SUBJECT:

Recent Controversy Regarding UCSD’s Student-Run Cooperatives

Over the last few weeks, there have been several reports by campus and San Diego news media regarding the status of the UCSD cooperatives. Some of these reports have not accurately reflected the University’s perspective on the co-ops and our negotiations with them. UCSD Student Affairs representatives presented proposed revisions to the existing agreement as early as Fall 2003, in order to have a new agreement in place before the agreement expired and because of health and safety issues and concerns regarding compliance with procedures governing student activities. The current and planned negotiations are solely for the purpose of addressing these concerns. They are of a technical and legal nature and will not affect the viability of the co-ops. In fact, under the proposed new agreement, the University would continue to provide the co-ops with substantially discounted rental rates as well as long term leases.

The UCSD administration fully supports the continued on-campus presence of the student-run co-ops. The co-ops provide students a valuable educational, student development, and co-curriculum experience and service to the UCSD community. They have also long had a role in student life at UCSD and we are committed to preserving and supporting that role.

We look forward to arriving at a mutually acceptable agreement with the co-ops in the very near future.

Joseph W. Watson Vice Chancellor