Welcome to the official home of Berkeleyans for Cal Athletics, a group of Berkeley residents who support the University of California’s efforts to provide safe athletic training facilities for their students and staff. We represent the large contingent of Berkeleyans as well as Cal fans who support the University’s plan to retrofit and upgrade the venerable but crumbling Memorial Stadium. In order to do so, it is necessary for the University to build a safe, state-of-the-art training facility to house the current users and tenants of Memorial Stadium during the much needed retrofit of the facility. We believe that given the facts, the University’s plan to build the Student Athlete High Performance Center in close proximity to the fields upon which its athletes practice and compete is a necessary, reasonable and imperative first step towards providing a safe venue for the University’s students, athletes, staff and fans.
The City of Berkeley has lodged a costly and time-consuming lawsuit against the University that prevents this crucial first step towards renovating Memorial Stadium. Renovations have already been delayed nearly a year, and thousands of tax-payers’ money and University funds have been spent on this lawsuit.
As residents of Berkeley, we object to the expensive lawsuit being levied by the City of Berkeley against the University. We oppose the City’s delaying tactics, which directly endanger the lives of the hundreds of students and staff who work in Memorial Stadium’s antiquated and unsafe facilities. We feel that these students and staff as well as the thousands of spectators who visit Memorial Stadium in the fall deserve better. After more than 80 years, it is time to build them a new home.
Join our cause and help us to set the facts straight. We invite you to explore our site and ask us any questions. It is our hope that you will become involved in our fight to make the Student Athlete High Performance Center a reality.
This Wednesday, June 18th, marks the final day of Judge Miller’s 90-day decision deadline.
We have been told that she has her written decision prepared and will announce it on that day. The University has plans to make an immediate response to her decision. The Save the Oaks group and the Panoramic Association have already announced their intent to appeal anything unfavorable to them.
Some members of the Berkeley City Council have unofficially commented that they would not want to join in on any appeal, but they need to hear - very loudly and clearly - that Berkeley should move on and not waste further City funds in opposing this construction.
Be prepared to send your e-mails and letters to Mayor Bates and all Council members as the situation unfolds in a matter of days.
June 14 2008 | Uncategorized | Comments Off
We just received this letter from Cal athletic director Sandy Barbour and vice chancellor Nathan Brostrom and wanted to extend their thanks to all of you.
Dear Friends,
For the first time in recent memory, a group of people…that would be you…came together to do the hard work it takes to support the University and stand up for what you believe. Usually, people are too busy, too overworked or overbooked, to step up when needed. You did so and you have our everlasting gratitude.
In early August, this was a one sided battle, with Cal’s detractors controlling the airwaves, news pages and websites. By last week, we had at least brought the City of Berkeley to a place where they recognize the enormous outpouring of support Cal enjoys in our community. We believe it was a wakeup call for the City. And we hope it will serve to improve the relationship between the City of Berkeley and the University in the future.
There will undoubtedly be more opportunities for all of you to come forward and support Cal again. We needed you this time and we’ll need you again. The good news is we know we have your support and can count on it in the future.
To all of you who wrote letters, sent emails, displayed signs, talked to friends and neighbors and city council members, came to meetings, helped at Fan Appreciation Day, the Tennessee game and the City Council meeting, thanks for all you’ve done in the last six weeks to support Cal and our student athletes. We couldn’t ask for better friends.
Go Bears!
Sincerely,
Sandy Barbour and Nathan Brostrom
September 18 2007 | Uncategorized | Comments Off
Berkeleyans for Cal Athletics would like to thank all of you for your hard work over the past month. Chancellor Birgeneau, as well as Athletic Director Sandy Barbour, have expressed their gratitude at our group’s positive and honest representation of support for the phase 1 building of the SAHPC. Also expressed was their belief that such an independent citizen action group might be able to play a role in future efforts to educate the Berkeley citizenry of factual information with regard to the University, as well as acting as a conduit between the University and the City of Berkeley.
As you may already know, the City of Berkeley voted 7-1-1 to continue its lawsuit against the University (Wozniak dissented, Worthington abstained). While this is certainly not the outcome we were hoping for, it is not the final say on the issue. It is important for everybody to contact the mayor and your city council member and let them know how you feel about the outcome of the meeting. It is important for the city to know that we are still keeping tabs on them.
In the meantime, we await the September 19-20th court date with optimism. Although the council vote was a temporary setback, we believe that the future of the Student Athlete High Performance Center remains bright.
September 11 2007 | Uncategorized | Comments Off
Coming up:
September 19-20, 2007
Alameda County Court to address the legal challenges by the City of Berkeley, Save the Oaks and the Panoramic Hill Association vs. the University
August 13 2007 | News and Updates | Comments Off