(SACRAMENTO, CA) - Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) was named to the newly-created Assembly Select Committee on Campus Climate, which will investigate how state colleges respond to and prevent student harassment and hate crimes on campus.
“I entered politics to fight for civil rights,” said Ting who once served as the Executive Director of the Asian Law Caucus, an organization founded to advance the rights of the Asian Pacific Islander community. “Our state universities are wonderful and worth fighting for. Every person who wants an education must be able to get one without fear.”
Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) created the select committee in response to an incident at San Jose State University last November where four students have been accused of racially motivated bullying and assault of a black classmate. As part of its work, the select committee will determine what actions can ensure that our campuses reflect and welcome the rich diversity of California.
“The lack of faculty diversity runs deep, especially when compared to the composition of our students,” added Ting. “This remains among the strongest indicators of inequality on our campuses and it has to change.”
Assemblymember Shirley N. Weber (D-San Diego), who worked as a professor and department chair at San Diego State University for 40 years, will Chair the Select Committee. She has announced that the select committee will be holding a series of hearings over the next year to investigate the California State University, University of California, and Community Colleges.
Contact: Anthony Matthews, tel. (916) 319-2019, anthony.matthews@asm.ca.gov