9-98       UC PROFESSORS CALL FOR WALKOUTS IN DEFENSE OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION "We are educators. The State of California has entrusted us, tenured professors in the University of California System, to educate its sons and daughters in order to help them become the leaders of the future. It is in the name of this educational mission that we call for a protest to be held October 21 and 22, 1998, throughout the UC System. This protest will entail walking out of class in order to demonstrate that the decisions by the Regents, SP1 and SP 2, and the consequent passage of Proposition 209 make for an untenable educational environment. "We cannot accomplish our mission under the restrictions imposed by the Regents. Classes will be replaced on October 21 and 22 with teach-ins, symposia, and other activities intended to education students, staff and faculty alike about the necessity for social and educational opportunity for all members of our society. "The citizens of California look to the UC for leadership. It was in this spirit that they took their cue from the Regents when voting on Proposition 209. It has become painfully clear that the Regents’ decision to implement SP 1 and SP 2 was an error in judgment, one that has contributed to divisiveness and conflict throughout the state and has significantly crippled the System's ability to recruit some of the most qualified students to its campuses. "As tenured UC faculty, we cannot stand by idly while our students risk so much in order to undo the error that the Regents have committed. We must take a stand and voice our support of affirmative action. Once again. we must make clear to the Regents that their decision to end affirmative action in the UC was a decision they undertook on their own, against the will and advice of UC students, chancellors and faculty. "We invite all our colleagues, students, staff and other co-workers to join us in our protest. Join us in making our voices heard by standing up to the Regents and walking out of the classroom on October 21 and 22, 1998."