The University of California and The TPP

University of California and the TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership)

Why has the governing board of the University of California been silent on the TPP?  The TPP is a huge controversial trade agreement, which has been noted for its secrecy.  Furthermore, the TPP has been newsworthy through exposure via Wikileaks and environmental activists.  Even more so, here in California, the TPP is especially pertinent as California is a state on the Pacific Coast, and is a state of innovation: Silicon Valley, LA/Hollywood, tech in SF, Berkeley/LBNL.  It would not be beyond the bound of reason for the Regents of the University of California to make a statement on the TPP.  Discussing the TPP would be well within the scope of their business as the Regents.  Are the UC Regents in favor of the TPP?  Are the UC regents afraid of protests which could occur if they were vocally in favor of the agreement?

Without further leaks or a whistle-blower coming forward, there is way to be certain, but there are clues that allow for speculation.

1: The silence on the issue is strange.  The UC does openly discuss major policy issues pertaining to economics, jobs, education, etc.  If the UC Regents were against the TPP, or were against certain aspects of the TPP, they would speak up.  It would not be inappropriate for the Regents to discus the TPP.  It does stand to reason that the UC would remain silent if they were in support of the TPP.  There have been worldwide protests against the trade agreement, and there would be protests on campus if the UC openly came out in favor of the trade agreement.

2: The UC is trying to establish itself as a global brand for education and research.  The UC has a mini-campus in London and in Mexico-city.  It is trying to establish a full-fledged campus/medical-school in China.  The UC has it's own seaport, here in the state of California.

3: The UC partners with corporations that are in support of TPP:  Qualcomm, IBM, BP, Chevron, etc.  The UC system has been privatized through-and-through, with the UC taking big donations for corporate controlled research and corporate controlled research facilities.

4: As an addition to UC Berkeley, the University of California is establishing what it calls a "global research field station" a little bit north of Berkeley in the city of Richmond.  The press releases for the "field station" describe it as a place for global, corporate research partnerships.  Back in April, the design plans for the Richmond campus were first shown to the public through an exclusive article in the 'Richmond Standard', a newspaper owned and operated by Chevron, which is in support of TPP. [http://richmondstandard.com/2015/04/new-york-firm-shop-wins-design-ideas-exercise-for-the-berkeley-global-campus-at-richmond-bay] Chevron has a refinery in Richmond.  Much of the talk around the Richmond campus uses the same vague language found in pro-TPP statements, about corporations finding solutions to global challenges.

5: The UC has been resisting calls to divest from Big Oil, and has been hostile towards on campus protests for divestment.  There is a overlap between the interests of Big Oil and corporations lobbying for TPP.