Twenty-five years ago the month after next, UC Davis set forth its Principles of Community. “We did this together — that’s what community is. Everything we believe about our campus can fit within these principles,” then-Chancellor Theodore L. Huller said upon the document's signing, April 20, 1990.

EXCERPTS: ORIGINAL
AND REVISED

The original preamble starts: “The University of California, Davis, is first and foremost an institution of learning and teaching, committed to serving the needs of society. Our campus community reflects and is a part of a society comprising all races, creeds and social circumstances.”

The draft revision starts: “The University of California, Davis, is first and foremost an institution of learning, teaching and research that reflects and is committed to serving the needs of a global society comprising all people and a multiplicity of identities.”

Here are excerpts from the four principles, from the original document and as revised:

• Original — “We affirm the inherent dignity in all of us, and we strive to maintain a climate of justice marked by respect for each other.” Proposed revision — “We affirm the dignity inherent in all of us, and we strive to maintain a climate of equity and justice demonstrated by respect for one another.”

• Original — “We affirm the right of freedom of expression within our community and affirm our commitment to the highest standards of civility and decency towards all.” Proposed revision — “We affirm the right of freedom of expression within our community, and also affirm our commitment to nonviolent exchange and the highest standards of conduct and decency toward all.”

• Original — “We confront and reject all manifestations of discrimination, including those based on race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religious or political beliefs, status within or outside the university, or any of the other differences among people which have been excuses for misunderstanding, dissension or hatred.” Proposed revision — “We confront and reject all manifestations of discrimination, including those based on race, ethnicity, gender and gender expression, age, ability, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, religious or political beliefs, socioeconomic class or status within or outside the university, or any of the other differences among people which have been excuses for misunderstanding, dissension or hatred."

• Original — “We recognize that each of us has an obligation to the community of which we have chosen to be a part. We will strive to build a true community of spirit and purpose based on mutual respect and caring.” Proposed revision — “We recognize that each of us has an obligation to the UC Davis community of which we have chosen to be a part. And we will strive to build a climate and culture based on mutual respect and caring."

Starting today (Feb. 24), and extending through Principles of Community Week (March 2-6), we’re once again inviting the community to “do this together” — to affirm our commitment to the Principles of Community and help refresh them in celebration of the document's 25th anniversary year.

See what else is happening during Principles of Community Week (below).

By refresh, we mean updating the language in a few spots, and the Principles of Community Reaffirmation Committee — faculty, staff and students — has been working on this task for the last several months. See box for examples.

The complete, final draft is now ready for community comment at four forums:

• Today, Feb. 24 — 6-8 p.m., Scrub Oak Auditorium, first floor of the new Scrub Oak Hall in the Tercero Housing Area.
• Monday, March 2 — 5:30-6:30 p.m., 1222 Education Building, 4610 X St., Sacramento
• Tuesday, March 3 — noon-1 p.m., 1222 Education Building
• Thursday, March 5 — 10:30 a.m.-noon, ARC Ballroom

The forums are open to faculty, staff and students. Senior campus leaders are scheduled to attend the final forum.

Comments also are welcome via email to the Office of Campus Community Relations.

Relevant now, relevant in the future

Vickie Gomez, chair of the Principles of Community Reaffirmation Committee, said the update is meant “to ensure that this aspirational statement of our university’s values remains relevant now and into the future.”

For example, the committee changed this phrase, “we strive to maintain a climate of justice,” to “we strive to maintain a climate of equity and justice” — adding the term “equity.”

“This change in language seeks to acknowledge the uniqueness of individuals and groups, that they may have different needs,” said Gomez, director of campus and student community engagement in the Office of Campus Community Relations.

“Similarly, other edits reflect updated language that serve to deepen and clarify the values of our campus community.” 

Principles of Community Week program

The Office of Campus Community Relations provided this rundown of the week's events, beyond the forums:

• Poetry Reading and Discussion — As/Us journal showcases the works of emerging and established female writers from around the world. Presenters include Patricia Killelea, a graduate student in Native American studies at UC Davis. Noon-1 p.m. Monday, March 2, 3201 Hart Hall.

• “Mixed Race in the Caribbean” — Bettina Ng’weno, associate professor, African and African American studies, leads this discussion. 2:30-3:30 p.m. Monday, March 2, Meeting Room D, Student Community Center. Refreshments will be provided.

* Multicultural Awareness Night — A festive kickoff to Principles of Community Week. Entertainment: Bomba Fried Rice Band, dance groups, spoken word and poetry. Police Department cadets will talk about how they work in conjunction with sworn officers to build community connections. Door prizes, including bikes and bike lights, and books from the Campus Community Book Project. 6:30-9 p.m. Monday, March 2, Conference Center Ballroom. Food will be served.

• Mixed Alumni Panel — Moderated by Kevin Johnson, law school dean. 2-4 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, multipurpose room, Student Community Center. Lunch will be provided.

• “Beyond Unconscious Bias” — Yilin Andre Wang, Ph.D. student in social psychology, asks: “If some of our biases occur at the unconscious level, will bringing them to our consciousness help? Are diversity programs that teach people to be mindful of their biases enough? Can these programs backfire?” In presenting this program, she will focus on the role attention and awareness play in stereotyping and prejudice, and illustrate that small details can make a big difference when it comes to reducing our biases. 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, 119 Thompson Hall (main lounge), Segundo Housing Area.

• UndocuAlly Program for Educators — A professional learning opportunity for educators to develop and enhance their working knowledge regarding servig the undocumented student population. Open to faculty and staff, and professional and graduate students. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, Meeting Room D, Student Community Center. Registration required. For more information, contact Vanessa Segundo by email.

• Facing Fear: Film and Dialogue — Jason Cohen’s Facing Fear, recipient of an Academy Award nomination for best short documentary in 2014, is about a former neo-Nazi skinhead and a gay man whose worlds collide when they meet by chance 25 years after the skinhead's hate-crime assault of the gay man. Having come across each other again, they embark on a journey of forgiveness that challenges both to grapple with their beliefs and fears, eventually leading to an improbable collaboration — and friendship. 7:30-9 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, Kalmanovitz Appellate Courtroom, 1001 King Hall. Other sponsors include the School of Law, and Campus Dialogue and Deliberation.

• One Drop of Love — Fanshen Cox DiGiovanni in a one-woman show that incorporates filmed images, photographs and animation to tell the story of how the notion of "race" came to be in the United States and how it affects Cox DiGiovanni’s relationship with her father. 7-9 p.m. Thursday, March 5, multipurpose room, Student Community Center.

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