Date: Tue, 2 Apr 2024 17:39:06 -0400 Mime-Version: 1.0 User-Agent: Mozilla Thunderbird Subject: Re: UC Berkeley Bans White People from Community Garden Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv References: Content-Language: en-US From: moviePig In-Reply-To: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Lines: 108 Path: ...!weretis.net!feeder6.news.weretis.net!usenet.blueworldhosting.com!diablo1.usenet.blueworldhosting.com!feeder.usenetexpress.com!tr2.iad1.usenetexpress.com!news.newsdemon.com!not-for-mail Nntp-Posting-Date: Tue, 02 Apr 2024 21:39:07 +0000 X-Received-Bytes: 6424 Organization: NewsDemon - www.newsdemon.com X-Complaints-To: abuse@newsdemon.com Message-Id: <17c2945fd5df91bc$169747$3716115$2d54864@news.newsdemon.com> Bytes: 6805 On 4/2/2024 12:39 AM, BTR1701 wrote: > > https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13257943/UC-Berkeley-accused-systemic-racism-banning-white-people-community-farm.html > > One of the most progressive and socially liberal schools in the country is > cultivating controversy as it faces accusations of racism after it allegedly > banned white residents from accessing a community farm on Saturdays. > > Gill Tract Community Farm in nearby Albany has designated Saturdays > exclusively for use by 'Black, Indigenous, and People of Color' (BIPOC) after > a complaint was filed with the US Department of Education by the Mountain > States Legal Foundation. The move has been denounced by some as an example of > 'systemic racism'. > > Gill Tract Farm was established in 2013 through a partnership between > UC-Berkeley and the local communities it serves as a site for urban farming > research. Part of the farm's ethos is to support the 'food justice' movement > by cultivating crops for healthy meals. > > William Trachman, general counsel for the Mountain States Legal Foundation has > criticized the university's stance. "UC-Berkeley thinks that racial > segregation is progressive now, but it's no different than segregation of the > past," Trachman told the New York Post. "Preventing Caucasians from accessing > Berkeley's College of Natural Resources Farm on Saturdays is a clear violation > of Title VI, which bars educational institutions from engaging in or allowing > race discrimination." > > Trachman is calling for a comprehensive investigation into all UC-Berkeley > programs to address what he has described as 'systemic racism'. UC-Berkeley > has said they were unaware of the discrimination complaint until being > contacted by the media. > > "Saturdays are exclusively BIPOC. Exceptions have only been made for events > that are BIPOC-centered and with plenty of advance notice and planning," an > email sent by the garden's manager read. "I trust you stand in solidarity with > upholding boundaries around that safe and sacred space." > > After being contacted about the allegations, a spokesperson for the university > denied all knowledge of the farm's special Saturday policy. > > "The Gill Tract's website and calendar make no mention whatsoever of any > program or activity of the sort described in the complaint. Having said that, > the university takes complaints like this extremely seriously and I can assure > you that on Monday I will contact the appropriate people on campus in an > effort to determine what the facts are," UC-Berkeley spokesman Dan Mogulof > stated. > > This controversy emerges against the backdrop of legal challenges to > race-conscious admissions policies and diversity programs in higher education > institutions, with concerns raised about possible reverse discrimination. > > Recently, a federal discrimination complaint was filed against a Minnesota > college scholarship exclusively available to black students, with similar > claims targeting other race-based exclusionary programs at various > institutions. > > Last June the US Supreme Court ruled that race-conscious or 'affirmative > action' college admissions policies were unconstitutional and had to be > shelved. > > Programs that appear race-conscious showing greater 'diversity, equity and > inclusion' through programs specifically created to advance opportunities for > black students and other minorities have since come under legal scrutiny, amid > complaints they in fact amount to reverse discrimination. > > This not the first time far-left UC Berkeley has harvested controversy when it > comes to race. In August 2022 an off-campus co-op for students at the > university named the 'Person of Color Theme House' banned white guests from > entering common areas of the house. A list of house rules revealed how the > occupants were told "many POC moved here to be able to avoid white violence > and presence, so respect their decision of avoidance if you bring white > guests". > > While the student house aims to have an "inclusive' environment, the rules > specifically state 'white guests are not allowed in common spaces'." > > The accommodation, located close to Berkeley's campus, was a five-story, > 30-room home that can house up to 56 students. The house is owned by a private > landlord. > > But the 'rules' which were leaked on social media have caused outrage - with > many people slamming the restrictions as 'racist' as others came forward and > revealed their experience living in the co-op. > > The house was set up as part of the Berkeley Student Cooperative, a program > designed to bring affordable housing to students in California's Bay-area, and > 'aims to provide housing to low-income, first generation, immigrant and > marginalized students of color'. > > According to the 'rules,' people that live there should 'avoid bringing > parents/family members that express bigotry,' because 'Queer, Black, and > Indigenous members should not have to avoid common spaces because of > homophobic or racist parents/family members.' > > Janet Gilmore, Senior Director of Strategic Communications at the University > told DailyMail.com the house is not campus operated, meaning "it is not the > role of the campus to comment". > > Gilmore also said the University does have it's own Theme Programs, but they > have no such policies like the one alleged in the Reddit image, and stated > "Cal Housing Theme Programs do not discriminate on the basis of race, > consistent with UC and campus policy. As this involves an off-campus > non-affiliated landlord, the campus has no ability under the Code of Student > Conduct to discipline the landlord." Stupid, but maybe too un-representative to prevail.