Spring 2023

February is Black History Month. It’s a time for us to call attention to and pay tribute to the far-reaching sacrifices and triumphs of Black people and communities. It is also an invitation to think about how we uplift the culture, creativity, and leadership of Black life today while holding space for Black dreams and futures. Nationally, the 2023 theme for the month is “Black Resistance,” inviting us to reflect on the roles, responsibilities, and opportunities we all have as individuals to advance racial and social justice across campus.

For UC Berkeley, 2022 was a year of speaking out — against injustice, against violence, against the patriarchy — and committing to a better future, together.

When Russia waged war on Ukraine in February, the campus community joined in solidarity and voiced its outrage and defiance. When Iranians rose up in protest against their repressive government and called for freedom, Berkeley students, staff and faculty spoke out in support of the protesters and what they stood for. And students on campus screamed together for the art project OUTCRY.

When Berkeleyans weren’t speaking...

One of my hopes coming out of the pandemic was that we would become more aware of how interdependent we are as a community and perhaps do more to ensure that everyone has the support they need. The 2022 UAW contract negotiations and strike underscored that interdependence, making clear how essential postdoctoral scholars, academic researchers and graduate students are to our campus ecosystem; our teaching and research missions depend on them. Having them withdraw their labor created significant challenges and stress for our undergraduates, faculty and staff.

Like most students, Melissa Mora-Gonzalez lived in a residence hall during her first year. But after choosing to pursue off-campus housing, she has some tips and tricks for other UC Berkeley students in their housing search.