Alex Mousouris/Staff

An AC Transit strike has been averted following a tentative agreement between Amalgamated Transit Union Local 192 and AC Transit just an hour before workers threatened to strike.

The agreement will prevent AC Transit’s 181,000 daily riders from having to find alternative methods of transportation.

The new agreement allows a wage increase of 9.5 percent over the next three years and monthly health care contributions of $70, $140 and $180, respectively, for each of the three years.

“This was a long and often intense negotiation, and there are no winners or losers in its outcome,” said AC Transit general manager David Armijo in a press release. “We are happy we were able to get through process without any disruption in service. Clearly, both sides focused on what was best for the riders and taxpayers of this district and what is in the long-term interest of maintaining public transit for the communities we serve.”

The union, which represents 1,800 bus drivers and mechanics, had threatened to strike on Monday amid ongoing negotiations.

All services will continue running on their normal schedule.

More updates to follow.

Andrea Guzman is a news editor. Contact her at aguzman@dailycal.org

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Wilcox will be replacing Jane Close Conoley, the interim chancellor, who has served since former chancellor Timothy White left the school to become chancellor of the California State University system at the end of December.

“My values and interests align perfectly with UC Riverside, one of the nation’s great research universities,” Wilcox said in a statement released Thursday. “I look forward to meeting with students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of the larger community, to learning and exchanging ideas and to working toward making Riverside the best it can be.”

Wilcox, a professor of communicative sciences and disorders at Michigan State University, served as provost and executive vice president for eight years before stepping down on July 1.

He served as dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Kansas from 2002 to 2005 and as president and chief executive officer of the Kansas Board of Regents from 1999 to 2002.

“Kim Wilcox brings to the University of California distinctive expertise and interests that will serve the Riverside campus and the larger community exceedingly well,” said UC President Mark Yudof in a statement. “He has been a dedicated teacher, scholar and researcher who also excelled as an academic leader and chief executive, always maintaining his commitment to diversity and access to higher education.”

The UC Board of Regents will discuss Wilcox’s appointment and compensation at a special meeting on Aug. 8 and will consider the effective date of the appointment on Aug. 19.

Andrea Guzman is a news editor. Contact her at aguzman@dailycal.org.

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According to a UCPD crime alert released Wednesday, the 24-year-old male victim, whose affiliation is unknown, was walking in the area at about 2:20 a.m. when he was approached by a group of perpetrators. One perpetrator, armed with a gun, demanded the victim’s property.

The victim was ordered to lie on the ground while another perpetrator took his cellphone and wallet. The suspects then fled the area on foot.

According to the UCPD crime alert, the perpetrators are described as follows.

Perpetrator 1 is a black male adult, 20 to 30 years old, between 5 feet 8 inches and 5 feet 10 inches in height, with a slim build and armed with a gun.

Perpetrators 2 and 3 are black male adults, 20 to 30 years old, with slim builds.

Perpetrators 4 and 5 are Asian males.

Andrea Guzman in a news editor. Contact her at aguzman@dailycal.org.

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According to a UCPD crime alert released Wednesday, the two victims, a 21-year-old female and 21-year-old male, were walking in the area at about 2:50 a.m. when they were approached by the perpetrators.

One perpetrator attempted to grab the female victim’s purse while another pulled out a gun and pointed it at her. Fearing for her safety, the victim handed over her belongings.

According to the UCPD crime alert, the perpetrators are described as:

PERPETRATOR 1: black male adult, 18 to 20 years old, 5 feet 8 inches, thin build, clean-shaven, shaved head wearing a gray, hooded sweatshirt and dark jeans.

PERPETRATOR 2: black male adult, 18 to 20 years old, 5 feet 10 inches, thin build, clean-shaven, short black hair wearing a dark, hooded sweatshirt and dark jeans, armed with a gun.

PERPETRATORS 3 & 4: two additional black male adult suspects, with no further details.

Andrea Guzman in a news editor. Contact her at aguzman@dailycal.org.

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Arya Aliabadi/Staff

Six protesters were arrested Thursday after disrupting the appointment of incoming UC president Janet Napolitano and refusing to disperse pursuant to police orders at a UC Board Regents meeting at UCSF Mission Bay.

After a public comment session in which many spoke against Napolitano’s appointment, the regents approved Napolitano’s salary package in a quick vote.

As the board barreled toward full approval, many in the section cordoned off for the public took action.

Chants of “Undocumented is not a crime” and  “Don’t deport my education” erupted from the crowd, referencing Napolitano’s recent position as U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security.

“We were going to do this because we really believe that Janet Napolitano should not be the UC president, so we were willing to go to jail for it,” said Bruno Rosales Huizar, a UCLA student.

Shortly afterward, two protesters charged toward the regents, prompting police to declare the assembly unlawful. After five minutes of warning, four protesters remained and were arrested. Six were arrested in total, but all were released with citations.

More than 40 protesters turned out on Thursday to protest the appointment of Napolitano. Some demonstrated outside the meeting while others shared concerns at the meeting’s public comment session, indicating Napolitano’s history of deportation as homeland security secretary.

Speakers critical of Napolitano described their own experiences as undocumented students under the federal program Secure Communities, which allowed local governments to turn in undocumented immigrants to federal immigration authorities.

Huizar shared how his father was deported on his way to work at a construction site, severely affecting his family’s financial circumstances and his opportunities to pursue higher education.

“I had to worry about finding food for every meal,” Huizar said. “I couldn’t prioritize school anymore. My dream had been shattered. How are you going to tell a parent they don’t have the right to see their child?”

After the arrests, the meeting reconvened with discussion of Napolitano’s appointment. While some regents expressed support for Napolitano, student regent Cinthia Flores voted against her appointment, citing many of the same reasons voiced by protesters.

“I cannot and I will not deny the pain and experiences of countless students and families who have been negatively impacted by Secure Communities,” she said. “I know that their fear is real.”

But Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom defended Napolitano’s record on immigration, saying the responsibility for implementing Secure Communities was widely spread, with many decisions on enforcement falling to local governments instead of just the Department of Homeland Security.

“I just want to apply a broader level of responsibility that we all shared for the app of Secure Communities,” Newsom said, referencing his own history as mayor of San Francisco. “The application as it was processed created a lot of legitimate controversy that was rightly addressed, city by city and across this country.”

Regent Bonnie Reiss, who also sat on the selection committee, affirmed that Napolitano would address concerns of protesters who were fearful because of her prior experience. Reiss said Napolitano was eager to know the “real concerns among the student body” and that she sat with many and assured them she hears their voice.

Napolitano also addressed protesters’ criticism at a press conference following her appointment.

“I would say to these students, documented or undocumented, we are here for the business of education, and I will be an advocate of that in Sacramento and in D.C.,” she said.

Ju Hong, an undocumented UC Berkeley alumnus, was among those who demonstrated at the meeting. He said he will continue protesting Napolitano’s appointment as UC president despite the board’s decision Thursday.

“I know that undocumented immigrant communities are disappointed, and I know that this is just the beginning,” he said.

Contact Sophie Mattson and Andrea Guzman at newsdesk@dailycal.org.

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Napolitano’s base salary has been set at $570,000, effective on or around Sept. 30, and will be about $20,000 less than what outgoing President Mark Yudof earns. Her new salary will also be about $370,000 more than what she currently earns as secretary of homeland security.

She will take over for Yudof in September and will be the first female UC president in the university’s 145-year history. She has previously served as Arizona’s governor and attorney general.

Napolitano’s approval at the meeting was the culmination of a five-month search process that some called too closed and secretive. Despite input from faculty, alumni, students and staff, many criticized the choice of Napolitano — which was unanimously made by a special committee of the regents. Napolitano was also announced as the committee’s only choice for president six days before her approval.

“There’s been some questions as to why we did not release the (names of) hundreds of candidates we looked through,” said former board chair Sherry Lansing, who headed the search committee. “The reality is that any candidate who is employed would withdraw their name if it was ever made public.”

The choice was also nontraditional because the role of UC president is typically filled by an academic or individual with previous experience in university administration. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom noted that the change was a conscious decision by the regents that began when Yudof announced his resignation in January.

The board approved the search committee’s selection in a quick vote. Only one voting member, student regent Cinthia Flores, opposed the appointment, citing Napolitano’s background as homeland security head and her role implementing controversial immigration policies like Secure Communities, which gave local governments the power to report undocumented individuals to federal authorities.

“Students have raised a number of concerns,” Flores said. “She must remember that her involvement with Secure Communities will cast a long shadow on her future endeavors … I strongly believe this program has produced a divide that does not reflect nor support the UC regents’ commitment toward expanding and enhancing diversity.”

After her approval, Napolitano began her first address to the board by thanking its members for her selection and expressing her excitement at the idea of working for the university and the state of California.

“The University of California is the backbone of this state and a beacon for the nation and world,” Napolitano said. “It also does not seem to be a stretch to say that as the University of California goes, so goes California. So this is a high-stakes proposition.”

She also addressed some of the concerns voiced by members of public at the meeting, which included her lack of experience in university administration.
“Let me acknowledge that I am not a traditional candidate for this position,” she said. “I have not spent a career in academia. That said, I have spent 20 years in public service advocating for it.”

Contact Andrea Guzman at aguzman@dailycal.org.

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According to the UCPD crime alert released Monday, the victims, a nonaffiliated male and female were in the park with friends. The alert states that the victims were sitting near a bench when they were allegedly approached by an unknown male displaying a handgun in his waistband.

Fearing for their safety, the victims did not confront the suspect, who began to take their personal belongings.

According to the alert, the suspect walked to a waiting white Dodge Durango with yellow flames on the side, which was occupied by three females. A UCPD officer patrolling near Martin Luther King Jr. Way, observed a white Durango matching the description and initiated a stop.

The suspect was positively identified by the victims and witnesses and was arrested.

The stolen items were recovered. The victims were not physically injured during the encounter.

According to the UCPD crime alert, the suspect is described as Andres Rodriguez, a 19-year-old male Hispanic, 5-foot-9 and 160 lbs., with black hair and wearing a red hat, black shirt and jeans.

Andrea Guzman is a news editor. Contact her at aguzman@dailycal.org and on Twitter @guzmanandrea5.

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The male victim, whose affiliation with UC Berkeley is unknown, was walking on Channing Way at approximately 10:50 p.m. when he was approached by three males, according to the UCPD crime alert released Wednesday. The suspects pointed handguns at the victim and took his cellphone.

The suspects fled the scene, heading eastbound on Channing Way and then in an unknown direction on Piedmont Avenue.

The victim was not injured during the encounter. BPD and UCPD searched the area but were unable to locate the suspects.

Andrea Guzman is a news editor. Contact her at aguzman@dailycal.org and on Twitter @guzmanandrea5.

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According to the UCPD crime alert released Friday, a UCPD officer patrolling People’s Park at about 10:17 a.m. reported that an altercation had just occurred and that the suspect was fleeing the scene.

The officer was able to provide the suspect’s description to UCPD dispatch, and another UCPD officer stopped the suspect in front of Peet’s Coffee & Tea on Telegraph Avenue.

The suspect, who has no affiliation with UC Berkeley, sustained minor injuries to his head and arms during the altercation and was transported to Alta Bates Summit Medical Center for treatment and medical clearance before being taken into custody.

According to the UCPD crime alert, the suspect has been positively identified as Kenneth W. Toombs, a 55-year-old black male.

Andrea Guzman is a news editor. Contact her at aguzman@dailycal.org.

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ASUC/Courtesy

A UC Board of Regents special committee has nominated Sadia Saifuddin, an independent ASUC senator, as UC student regent for the 2014-15 term.
The student regent is a voting member of the board, attending all meetings and serving a one-year term. The position was created in 1975 to represent the voice of all students of the University of California.

“UC has a lot of difficulties and obstacles, and I think we need new creative solutions,” Saifuddin said. “I come from a legacy of people who care about education and community, and I want the people who come after to have the same opportunities that I’ve had.”

Saifuddin’s nomination awaits confirmation and will be voted on at the regents’ next meeting in July. If approved, Saifuddin will begin her one-year term in July 2014 after serving one year as student regent-designate. Saifuddin would be the 40th student regent.

“Sadia has the leadership experience and the will and drive to be a great student regent,” said current UC Student Regent-Designate Cinthia Flores, who will become student regent this July. “I’m looking forward to working with her in the coming year.”

In the fall, Saifuddin will enter her senior year at UC Berkeley as a social welfare major. During her time at UC Berkeley, Saifuddin has been involved in several campus organizations, including the UC Berkeley Muslim Students Association, the ASUC Senate and the office of Student Regent Jonathan Stein.

Saifuddin would be only the second of two undergraduates to serve as student regent in the last decade.

“To be an undergrad in that position, you have to be a superstar,” Stein said. “You have to have maturity and poise beyond your years. But it is important to have that undergraduate student at the meetings to explain to the regents what it’s like to be an undergraduate today.”

As an ASUC senator, Saifuddin was chair of the ASUC’s finance committee and was one of two co-sponsors of a controversial bill that encouraged divestment of ASUC and UC Regents funds from companies associated with the Israeli military.

“Her getting this is nothing but a testament to her to hard work representing students,” said Cooperative Movement Senator Jorge Pacheco. “Having her to represent students at a regent level is a blessing, and it’s not a surprise at all.”

Andrea Guzman is a news editor. Contact her at aguzman@dailycal.org and on Twitter @guzmanandrea5.

Correction(s):
A previous version of this article incorrectly identified Saifuddin as a former ASUC Senator. In fact, she is a current senator. Her term does not expire until the end of this summer.

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