* A SAMPLE LETTER TO LEGISLATORS REGARDING THE STATE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE *

WHERE TO SEND THIS LETTER IF YOU'RE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN THE SAN DIEGO AREA:

SAN DIEGO AND UCSD CAMPUS:	LA JOLLA AND DEL MAR:
Assembly Member Susan Davis	Assembly Member Dede Alpert
State Capitol, Room 3120	1350 Front Street, Suite 6013
Sacramento, CA 95814		San Diego, CA 92101
(916) 445-7210			(619) 234-7878

EVERYWHERE IN GREATER SAN DIEGO:
Senator Lucy Killea
2550 5th Avenue, Suite 152
San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 696-6955

You may clip this letter and send it, or use it as a guide to construct a
letter of your own.  DON'T FORGET TO SIGN THE LETTER, AND TO INCLUDE YOUR
ADDRESS AT THE TOP!

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Dear Representatives:

I support the elimination of the State Oath of Allegiance for employees of the
University of California (see California Constitution XX.3 and California
Government Code 3100-3109).  The following points have not been given due
consideration in implementation of the current policy:

  (1) Limitations on free thought are incompatible with the nature of a
university.  Paradoxically, true freedom and a vigorous democracy require
tolerance of all political beliefs, even those whose praxis would constitute a
threat to the state and its institutions.  Any government that is so afraid of
subversion that it censors the educational environment of its people does not
deserve the label "democracy".
  (2) The mandate that all U.S. citizens employed by the state subscribe to this
oath is especially onerous and insulting since it is not required for
non-citizens (California Government Code section 3101).  This suggests that the
state believes that it has more to fear from its own people than from aliens.
  (3) The oath is unenforceable; thus the only people whom it successfully bars
from university employment are those who have strong morals and consciences.
  (4) Many volunteers at the University of California are considered employees
for the purposes of liability insurance and workers' compensation.  Therefore
people who wish to volunteer their services freely to the university but who
will not sign the Oath either are not permitted to work or end up working
unofficially, without the benefit of workers' compensation.  This restriction
operates against the spirit of neighboring section 3112 of the California
Government Code, which recognizes that "[l]egal... disincentives and impediments
need to be eliminated in order to establish an optimum environment for citizen
initiative and volunteer action."
  (5) The stated intent of the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance for Disaster
Service Workers and Public Employees (which is cited on the Oath form as the
authorizing power for the Oath) is to ensure that public employees come to the
aid of the people of California in the event of a disaster (California
Government Code section 3100).  Such explicit disaster responsibilities have
little bearing on university employees.
  (6) Administration and filing of the Oath creates a needless drain on the
university's budget.

  The Department of Biology at UCSD last year lost a potential new faculty
member, Mark Konishi, because he would not sign the Oath.  Furthermore, there's
no telling how many staff, students, and faculty each year are either
discouraged from applying to the University of California or intimidated into
swearing an oath that they don't believe in.
  In sum, the Oath is a Cold-War archaism, and it has no place in the State of
California.  Article XX, Section 3 of the California Constitution gives the
legislature the power to exempt "inferior officers and employees" from the Oath
requirement.  This phrase can at least be construed to include student
employees, and hopefully staff and faculty also.  Now is the time for the
legislature to exercise this power.  As your constituent I look forward to your
response and action on this matter.

				Sincerely,