Berkeley

Opinion – Generation Lost – UC Berkeley’s Missing Black Graduates

Published

3 years ago

October 14, 2020

In the mid-1960s, the University of California, Berkeley, started its Educational Opportunity Program to target underrepresented applicants and combat its history of discrimination.

Unsurprisingly, this program was a success and the number of Black freshmen continued to rise until 1996. That year, Gov. Pete Wilson and Black conservative politician Ward Connerly led an effort to repeal these education gains by passing Proposition 209.

Prop. 209 prohibited public universities from considering race and ethnicity in admissions decisions, which has closed Berkeley’s doors to countless minority students. But Black students were hit especially hard.

After Prop. 209, Black freshman enrollment at Berkeley dropped from 258 to 126. The numbers at professional schools were even more troubling. For example, there was only one Black student among Berkeley Law’s 268 first-year students. The lack of Black students at Berkeley has not improved with time.

Since Prop. 209 passed, the percentage of Black enrollees at Berkeley has only once reached 4%, and the percentage has hovered around 3% since 2007. Had the percentage of Black freshman stayed at pre-209 levels, there would have been 4,061 more Black enrollees since 1998 at Berkeley. This has also led to declining participation in science, technology, degree attainment, average wages, and the likelihood of earning higher wages throughout to the Black community.

Meanwhile, a state auditor found that UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, and UC San Diego admitted dozens of unqualified students based on their connections to staff and donors since 2013.

Each one of those admissions came at the expense of other qualified applicants, with most of the freshmen spots going to white applicants from families making at least $150,000 per year.

Specifically, the auditor scolded UC Berkeley because their admissions practices for the wealthy and well-connected “demonstrates that campus leadership has failed to establish a campus culture that values commitment to an admissions process based on fairness and applicants’ merits and achievements.”

While Prop. 209 has hamstrung Berkeley’s ability to recruit Black students, public universities from 41 other states can still take race into account when making college admissions decisions.

This is also true of private universities that still consider race and ethnicity in their admissions policies to create avenues for Black applicants to access higher education.

For example, Stanford’s Fall 2019 freshman class was 8% Black or African American. That percentage nearly triples Berkeley’s freshman class for last year. Those numbers are even worse when omitting student-athletes.

California’s ban on affirmative action perversely limits our top universities from enrolling promising minority students and forces those that do enroll to jump through hoops just to get there. At the same time, it immeasurably strips the Black community of economic opportunity.

Black taxpayers have continued supporting California’s public universities while receiving less and less for that investment. The effect of Prop. 209 is that Black students who have been able to succeed—often at under-resourced K-12 schools—are then penalized in the college admissions process. This further compounds on the negative impact of the inequities these students are forced to confront and overcome just to graduate high school.

According to the Economist, college graduates earn about $17,500 more annually than those with a high school diploma. The economic losses on an individual level pale in comparison to the countless dollars in lost opportunities for Black businesses, decades-long deficits in educational opportunities for Black students, and nearly two generations of losses of Black business owners, lawyers, engineers, nurses, and doctors.

The harm to Black communities in the Bay Area will be felt for decades as California has sent fewer students to the state’s flagship training ground for business and community leadership. Because of Prop. 209, the wealthy and well-connected in California continue to control access to lucrative careers that are only accessible to alumni from top universities, and they keep cherry-picking successors that look just like them.

Prop. 16 gives the next generation of students a deserved and enhanced opportunity to achieve success in surmounting those inequities—and they, our universities, and this society would be much better off for it. We desperately need something new in California.

Prop. 16 will begin to prove that our lives matter by taking back our hard-won rights to equal opportunities in jobs, business, housing, and college admissions for Black Californians. Prop. 16 is a key tool for expanding opportunities for young Black people, and we need your vote in November to make that opportunity a reality.

Dr. Harry Edwards is a Professor Emeritus at U.C. Berkeley and founder of the Olympic Project for Human Rights.

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Michelle Snider

Associate Editor for The Post News Group. Writer, Photographer, Videographer, Copy Editor, and website editor documenting local events in the Oakland-Bay Area California area.

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Berkeley

Suspect Arrested by BPD Detectives on Sexual Assault and Kidnapping Charges

On March 26th, 2023, between 9:13 pm and 9:20 pm, a victim (female in her 20’s) was grabbed from behind, pulled into a parking lot, and sexually assaulted on the 2000 block of Blake Street. The suspect assaulted the victim for several minutes before fleeing the scene. BPD responded to the location but was unable to locate the suspect.

Published

1 month ago

April 24, 2023

Oakland Post

The Berkeley Police Department would like to encourage any additional potential victims to contact Berkeley Police Department Sex Crimes Unit at (510) 981-5735. Detectives have been investigating a similar crime that occurred on March 1st, 2023, on the 2400 block of Warring Street, but the victim in the case has not come forward to report the incident.

The sexual assault occurred on the 2000 block of Blake Street.

Based on the initial statement provided to police on the scene, BPD did not have enough information to give a suspect description to the public. Our Sex Crimes Detectives worked tirelessly on obtaining search warrants, did follow-up in the area, and walked the apartment complexes going door to door looking for any evidence and attempting to locate and identify the suspect.

Due to the nature of this investigation, BPD did high visibility extra patrols in the area daily. BPD Detectives did additional surveillance to keep everyone safe and allowed this investigation to continue without the risk of others being victimized.

On April 5th, 2023, an arrest warrant was issued for the suspect, identified as Jonathan Castellanos Miller (20-year-old male), after he was identified using forensic evidence that had been collected on the scene. Our Detectives arrested Castellanos Miller a few hours later outside our city limits.

A search warrant was executed at an associated address, which yielded additional evidence of the crime, handcuffs, and two replica firearms.

On April 6th, 2023, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office charged Castellanos Miller with PC 209(b)(1)- felony kidnapping to commit sex crime or robbery, PC 261(A)(2)- felony sexual assault by means of force or fear and, PC 220(A)(1)- felony assault with attempt to commit a sex crime.

Although Castellanos Miller has been placed under arrest, the Berkeley Police Department would like to encourage any additional potential victims to contact Berkeley Police Department Sex Crimes Unit at (510) 981-5735. Detectives have been investigating a similar crime that occurred on March 1st, 2023, on the 2400 block of Warring Street, but the victim in the case has not come forward to report the incident.

Berkeley PD would like to thank the Serological Research Institute, San Mateo County Crime Lab, and California Department of Justice Jan Bashinski Laboratory for their timely assistance with forensic evidence in this case.

Bay Area

Clean the Coast, Then Celebrate at Bay Festival

Celebrate the Bay with an Earth Day coastline cleanup, which you can follow up with a family-friendly festival focused on learning about the Bay and its wildlife. Come to both or just the one you prefer. At the coastal cleanup along the Berkeley Waterfront and Aquatic Park, you’d join City staff, community groups, and volunteers from around Berkeley to help clean up trash and plastic pollution.

Published

2 months ago

April 20, 2023

Oakland Post

Come out April 22. Help celebrate the Bay by cleaning up our coastline, learning more at the Bay Festival or sampling in all that is offered at our Berkeley Waterfront.

On April 22, help beautify the bay shore, bask in a festival about the bay – or do both. At the Bay Festival, hold birds, watch fish, and learn about otters and other native wildlife. Take a boat ride into the Bay. Eat, dance, and learn.

Celebrate the Bay with an Earth Day coastline cleanup, which you can follow up with a family-friendly festival focused on learning about the Bay and its wildlife.

Come to both or just the one you prefer.

At the coastal cleanup along the Berkeley Waterfront and Aquatic Park, you’d join City staff, community groups, and volunteers from around Berkeley to help clean up trash and plastic pollution.

At the Bay Festival, go on guided bird walks with the Golden Gate Audubon Society. Challenge your preconceptions about pigeons by holding a few and learning from Palomacy Pigeon, a pigeon rescue organization. Observe the Bay’s fish up close in a 1,500-gallon tank. Or go for a free boat ride.

Of course, like many of our bigger events put on by our Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Department, we’ll have live music to dance to and a variety of food vendors.

Come join us at Shorebird Park.

VOLUNTEER TO CLEAN UP THE WATERFRONT

Protect our beautiful Bay and all the creatures that live in it by volunteering to pick up the trash that washed down to the waterfront during this year’s winter storms.

Please register so coordinators can best plan for volunteers. Groups only need one person to sign up as they can register up to 50 volunteers (including themselves).

All participants must fill out a waiver. If under 18, volunteers must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian.

Earth Day Cleanup
Saturday, April 22
9:00am – 11:00am
Meet at the South Cove Sailing Basin lot
Register for the Cleanup

Follow signs on University Ave to reach the South Cove Sailing Basin lot, where you’ll check in or register if you haven’t already. Volunteers should plan to wear closed-toe shoes and dress appropriately for the work and weather conditions of the day. A limited number of supplies will be available, so please bring the following if you are able to:

bucket or reusable bag
reusable gloves
a trash grabber
reusable water bottle

Let’s work together to keep the Berkeley Waterfront clean!

ENJOY FOOD, LIVE MUSIC, AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Over 30 environmental and wildlife conservation organizations from around the Bay will share their exhibits with the public.

Berkeley Bay Festival
Saturday, April 22
11:00am – 4:00pm
Shorebird Nature Center, 160 University Ave

There will be food from Curbside Kitchen, Royal Egyptian, Tacos El Rey, Nissa Expresso and Gelato Bar. The music and entertainment includes:

11:00am – 11:40am
The Berkeley Public Library Storytime Band, music for children and families
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Bug Family Band, music for children and families
1:25pm – 2:25pm
Aguacero, Puerto Rican folkloric vocal, drum and dance troupe
2:45pm – 3:45pm
Motor Dude Zydeco, fast-paced Louisiana-style dance band

A 1,500-gallon mobile freshwater fish exhibit will feature the large fish found in the delta and nearby lakes. East Bay Regional Parks District Staff will bring and host the tank. Golden Gate Audubon, Palomacy Pigeon, and other organizations will also be leading events to help teach about the native wildlife and Bay ecosystem.

At the Shorebird Park Nature Center’s Straw Bale Building, you’ll be able to view marine organisms under high-quality microscopes.

If you’re coming just to play, Adventure Playground will be open for children to build with hammers, nails, saws and paint (with parental supervision). The Berkeley Racing Canoe Center (DragonMax) and Cal Adventures will provide free boat rides.

DEDICATED TO THE PROTECTION OF BERKELEY WATERFRONT

Organized by the City of Berkeley, the festival began in 1937 and continues to create community through live music, performers, food, hands-on educational activities, and free boat rides.

Please consider riding a bike, carpooling, or taking public transportation (AC Transit, bus 51B).

If you do drive, please park in the dirt lot behind Adventure Playground or the South Cove lot east of the Cal Adventures Sailing. Please do not park in the nearby L & M lots which require permits on weekends.

These events are organized by the City’s Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Department, whose Recreation Division organizes dozens of camps, classes, and other activities for people of all ages. Get a glimpse at the Recreation division’s offerings through our recreation portal and events calendar.

For more information, contact the Shorebird Park Nature Center at (510) 981-6720 or naturecenter@berkeleyca.gov. If you are interested in volunteering at this event, call Samantha, (510) 981-6720.

Come out April 22. Help celebrate the Bay by cleaning up our coastline, learning more at the Bay Festival or sampling in all that is offered at our Berkeley Waterfront.

Berkeley

COMMENTARY: Aikido is More than Martial Arts: It’s Community

For the last six years, I’ve practiced Aikido at a Berkeley dojo called the Aiki Arts Center—previously named Aikido Shusekai. Aikido is a Japanese martial art focused on responding calmly to attack without hurting the attacker or yourself. Instead of using force, you blend with the attack to redirect it. The name roughly translates to “The Art of Peace.”

Published

2 months ago

April 19, 2023

Oakland Post

Azzia Walker Sensei, with student Zoe Jung. Aiki Arts Center web site photo.

Post News Group Intern

For the last six years, I’ve practiced Aikido at a Berkeley dojo called the Aiki Arts Center—previously named Aikido Shusekai.

Aikido is a Japanese martial art focused on responding calmly to attack without hurting the attacker or yourself. Instead of using force, you blend with the attack to redirect it. The name roughly translates to “The Art of Peace.”

When I first started practicing Aikido at the age of 10, I loved it for its physicality. The throws and rolls, kicks and punches—it was an outlet for my brimming energy.

Aikido is also spiritual. There’s a sense that we’re all working together toward something we don’t really know or understand. We trust each other; if we didn’t, the physicality would corrupt.

This same physicality makes the practice hard. I have recurring feelings of malaise and dread regarding Aikido. Every committed practice I’ve had has eventually run into this reluctance: swimming, horseback riding, internships.

What keeps me going to the dojo is the community.

The dojo’s senior instructor is Nick Walker Sensei, an autistic trans woman and professor of psychology at California Institute of Integral Studies. I started practicing there shortly after receiving my own autism diagnosis at age 9.

I am autistic, queer, trans, and so is the dojo. I feel safe there, and I love the practice, and so I stay. I train every Sunday.

Here’s how it goes.

The dojo is located in the dark red Sawtooth Building, so named because of its jagged, angular roof. After parking, I go inside at half past noon, passing a sign propped up by the door that reads “Aikido in Studio 12! Beginners Welcome!”

Studio 12 is a beautiful space: two large skylights and sunlit rafters draped with acrobatics swings.

The far wall, called the Shomen, holds a Shinto shrine. We bow to it when we enter or leave the room or step onto or off the mats. It’s a traditional dojo furnishing.

If we’re late, other students have already put out the mats, and the floor becomes a sea of blue. If not, I step to the doorway, bow, and join them.

Once the mats are laid out, we stream away to get dressed. Those of us who are nonbinary get to choose which changing room to use, and I like the women’s room. It’s in the back, a cozy curtained-off storage room with rugs, mirrors, and a stack of chairs along one wall.

There’s usually some sort of conversation in the changing room. When I shaved my head a few weeks ago, Azzia Walker Sensei and I joked that people wouldn’t be able to tell us apart. She taught the Youth Program when it was still running. Now, I’m the only one left.

Changing is the step between Aikido and the outside world. I take off my street clothes and put on the uniform: long white pants, white jacket over a tank top, tied closed with a belt. It’s comfortable for stretching, rolling and falling.

I take my water bottle and step back through the curtain. In floods the sun.