ABOUT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AT BERKELEY

The General Assembly at UC Berkeley is an assembly of UCB students, workers and community members who meet weekly to organize against the budget cuts. It is envisioned as a space for discussion and mobilization as well as a sovereign body that votes resolutions (1 person = 1 vote), calls for actions, and does outreach to  other public education institutions. ALL UCB students, workers and community members are invited to participate.

The General Assembly at UC Berkeley aims to:

• Create a mass democratic movement to fight back against the privatization of UC and to transform public education
• Nourish dialogue, trust and unity
• Bring awareness to the intersectionalities of oppression (race, class, gender, sexuality and ability)
• Collectively decide on actions to fight budget cuts, fee hikes and layoffs

The General Assembly at UC Berkeley held its first meeting on September 16th, 2009 with over 200 participants, mostly undergraduate students; and worked to specify a number of demands and to organize the 9/24 Walkout. At the second meeting held on September 24th, the General Assembly decided to work towards a mobilizing conference (October 24th, Berkeley Campus) that will bring individuals and groups from all sectors of the public education system in California to discuss the future of the movement. At the third meeting held on September 30th, proposals were action were discussed. A coordinating committee, a committee to organize the Oct 24th mobilizing conference, and an outreach committee were formed and started working. At the fourth meeting held on October 7th, committees worked on representation, October 24th, future actions and outreach.

All students, faculty and staff are invited to the fifth meeting on October 15th, 5:30 pm. We'll gather in Lower Sproul.