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Alumni Converge on State Capitol to Deliver Message
to Legislators About Importance of University of California

Christine Clark | March 7, 2011

From right: Vice Chancellor of Alumni Affairs Armin Afsahi, Assembly member Martin Gerrick (R-74), Neville Billimoria,’82, Marty Block (D-78) and Joe Leventhal,’99

Alumni from all 10 University of California campuses participated in the 2011 “UC Day” at the state Capitol to deliver an important message: UC’s excellence, accessibility and affordability are a driving force in California’s economy, but are critically threatened by the proposed $500 million budget cut.

“UC is not the problem, but a part of the solution to the current financial crisis,” said Neville Billimoria,’82, senior vice president at Mission Federal Credit Union. “In this fiscal climate, it’s more important now than ever to communicate this message to California’s legislators that cuts to UC are a cut to California’s growth engine. UC San Diego-generated companies alone are generating $20 billion in San Diego County.”

Acting as legislative advocates, the UC San Diego alumni delegation included Billimoria, Mark Diamond, ’87, Tim Lee, ’92, Joe Leventhal,’99, and Kari Middleton, ’97.

The delegates participated in roundtable discussions with state legislators and their staff, including state Senators Mark Wyland (R-38), Christine Kehoe (D-39), Juan Vargas (D-40), and Assemblymembers Martin Garrick (R-74) , Nathan Fletcher (R-75), Toni Atkins (D-76), Brian Jones (R-77), Marty Block (D-78) and Ben Hueso (D-79).

For Diamond, CEO of Contoural Inc. and long-time advocate for the university, this was his 18th “UC Day.” “To be here this year is so important,” said Diamond. “It’s very impactful to hear the value of the UC system from a non-paid, non-professional lobbyist who has a firsthand experience of benefiting from a UC education.”

UC President Mark Yudof joined the UC San Diego delegates at the “UC Day” luncheon.

The evening prior to “UC Day,” UC San Diego hosted a dinner for the delegates and alumni who work in state government. Featured speakers included Assemblymen Block and Garrick.

“I came to this dinner tonight because I am a huge supporter of higher education, especially UC San Diego,” said Garrick. “Universities provide an educated workforce that drive business in California.”

Block added that he’s strongly committed to providing more educational opportunities to San Diegans. “San Diego is home to many great companies,” Block said. “Access to higher education is how we are going to keep them there.”

Also at the dinner was Nadia and Raul Carrillo,’02 and ’03, a married couple who met at UC San Diego attending Summer Bridge, a program designed to acclimate students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to the university setting and help them become successful campus leaders. Both now have successful careers as government employees and are strong supporters of the university.  “We benefitted a lot of from UC San Diego and Summer Bridge, and it is programs like those that have the possibility of being cut,” Raul Carillo said. “We want future generations to have the same opportunities we did. The university has been significantly impacted by cuts, and it’s critical that people who benefited from UC San Diego advocate for the university—even at the smallest level.”

UC Day kicked off with a breakfast and keynote address from UC President Mark Yudof. “Today is a special day,” Yudof said. “It’s such an honor to have such enthusiastic supporters of the university come to the state capitol at a time when the state is facing serious difficulties. It’s a testament to the loyalty of our alumni.”

Following the breakfast, UC San Diego delegates met with legislators and their staff to share their personal stories of how each benefited from their educational experience at UC San Diego. They also brought the message to legislators that UC’s contribution to California extends far beyond campus boundaries.

From right: UCSD staff Dominique Cano-Stocco, Brittan Trozzi (Alumni Affairs), Joe Leventhal, Kari Middleton, Neville Billimoria, Seth Konsky (Alumni Affairs) and Steven Lei (UCSD staff)

“I come from a low-income home and I was the first in my family to graduate college,” Middleton said in a legislative meeting. “My concern is that the middle class will get hurt the most because they might not qualify for as much aid as I did as the cost of education continues to increase as a result of reduced state funds.”

During the UC Day luncheon, Yudof sat with the UC San Diego delegates. He spoke about  the importance of protecting the quality, accessibility and affordability of UC. “We are such a unique university," he said. We produce some of the greatest research and more than 39 percent of all UC students receive the Pell grant. We are here to communicate that funding UC will help California come out of the current recession.”

At the table, Yudof had the opportunity to talk with Mark Diamond’s son, Will. “I brought my son because this is a great opportunity for him to see how the government works,” said Diamond. “Also, more importantly, we are here because of him. As alumni we have reaped the benefits of our education from UC San Diego and we hope that my son and future generations will have the same opportunity.”


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