Statements & news

SAN FRANCISCO — On the eve of the University of California’s 150th anniversary, UC President Janet Napolitano addressed a range of issues facing the UC, as well as the institution’s past, present and future, in an hourlong speech in San Francisco on Wednesday.

Dear Colleagues,

March is National Women’s History Month when we honor the multiple contributions of women in history, culture and society. This annual celebration has its roots locally in Sonoma, where a school event in the late 1970’s spurred other organizations across the country to raise awareness and start sharing their stories. Today, it is a month-long event, celebrated globally, and anchored by International Women’s Day on March 8.

What does it mean to fight long-term, structural racism in the time of President Donald Trump?

That’s the topic that consumed the opening evening of UC Berkeley’s three-day conference marking the 50th anniversary of the Kerner Commission Report, the government study published in 1968 examining the causes of widespread racial animosity and unrest and recommending solutions.

Opinion Editorial

UC Berkeley is famous as the birthplace of the independent living movement. When Ed Roberts first arrived on campus in 1962, he was told by administrators, “We’ve tried cripples before and it didn’t work.” Roberts and other disabled students persevered, forcing UC Berkeley to change for the better. We on the campus are proud of the more than 50 years of legacy that they have left us.

Like a lot of leaders, Sidalia Reel started young. In fifth grade, she ran her household, making sure her four younger siblings didn’t get into too much trouble. Now, she’s the director of Staff Diversity Initiatives in the Office of Equity and Inclusion at UC Berkeley, making sure more than 9,000 staff feel like a valued part of campus. To some, it might seem daunting. But for Reel, it’s a natural fit. Listen to her interview above.