Leaders of legislative ethnic caucuses congratulate SFSU’s president for increasing funding for College of Ethnic Studies

(SACRAMENTO) — Latino Legislative Caucus Chair Assemblymember Luis A. Alejo (D-Salinas), Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus Policy Chair Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco) and Legislative Black Caucus Chair State Senator Isadore Hall, III (D-South Bay) issued a statement today after it was announced San Francisco State University (SFSU) has agreed to increase funding for College of Ethnic Studies.

“We commend San Francisco State University President Leslie Wong for agreeing to provide an additional $480,000 to the College of Ethnic Studies. This substantial allocation will allow the College to fill two vacant faculty positions in the Africana Studies program and create a new program in Pacific Islander studies.

President Wong listened to students’ concerns. He also took time to travel to the Capitol and hear our concerns. His decision to increase the College’s funding demonstrates the type of leadership and responsiveness Californians expect from the president of one of our major public universities. President Wong understands the value of ethnic studies to students, and sets an example for the state to follow.

San Francisco State University is the birthplace of ethnic studies. The College of Ethnic Studies was founded in 1968 as a response to the lack of access, misrepresentation, and the overall neglect of indigenous peoples and people of color within the university’s curriculum and programs. The ethnic studies programs developed at SFSU have served as the model for developing other ethnic studies programs in California, particularly at our public high schools.

After recent studies, we now have conclusive evidence that Ethnic Studies courses have helped students of color remain academically engaged and have improved test scores and graduation rates. It would have been an injustice to allow the university that pioneered ethnic studies in California to now diminish it. It would have been the wrong direction to go for a state that has the most diverse student population in the nation. We applaud President Wong for recognizing this.”

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Contacts:

For Latino Legislative Caucus: Andrew Bird / Andrew.Bird@asm.ca.gov / (916) 319-2030

For Legislative Black Caucus: Terry Schanz / Terry.Schanz@sen.ca.gov / (916) 651-4035

For Asian Pacific Islander Caucus: Yong Salas / Yong.Salas@asm.ca.gov / (916) 319-2017