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Notes from CSU Academic Senate meeting March 2004 re: AB1175.



AS-2640-04/TEKR CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY CENTER OF
EXCELLENCE IN THE STUDY OF THE HOLOCAUST,
GENOCIDE, HUMAN RIGHTS AND TOLERANCE

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate of the California State University (CSU)
support the
removal of the sunset provision in the Holocaust, Genocide, Human Rights
and Tolerance Act of 2003 as contained in Assembly Bill 1175; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate CSU support the addition of language to
AB 1175
that will require the Center have a reporting relationship, for administrative
purposes, at a specific CSU campus; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate CSU support the elimination of language that
designates participation of specific campuses; and be it further

RESOLVED: That no state general funds be used for the Center for at least
two years.

RATIONALE: Since the early 1990s the State of California has mandated that the
teaching of the Holocaust and genocide be done in grades 7-12. In the years
since the
passage of that legislation, teacher preparation in this area has been
erratic and spotty.
To rectify that problem at the urging of faculty from the CSU and supported
by the
Academic Senate CSU and other groups, the legislature passed AB 2003, the
Holocaust, Genocide, Human Rights and Tolerance Act in the fall of 2002. AB
2003
created a state taskforce on Holocaust and Genocide Education and a center
at CSU
Chico. The Center has been functioning now for one year and has received over
$190,000 in grants and donations in its first year and an additional
$100,000 before its
second year. More than 300 teachers have been trained in workshops and six
workshops are scheduled for the spring of 2004. A web site has been created in
cooperation with the Department of Education of the State of California.
Removing the
sunset clause enables the center and the taskforce to continue as long as
funding from
external sources is available. The clause regarding funding acknowledges the
fundraising success of the Center and makes sure that during this budget
crisis no state
funds will be used to support the Center. Finally, the resolution supports
the idea that
the Center will be open to involvement of any faculty from the CSU who have the
qualifications and desire to participate.

AS-2640-04/TEKR motion amended and approved upon resuming discussions after
agenda
Time Certain reports were given.
 
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