermine public health, increase the number of uninsured people, worsen health outcomes, and exacerbate health disparities. Physicians observe Hippocrates’ maxim to “First Do No Harm,”, and we urge Trump administration officials to do the same.
It is critical that the leadership of HHS and its agencies make decisions based on facts, evidence, and science. Misinformation and disinformation must not guide policymaking decisions and undermine evidence-based public health strategies. Spreading these falsehoods also erodes trust in our public institutions.
Vaccines, in particular, have been a target of disinformation by some HHS nominees. In fact, research continues to confirm that vaccines are safe and effective. Vaccines go through multiple rounds of clinical trials prior to being approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for administration to the public.
Vaccines protect against life-threateningdiseasessuch as measles, polio, tetanus, and meningococcal disease and, when used effectively, have beenshowntoeliminateorsubstantiallyreducediseaseprevalenceand/orseverity.
Because of vaccine mis- and disinformation, there has been a resurgence in vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and whooping cough, endangering those who are too young or unable to be vaccinated.
Several nominees have spread disinformation alleging that fluoride in public drinking water is harmful. In fact, fluoride in drinking water at the recommended level of 0.7 parts per million, like we have in our EBMUD water, is safe and keeps teeth strong. Because of public health interventions dating back to the 1960s that have resulted in 72.3% of the U.S. population now having access to fluoridated water, there has been a reduction in cavities by about 25% in both children and adults.
We also encourage the next administration to invest in our public health infrastructure. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical role of public health agencies in preventing and responding to health crises in our communities.
Health departments at the state and local levels rely on federal funding support and technical assistance to develop public health response plans, implement public health strategies, and work with on the ground organizations to serve hard to reach communities. Public health agencies are critical for protecting everyone in our communities, regardless of income-level, insurance status, or housing status.
Health officials should also work to protect the significant improvements in insurance coverage that have occurred since the passage of theACAin 2010.According to HHS, the numberofuninsuredAmericansfellfrom48millionin2010to25.6millionin2023.
California has led the way by investing in Medi-Cal and expanding eligibility for enrollment. In fact, it reached its lowest uninsured rate ever in 2022 at 6.2%. Voters affirmed this commitment to expanding and protecting access to care in November by passing Proposition 35, which significantly expanded funding for California’s Medi-Cal program. The administration should advance policies that strengthen the ACA, Medicaid, and Medicare and improve access to affordable health care.
Regardless of the president in power, physicians will always put the best interests of our patients and communities at the forefront. We will continue to be a resource to our patients, providing evidence-based and scientifically proven information and striving to better their lives and our community’s health. We urge the new Trump administration to do the same.
Albert L. Brooks MD is the immediate past president of the Alameda-Contra Costa Medical Association, which represents 6,000 East Bay physicians.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of January 29 – February 4, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of January 29 – February 4, 2025

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.
-
Activism4 weeks ago
Oakland Post: Week of January 8 – 14, 2025
-
#NNPA BlackPress4 weeks ago
Supreme Court Decision Confirms Convicted Felon Will Assume Presidency
-
Activism3 weeks ago
Oakland Post: Week of January 15 – 21, 2025
-
Activism2 weeks ago
Oakland Post: Week of January 22 – 28, 2025
-
#NNPA BlackPress2 weeks ago
Trump’s First Week Back in Office Marked by Racist Actions, Rollback of Worker Protections
-
Activism1 week ago
Oakland Poll: Tell Us What You Think About the Cost of Groceries in Oakland
-
#NNPA BlackPress2 weeks ago
Trump’s Broken Promises Pile Up as Day-One Pledges Falter
-
#NNPA BlackPress2 weeks ago
Nancy Leftenant-Colon, Trailblazing Army Nurse and Air Force Veteran, Dies at 104