INTRODUCTION

The A.S. Student Commission On Racial Equality is an organization dedicated to advocating for the rights and issues of students of color and underrepresented communities at UC Santa Barbara and the broader system of higher education. Through education and direct action, S.C.O.R.E. strives to promote diversity, equality, cultural understanding, and community empowerment.

The commission’s vision is to continue the struggle of increasing the representation and retention of underserved communities in higher education, while actively promoting diversity and social equality. It advocates self-empowerment through education and cultural celebration, political engagement, and activism in every form of expression. SCORE is here as a resource and support network to serve all students of color and allies at UCSB. Ultimately, the commission participants strive for a learning environment that is supportive of students of color.

This year, SCORE worked to create a space where all student of color organizations at UCSB could connect, network, and collaborate on issues that are common among many of their experiences, such as the need for outreach & retention programs, combatting discrimination on/off campus, and increasing the accessibility and affordability of the UC system, in order to create real solutions and real change!

EVENTS

STUDENT OF COLOR CONFERENCE

The 26th Annual Student of Color Conference was held at UC Merced this year. SCORE was thrilled to take a delegation of 55 UCSB students to the conference.

The major goal of the conference attended by about 1000 students from all over California is to create a space to discuss, dissect, and create relevant solutions to issues surrounding students of color. Students had the opportunity to become connected to different organizations both on and off UC campuses. The conference provided the space for consciousness raising and coalition building amongst students. It empowered young people to educate themselves, their communities, and to organize for liberation.

Speakers at this year’s conference included:

Carlotta Walls LaNier, who was one of nine black children called “The Little Rock Nine” enrolled in a previously all-white school in 1957 Arkansas; Ruben Canedo Sanchez, the research and mobilization coordinator for the Center for Educational Equity and Excellence at University of California, Berkeley; National Poetry Slam winner Joaquin Zihuatanejo; and State Assemblywoman Susan Eggman of the 13th District.

PRESS RELEASE RE SCORE FUNDING AND STUDENT OF COLOR CONFERENCE DELEGATE SELECTION PROCESS

SCORE sent a press release to media outlets regarding its delegate selection process for the Student of Color Conference and the subsequent request from AS Finance Board [sic] (Finance Board is now officially the Finance and Business Committee) to freeze SCORE funding. The controversy led to the introduction of a Senate bill which would have given the External Vice President Statewide Affairs jurisdiction over Student of Color Conference delegate selection. SCORE has always been in charge of this selection process and argued convincingly that they are the best qualified to continue doing so.

PRESS RELEASE: SCORE Autonomy Under Attack by Associated Students
November 5, 2014
On Monday, November 3rd, 2014, the Associated Students Finance Board requested to A.S. Senate to freeze the Student Commission on Racial Equality’s (SCORE) funds immediately based on allegations that SCORE violated student government bylaws through their Student of Color Conference (SOCC) delegate selection process, disallowing all accepted delegates from going to SOCC. Associated Students is the name of student government at UC Santa Barbara. The Student of Color Conference is an annual conference that discusses issues that students of color face in higher education. SCORE is in charge of paying for the registration, travel, and lodging costs for 55 students to UC Merced this year.
SCORE maintains that the following selection criteria for potential SOCC delegates has completely abided all school policies and bylaws:
1. Priority given to students who regularly attend SCORE general body meetings and events
2. Priority given to freshmen, sophomore, and transfer students who have not had opportunities to learn about issues students of color face in higher education.
3. Priority given to students part of organizations who do not have enough money to send delegates such as Black Students Union, El Congreso, Kapatirang Pilipino, Muslim Student Association, etc.
4. Priority given to students who put effort in the completion of the application process and answered with honest and thoughtful responses.
5. Selection committee must try its best to pick a delegation that represents all underserved and underrepresented racial/ethnic, sexual, gender, religious, and differently-abled identities at UC Santa Barbara.
These allegations and attack on SCORE autonomy are not specific to this year either. For the past four years SCORE has endured numerous attacks from student government whether it be threatening to take away funding for SOCC or forcing SCORE to release the private information of conference applicants in response to SCORE adhering to its strict selection criteria and rejecting those elected student representatives who have access to a $122,370.00 budget(1) .
SCORE stands by its selection processes and deeply condemns UCSB Finance Board for attempting to freeze all of SCORE’s funding, which is used to support organizations and events that promote issues of diversity and inclusion of students of color at UC Santa Barbara. If Finance Board, and those that support their decision to freeze SCORE’s funds, have their way, the cost of sending the SOCC delegation, roughly $8400, would be placed upon the fulltime students that are part of the board of SCORE and SCORE would not be able to freely use its money in the future to give vital funding to student organizations that are the backbone of this campus. This is not only a breach of SCORE’s autonomy but also completely immoral and unethical.
We urge you all to contact Chief Financial Officer Andre Theus at fb@as.ucsb.edu and attend the Associated Students Senate meeting on Wednesday at 6:30 pm to voice your concern about the unprecedented attack on SCORE autonomy by student government officials.
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns feel free to contact us at cochairs.score@gmail.com or attend our meetings at 8:00 pm on Tuesdays in the MCC Lounge.
With love and in solidarity,
The Student Commission on Racial Equality.

FACING RACE CONFERENCE

SCORE hosted the 16th Annual Facing Race Conference during spring quarter. The one day conference confronted some of the most critical issues facing people of color and other underrepresented communities today. Specifically, this year’s conference focused on the utilization of media and technology for social activism by people of color across the world.