A week in UC student news

UC Berkeley students rally for reinstatement of ethnic studies lecturer Lupe Gallegos-Diaz

UC Berkeley lecturer and Chicanx Latinx Student Development Office Director Lupe Gallegos-Diaz was unexpectedly placed on leave in August because of a “lack of professional judgement.”

The University’s vague responses to inquiries on the suspension of Gallegos-Diaz have left students frustrated with the lack of transparency. Nearly 100 UC Berkeley students rallied on Sept. 30 in support of Gallegos-Diaz, holding signs that read “Reinstate Lupe” and “Lucha 4 Lupe,” which translates to “fight 4 Lupe.”

Gallegos-Diaz has been described by students and Berkeley community members as a pillar of the campus’ Latine community for nearly 30 years.

A campus spokesperson, Janet Gilmore, told the Daily Californian that the campus cannot comment on personnel matters due to University confidentiality policy but that it is “committed to Latinx community and the Chicanx Latinx Student Development office and the important work it provides to [their] students.”

Since the suspension, supporters of Gallegos-Diaz have created an Instagram page with over 1,500 followers that asks the question, “Where is Lupe?” and provides a Linktree with a petition demanding transparency with over 2,500 signatures. 

“Our community deserves answers, action, and we need Lupe back. Stand in solidarity [with] us, share your testimony, and take action through our Linktree,” the Instagram bio states.

Governor Newsom signs UC-sponsored $7.5 billion research investment bill

California SB 895, authored by state Senator Scott Wiener, will place a measure on the March 2028 state ballot to invest $7.5 billion to fund research across California. The bill, signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom, will enact the California Science and Health Research Bond Act if approved by voters.

If the bill is passed, it would preserve research in dozens of different fields, including biomedical research, wildfire resilience and climate science.

“This is a major achievement, made possible by an extraordinary coalition of people who understand the importance of investing in scientific research,” UC President James B. Milliken said in a press release. “The University of California’s research enterprise improves lives, creates opportunity, and drives innovation and economic growth across our state and the entire nation.”

This bill comes as the UC has been bombarded with cuts to research funding since President Donald Trump took office for his second term. 

UCLA asks judge to dismiss ‘antisemitism’ lawsuit, claims weaponization of civil rights laws

UC Los Angeles asked a judge to dismiss a Department of Justice (DOJ) lawsuit on Sept. 30 that alleges the University allowed discrimination against Jewish and Israeli students, claiming antisemitism.

In the spring of 2024, students across the nation set up encampments on their college campuses, including at UCLA, demanding divestment from Israel and a call to end Israel’s genocide of Palestine. The DOJ filed a lawsuit against the UC in May, alleging that the encampments were antisemetic and excluded Jewish students, furthermore claiming that the encampments blocked Jewish and Israeli students from entering academic buildings, which the DOJ alleges the University did nothing to stop. 

Encampment organizers have denied any antisemitism, stating that the encampment included Jewish people and celebrated Jewish holidays. UCLA declared the encampment unlawful on April 30, 2024, and police shut it down May 2, 2024, arresting over 200 people. 

UCLA has since accused the federal government of unfairly using civil rights laws to control universities nationwide.

“UCLA has worked tirelessly to foster a safe, secure, and inclusive environment for all students,” the filing states. “The federal government’s Complaint ignores those substantial efforts— confirming that this lawsuit is not really about ensuring compliance with civil rights laws, but about weaponizing those laws to bring institutions of higher education to heel.”

A version of this article appeared on p.2 of the October 8 print edition of the Daily Nexus.