UC Berkeley’s Gender Equity Center will be hosting their annual Queer Ice Cream Social on Tuesday, August 24 and Cal Alumni Pride will be providing ice cream at this event welcoming new and returning LGBTQ students to campus.

Stay tuned for more information!

Visit UC Berkeley Gender Equity Resource Center’s website here.

Alumna Susan Leal, former Treasurer of the City and County of San Francisco, recently co-authored Running Out of Water – a proactive book focused on solutions to our looming water crisis. She is currently a member of the advisory board of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC Berkeley, where she also received both her undergraduate and law degrees.

As a water utility expert, author, and consultant,  Ms. Leal specializes in identifying realistic and creative solutions to the water and wastewater challenges that face many American cities and states. Additionally, Ms. Leal is a Senior Fellow of the Advanced Leadership Initiative and an Associate of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University.

As General Manager of San Francisco’s Public Utilities Commission, Ms. Leal led the charge for a dramatic upgrade of the Bay Area’s seismically unsafe water system and San Francisco’s outdated wastewater system. She previously served two terms as the elected Treasurer of the City and County of San Francisco and as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

For more information on Running Out of Water, click here.

For more information on Susan Leal, click here.

An August 8th post in the Wonk Room section of ThinkProgress.org highlighted a recent appearance by Ted Olson on Fox News:

This morning, Ted Olson — the conservative lawyer who represented President Bush in Bush v. Gore — appeared on Fox News Sunday to discuss his recent victory in overturning Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriages in California. Throughout the interview, host Chris Wallace attempted to trip up his guest with a series of familiar Republican talking points, all of which Olson repudiated.

Wallace asked Olson to identify the right to same-sex marriage in the constitution and wondered why “seven million Californians” “don’t get to say that marriage is between a man and a woman.” Olson replied that the Supreme Court has ruled that marriage was a fundamental right and pointed out that the constitution made no explicit mention of interracial marriage either. He stressed that under our system of government, voters can’t deprive minority groups of their constitutionally guaranteed protections and reminded Wallace that in the 1960s, “Californians voted to change their constitution to say that you could discriminate on the basis of race in the sale of your home; the United States Supreme Court struck that down.”

When Wallace pressed the point further, likening same-sex marriage to abortion and noting that “the political process in the case of same-sex marriage was working” since states had been deciding the issue on a “state-by-state basis,” Olson asked Wallace how he would like it if Fox News’ right to free speech was decided in such a manner:

OLSON: Well, would you like your right to free speech? Would you like Fox’s right to free press put up to a vote and say well, if five states approved it, let’s wait till the other 45 states do? These are fundament constitutional rights. The Bill of Rights guarantees Fox News and you, Chris Wallace, the right to speak. It’s in the constitution. And the Supreme Court has repeatedly held that the denial of our citizens of the equal rights to equal access to justice under the law, is a violation of our fundamental rights. Yes, it’s encouraging that many states are moving towards equality on the basis of sexual orientation, and I’m very, very pleased about that. … We can’t wait for the voters to decide that that immeasurable harm, that is unconstitutional, must be eliminated.

Read the full post here.

This year’s Big Game takes place Saturday, November 20. Cal Alumni Pride is planning on co-hosting a tailgate party with Stanford Pride.  At last year’s big game, Cal beat Stanford 34-28 – hopefully this year will be a repeat performance.  We will have more information in the next few months on the Cal Alumni Pride/Stanford Pride event.

Date: Saturday, November 20, 2010

Time: 12:30 p.m. PT 

Location: Memorial Stadium

Oakland Pride 2010

“We Got The Funk! Diversity in Action!” Oakland Pride celebrates the cultures and diversity of the LGBTQ community in Oakland the the East Bay. After a six-year absence, Oakland Pride (formerly known as “East Bay Pride”) returns to Oakland, California and takes place on Sunday, September 5, 2010.

An article in the Bay Area Reporter highlighted the revival of this East Bay LGBTQ celebration:

“Out of the Bay Area’s three biggest cities, Oakland has been the only one not to host a major LGBT Pride event in recent years. San Francisco holds its Pride event June 26-27; San Jose is moving its event to August 21-22 this year. The lesbian-focused Sisters Steppin’ in Pride, which takes place alongside Lake Merritt in late August, has filled the vacuum since the demise of East Bay Pride.

The plan this year is to have a parade kick off from Lake Merritt at noon that Sunday and end up near the festival grounds centered at the intersection of 22nd and Franklin streets, just blocks from both the Fox and Paramount theaters and close to the 19th Street BART station.”

Event organizers not only hope to make Oakland Pride an annual event, but to raise funds for an LGBTQ Community Center in Oakland.

Date: Sunday, September 5, 2010

Time: 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Where: Uptown Oakland – 19th Street & Franklin Street (Exit 19th St. BART Station)

More information: Oakland Pride Website

Full article in the Bay Area Reporter: “Oakland set to get its Pride back this year“

UC Berkeley alumnus Jack Mackenroth, who starred on the fourth season of the television show Project Runway,  won seven medals at the 2010 Gay Games – which were held in Cologne, Germany  from July 31 to August 6, 2010. Below is an exerpt from his blog, recapping the experience:

“The swimming competition was 6 days and started at 8 am the next morning. The venue was amazing. It was the first time I had ever seen a steel bottom pool which used sunlight and reflection to heat the water. It was stunning. I think there were about 750-1000 swimmers competing and the competition is tough and the swimmers mean business. Team New York Aquatics brought about 20 swimmers over. I had events during four of the next six days. Each swimmer was allowed to swim 5 individual events and 3 relays. At the end of the meet I came home with 1 gold medal, 5 silver medals and one bronze medal. I was more than pleased with that although the best day was my last day which is a pretty good sign that I didn’t rest enough before hand or jet lag had taken it’s toll. In any case I didn’t do any personal best times but I had some great races. I guess it was the year of the silver medal for me. That’s OK. Silver goes better with my skin tone anyway.”

In a May 2010 Windy City Times article, Mackenroth discussed the camraderie of the Gay Games:

“I just love the Gay Games because the athletes are so excited to come together and compete,” Mackenroth said. “It’s a real sense of pride and accomplishment. People want to win, but everyone genuinely wants everyone to do their best. I especially love the international Games; they bring amazing people from all over the world that you would normally never have the chance to meet.”

Congratulations to Mr. Mackenroth from Cal Alumni Pride/

Jack Mackenroth’s blog: “Gay Games VIII: Cologne recap“

Windy City Times: “Runway’ alum Mackenroth focusing on Games”

Dr. Judith Butler Refuses Berlin Civic Courage Award Over Lack Of Minority Acceptance In LGBT Leadership

by Bridgette P. LaVictoire

Doctor Judith Butler, PhD Philosophy, has made waves by rejecting the Berlin Civic Courage Award over the lack of racial and transgender integration within the LGBT hierarchy. Butler, who is a professor at UC Berkeley, stated “I must distance myself from this racist complicity.” Her attack, according to Jessie Daniels at Alter Talk, was about “media campaigns that repeatedly represent migrants as ‘archaic’, ‘patriarchal’, ‘homophobic’, violent, and unassimilable while at the same time prominent (white) gay organizations in Berlin encourage a heightened police presence in gay neighborhoods where there are more people of color.” Many of the leading groups, it is pretty noticeable, are lead by white, affluent, gay men.

The group SUSPECT stated about Butler’s refusal:

It is this tendency of white gay politics, to replace a politics of solidarity, coalitions and radical transformation with one of criminalization, militarization and border enforcement, which Butler scandalizes, also in response to the critiques and writings of queers of colour. Unlike most white queers, she has stuck out her own neck for this. For us, this was a very courageous decision indeed.

UC Santa Cruz Professor Emerita Angela Davis stated “I hope Judith Butler’s refusal of the award will act as a catalyst for more discussion about the impact of racism even within groups which are considered progressive.”

Daniels wrote of this particular subject “What Dan Savage and other privileged white gay men fail to understand is the way one struggle is connected to another. In part, I think this is because they fail to see the ways that sexuality and race are intertwined. When you begin to see this, it shifts our understanding of oppression. Rather than seeing ‘blacks’ and ‘gays’ as somehow distinct, disparate groups, such an analysis allows you to recognize the reality of black and brown LGBT lives (such as the recently out entertainer Ricky Martin, who is both gay and Puerto Rican). And, such an analysis makes visible the white privilege that still adheres to the lives of LGBT folks like Savage.”

Via LexGetReal

Transcript via The European Graduate School

The 23 person team representing Cal in the 2010 AIDS LifeCycle 9 raised approximately $70,000 this year, contributing to the $10 million raised in total by AIDS LifeCycle riders and supporters. The 600 mile, 7-day bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles this June supported the work of the  San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, the nonprofits also responsible for producing the event.

The UC Berkeley online news center features reflections and final thoughts on this year’s ride by participants from the Cal team — a few excerpts are below and the full text is available here. Congrats to the Cal team and to all AIDS LifeCycle 9 riders!

Sunscreen. It’s really wonderful that the gay community accepts us straight people for who we are.
Proper hydration is really sexy.
— Megan Goldman, rider #2317

The most impactful part of the week for me was coming off the Santa Barbara bike path, where a man was standing in silence holding a 2×4 photo. As I came to a stop slightly ahead of him, I heard him very quietly just say “thank you.” I spent the next 10 minutes riding and crying, struck by the reach and effect of the ride.
— Grahaeme Hesp, rider #2616

Become a part of the AIDS/LifeCycle community! Learn from this incredible lesson in California geography. Take the plunge, register, and don’t let your physical ability convince you otherwise. This ride is not a race; whether you’re the fastest or slowest rider, all that matters is that you’re making a difference and having a fantastic time while doing it.
— Roopika Subramanian, rider #2579

Hellooo from Los Angeles! Seven days and 656-plus miles later, we made it! Today was 65 miles, which seemed short after the week we had. Body feels great. Closing ceremonies as last, hoorah! $10 million raised and definitely touched many people’s lives en route through California!!! Go Bears!
— Sabine Zimmerman, rider #2402

The 2011 AIDS LifeCycle 11 takes place June 5-11, 2011. For more information, please visit The AIDS LifeCycle website or the Cal AIDS LifeCycle Facebook group page.

Go Bears!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by the Cal Alumni Pride booth at 2010 SF Pride! The weather was phenomenal and we had a great time talking with alumni and Cal supporters. This year Cal Alumni Pride and Stanford Pride requested neighboring booth locations and in addition to having a lot of fun hanging out with the folks from Stanford Pride, Cal Alumni Pride and Stanford Pride faced off in an impromtu arm wrestling battle royale. The results were 1-1, following impressive performances by Cola — from the Cal Alumni Pride board — and Megan from Stanford Pride.

Cal Alumni Pride battles Stanford Pride arm wrestling

Cal Alumni Pride at 2010 SF Pride

UC online degree proposal rattles academics

Taking online college courses is, to many, like eating at McDonald’s: convenient, fast and filling. You may not get filet mignon, but afterward you’re just as full.

Now the University of California wants to jump into online education for undergraduates, hoping to become the nation’s first top-tier research institution to offer a bachelor’s degree over the Internet comparable in quality to its prestigious campus program.

“We want to do a highly selective, fully online, credit-bearing program on a large scale – and that has not been done,” said UC Berkeley law school Dean Christopher Edley, who is leading the effort.

But a number of skeptical faculty members and graduate student instructors fear that a cyber UC would deflate the university’s five-star education into a fast-food equivalent, cheapening the brand. Similar complaints at the University of Illinois helped bring down that school’s ambitious Global Campus program last fall after just two years.

UC officials say theirs will be different.

On Wednesday in San Francisco, UC’s governing Board of Regents will hear about a pilot program of 25 to 40 courses to be developed after UC raises $6 million from private donors. The short-term goal is to take pressure off heavily enrolled general education classes like writing and math, Edley said.

more for less

Long term, the idea is to expand access to the university while saving money. Tuition for online and traditional courses would be the same. But with students able to take courses in their living rooms, the university envisions spending less on their education while increasing the number of tuition-paying students – helpful as state financial support drops.

Savings estimates are “encouraging” but too preliminary to disclose, Edley said, noting that even if the pilot program succeeds, cyber UC is still several years away.

Evidence nationwide suggests students could be warm to the idea of online learning.

The number of college students taking online courses nearly tripled between 2002 and 2008, according to the Sloan Consortium, a nonprofit that encourages online education. Nearly 5 million students took at least one online course in 2008, up from 1.6 million in 2002, Sloan found.

UC wouldn’t be the first university to offer undergraduate degrees online. Among the most successful is the University of Massachusetts’ “UMassOnline,” which includes graduate degrees. It reported revenue growth of 20 percent since last year, to $56 million, and 14 percent enrollment growth, to 45,815 students.

Cal State University East Bay also offers four online bachelor degrees: in business administration, human development, tourism and recreation.

the stanford example

But UC says it’s looking for something qualitatively different, possibly like Stanford University’s high-end – and cyber – graduate engineering degree.

“Within 30 minutes of a class being taught at Stanford, we’re able to offer it around the world,” said Andy DiPaolo, senior associate dean at the School of Engineering. “We think in many ways it’s comparable (in quality). It’s not live instruction. We’ve tried not to lock students into a specific time.”

Students in Stanford’s online manufacturing class, for example, live in different time zones yet team up online to design, say, a car lock, DiPaolo said.

“This is not a second-tier program,” he said. “We have identical admissions, identical requirements” for online and traditional degrees.

But some UC faculty and graduate student instructors believe removing face-to-face interaction by definition diminishes quality.

In May, student instructors delivered a less-than-subtle warning to the regents.

“We find Dean Edley’s cyber campus to be just the beginning of a frightening trajectory that will undoubtedly end in the complete implosion of public higher education” in California, Berkeley doctoral student Shane Boyle testified.

Using a slightly more sober tone, the Berkeley Faculty Association expressed similar concerns in a May report.

“The danger is not only degraded education, but centralized academic policy that undermines faculty control of academic standards and curriculum,” it said. “It is also likely that the whole thing will be a boondoggle.”

Furthermore, the report said, online instruction is “inappropriate for many subjects and types of learning.”

Not inappropriate, countered Edley, but challenging. He acknowledged that figuring out how to put an excellent lab science course online remains “one of the mysteries.”

But he agreed with DiPaolo of Stanford that faculty support is key.

Disapproval helped kill the University of Illinois’ online program last year, and no wonder: Not only were outsiders hired to teach courses developed by faculty, but courses rejected by faculty were offered online.

“Setting up something the faculty doesn’t believe in would be nuts,” Edley said. And yet, taking UC online needs only a “coalition of the willing,” he said, “not universal support.”

regents meeting

The UC Board of Regents will meet Tuesday through Thursday at UCSF-Mission Bay Community Center, 1675 Owens St., San Francisco.

Discussion: The Committee on Educational Policy will discuss five items, including the online undergraduate degree pilot project, beginning at 9:35 a.m. Wednesday.

– Learn more about the pilot project. sfgate.com/ZJYX and sfgate.com/ZJYY