Date: Tue, 2 Apr 2024 17:39:06 -0400
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Subject: Re: UC Berkeley Bans White People from Community Garden
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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.