to: President Leslie E. Wong and Provost Vice President of Academic Affairs Sue Rosser

WE THE UNDERSIGNED WOULD LIKE TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM, WITH RECOMMENDATION(S):

The proposed cuts to 40 percent of the COES budget will wipe out COES support for faculty hiring, research, and modest student resources that have survived a decade of systematic gutting.

These cuts will also impact students enrollment in COES classes and student’s ability to graduate in a timely manner. With a full and expanded budget allocation, not only will this enrich the community of San Francisco State University, but we hope to set an example for public schools, colleges, and universities in all of the United States.

IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE COLLEGE OF ETHNIC STUDIES.

Petition to Support Ethnic Studies in SDUSD 

We, the undersigned, support the effort to establish a mandatory Ethnic Studies course as a  graduation requirement in all high-schools in the San Diego Unified School District, as well as  an Ethnic Studies Advisory Committee (ESAC) that will aide in the development and  implementation of this curriculum. 

San Diego is a world-class city that boasts over one hundred spoken languages and a great  variety of ethnicities and cultures. Despite this diversity, at the moment there is just 1 Ethnic  Studies course offered to the 100,000+ students throughout SDUSD. As over 75% of the  students are people of color, it is imperative that the district offer courses that examine and  honor the rich histories and lived experiences of our many youth. 

In solidarity with California’s push to create a more equal school system, we support AB 101  that will resolve to make ethnic studies courses available to every student. Research has  shown that students who have had access to Ethnic Studies courses do better in school and are  more likely to go to college. It is important to have courses that speak to students who may  feel invisible and marginalized, to inspire and motivate them in their education, so that they  learn their own history, engage actively in their own learning, and connect in meaningful ways  to the larger community. By providing Ethnic Studies courses in SDUSD, we are creating and  expanding a world-class school system rooted in the unique perspectives of students in the  San Diego community. 

The Ethnic Studies Now Coalition