University of California Berkeley - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

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Power of the People a History of People ' s Park by Erica Fagnan •■ ' .T People ' s Park was purchased in 1957 by the University of California Regents as part of land purchases earmarl ed for more playing fields, offices, and parking lots, in 1967, a UC report recommended the acquisition of what would be People ' s Park, stating that the site was a scene of hippie concentration and rising crime. In 1969, after four weeks of construction. People ' s Park was created. The lot became an attraction for transients and drug dealers, prompting the University to decide to turn it into a soccer field and underground parking lot. This set the stage for a protest against these actions which is now referred to as Bloody Thursday. Enraged protesters camped out on the park, trying various methods to save it, including having it blessed and sanctified. These efforts were to no avail, and a fence was built around the site on May 15, 1969. Protesters quickly tore it down, and a few hours later, protesters led by then ASUC President-elect Dan Seigel started a march that began at Sproul Plaza and terminated at People ' s Park. Over 60 people were injured, one blinded, and one person, 25-year-old UC Berkeley student James Rector, was killed. This sparked more rage, and there was another protest in memorial to the student, consisting of 3,000 people who marched down to Oxford and Center Streets. A patron makes herself comfortable in the park ' s lush setting. In 1971, after being prompted by The Daily Catifor- nianXo hold a party in second-year commemoration of the park, the protesters started another riot. In May of 1972, under the leadership of Michael Delacour known as the father of the park, Vietnam protesters fled to People ' s Park to voice their opinions. Disapprov- ers tore down the parking lot, and police officers were witnessed trying to beat them into submission. Berkeley City Council member Dona Spring, a student at UC Berkeley in 1972, stated that if you were in the protest, you were beaten. I was one of the people they hit with a billy-dub. In 1991, the University expressed its wishes to build volleyball courts on the premises. At this time the park supporters formed the People ' s Park Defense Union, a group of activists committed to defending the park. When construction of the courts commem.ed on July 31, 1991. 100 protesters showed up. They chased out the construction workers and stormed Telegraph, pillaging shops and setting fires in the streets. After this occurrence, guards were set to watch the park. Today the park is co-operated by the city of Berkeley and the University, and is a place open to both students and residents. The park is not only a Berkeley landmark but a cultural icon. Check out the People ' s Park Web Site at http: www.dnai.com -hi there tmline.html Source: Tix Daily Ca ijim an. Much 17-19. 1997. TY OF BERKELEY 19

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1th rhe campus tradition of acti ' ism and trcc- spirited attitude, how does the city of Berkeley cope with the influence of the University? UC Berkeley is self-sufficient and does not pay cit ' taxes, a situation that creates tension between the residents and uni ' eisit) ' affiliates. Current Berkeley residents stated both positive and negative aspects of sharing the cit) ' with the University. I appreciate all of the commerce and action the University brings, but a t the same time don ' t like the noise and congestion it encourages, said jane Summerville, a long time resident of Berkeley. I like how motivated the students are with their work, and wonder w h.u a stressful place it must be. It seems to be so hurried, people walk across campus and don ' t even look at each other 1 ha ' e lived here so long and I ' m not e ' en u.sed to it, ' added Summerville. When asked how in ' olved he was with campus actn ' ities, Alex Ortega, a Berkeley resident of five years, said, I go to the games sometimes, bur other than that I don t make it to the campus much. Its hard to be invoK-cd with the school and keep up at my new job. Nonetheless, it s a great school with great people. Ortega claims other residents also appreciate the campus. We know that without all that the Public Relations The relationship between the city of Berkeley and the University created a unique learning environment campus contributes to Berkeley, we would be lost. It adds excitement to the city, Ortega said. Students share similar viewpoints on the impor- tance of the campus to the well-being of the cit ' of Berkele) ' . When asked about the relations between the campus and the cit) ' . Charlene Choi, a first-year student at Berkele} ' , stated an overwhelmingly positn ' e response. There is a lot of activity between the cit} ' and the campus. I have noticed that there is a tremendous amount of communit) ' service, including a program I am now in ' ol ' ed with where Berkele) ' High school students are taken to Cal and shadow ' the lite of a student for a day. The relationship seems really positive to me, Choi said. If the campus did not exist, Choi stated, There wouldn ' t be a s much business in town. The BART probably wouldnt even come herel Really, UC Berkeley helps to sustain economic growth in the area: without the campus, it would be a dead town. Spring admission student Nora Liao had similar opinions v ' hen asked how the campus added to the atmosphere. The campus definitely adds to Berke- ley. Businesses thrive off the Uiii ' ersit ' . and if the canipus wasn t here, there would be no Berkele) ' . Liao said. — Erica Fagnan Oh Telegraph Avenue, people loiter on the sideiViilk, either to people watch or ask jor spare change. Tl e interesting and diverse crowds in and around the campus add to the unique character of Berkeley. ■fif 18

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t nii ht, the Berkele) ' campus can be a formidable place. To provide a safer night environment, the University offers several campus safet) ' services such as the night safety shuttle, emergency phones, and campus police. The latter not only provides a walk escort .service, but its communit} ' service officers (CSOs) patrol the University, assist with campus events, and teach special De-Cal courses. The CSO Program s mi.ssion is to provide outreach to the campus communit} ' while helping to prevent crime on the campus. Ihe CSOs ' presence on campus has a ni,i|or role in lielping to deter attacks and cnmc at night and m the past iew years, the overall campus crime rates haw either remained steady or lowered. One of the primary ways the CSOs deter crime is their highly ' isible presence. In their tan uniforms, officers are easily recognized and tluycanbeseen EsCOrting StudetltS, performing a number of duties. The major shifts include a stadium area p,)trol, graveyard duty to patrol all of the dorms, crime watch to check windows and doors and give directions, and an escort service. tfceNicrK Although usually not armed with much but their wits, knowledge, a walkie-talkie, and the optional mace, their uniformed presence provides students and staff with a .sen.se of safety. A CSO officer may not always look like much of a bodyguard, but they are well trained to handle a -arietv of situations. (..SCXs know police codes, how to observ ' c surround- ings, take down detailed descriptions, and zhcy are very familiar with the campus geography, streets, and boundaries. In diis kind of |ob, street smarts are a necessity for keeping themselves and others safe at night. Abo e all. the - do not try to be heroes. In a single night a CSC ) can escort a multitude ol dner.sc people, from individuals to small groups and from the sober to the drunk. Mcist calls happen around midterms and finals, on weekends, and after big crimes. In addition to the walk service, aiding in emergencies, CSOs CSOs also patrol the campus and respond to crimes and strange events. Among these situations last year was the flooding of Haas Business School when a pipe burst and the neu ' school was flooded by a foot of water. CSOs responded to the emergenc) ' b) ' directing traffic while wading in a foot of cold water in the chilly Februarv ' night air. Other strange events included odd men mastLirbating m their cars wliile watching m im fl».« :ja