California State University Center of Excellence in the Study
of the Holocaust, Genocide, Human Rights and Tolerance
AS-2640-04/TEKR - January 22-23, 2004
ATTACHMENT TO AS-2640-04/TEKR
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.
APPROVED - March 11-12, 2004 |
