The basis for this campaign is preserving the wild spaces left within the campus, stopping the negative impacts that come with the expansion of the University, and challenging the institution as a whole. Therefore, this website primarily seeks to inform the general public about UCSC’s current development plans (the 2005–2020 Long Range Development Plan or LRDP) and the effects those plans will have, and to layout who is responsible for these plans.
For years UCSC has distinguished itself from other universities by being situated within the beauty of the chaparral, forests, meadows, and various creeks and watersheds that make up this area of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The wilderness has historically been a major part of peoples' attraction to UCSC. For those that have foraged wild huckleberries, climbed “Tree 9”, smoked a bowl in the Porter Caves or otherwise explored and played in these areas, this land is precious. And it is this land and the many creatures that live there (including the occasional student or houseless person dwelling there) that the university plans to destroy or push out.
The course of action is up to you to decide and act upon. This campaign is meant to be different from others, as there is no central group planning actions for members to carry out. We are not interested in activism or reform; we are simply interested in the most affective means possible to target the University. This campaign relies upon individuals and small groups taking responsibility for deciding upon and then carrying out the actions that they desire to take. The success of this campaign will be determined by the energy of those individuals involved as well as by the strategic nature of the actions carried out. As well, the campaign will only be effective if this struggle spreads across the social terrain, if this struggle is taken up by those within the University and those outside of it.