Students Organize Amidst Turmoil at Bay Area School

from jeremy zimmer - IISC Media Contact

San Francisco, CA, July 25, 2007:
In response to the WASC letter of
action, as well as ongoing structural
and policy issues, students at
New College of California have
organized an interim independent
student council to ensure that
the needs of students are properly
addressed in the changes which
are taking place at the school.
In addition, this council seeks
to create a more permanent
representative body to advocate on behalf of students.
In many colleges and universities,
a seat on the board of trustees is
reserved for a student representative.
The lack of formal student representation
at New College is symptomatic of the crisis in
leadership and governance articulated by the WASC report.
Creating fair and inclusive structures of representation
will be crucial in restoring students' trust in the school,
and establishing a safe and
positive learning environment
in the long term.

The Interim Independent Student Council
has issued a public statement, following
the Adjunct Council's call for new
administrative leadership, and the core
faculty's vote of no confidence in New College
of California President Martin Hamilton:

We the Interim Independent Student Council,
ask for the participation of our peers,
in the charter and formation of a student body
organization, which is inclusive of and responsive
to the needs of all New College students.
We ask for the support of faculty and
staff in this endeavor, and commit to working
with the Faculty Council and Adjunct Council
to achieve our mutual goals. We support
the public statement of the Adjunct Council,
and reiterate the call for new administrative leadership,
and the immediate replacement of the President,
Academic Vice Presidents, and the Board of Trustees.

Further, we call for the process of appointing
new administrative leadership to be inclusive of student,
staff and faculty voices, and that all meetings,
decisions and official correspondence in this
process to be made available, without delay,
to the entire New College community.

In our own organizing efforts, we aim to be
radically inclusive and completely transparent,
and we appreciate the patience and
understanding of our fellow students as we
overcome the difficulties in communication inherent
in a programmatically diverse, multi-campus
institution.

Lastly, we reiterate our call for the involvement
and participation of all New College students,
as we work to save our school.

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IISC Media Contact
Jeremy Zimmer