FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 16, 2011
Jollene Levid, National Chairperson
Mona Lisa Navarro, Irvine Coordinator
chair@af3irm.org
Irvine@af3irm.org
949-412-1122

AF3IRM DEMANDS JUSTICE FOR LAYA;
CALLS FOR UC STUDENT REGENT JESSE CHENG TO BE REMOVED FROM HIS POST

The Association of Filipinas, Feminists Fighting Imperialism Re-feudalization, & Marginalization (AF3IRM) stands firmly with Laya, a UCLA student, who spoke out against Jesse Cheng, University of California (UC) Student Regent, who sexually battered and attacked her on October 3, 2010. Cheng, who is supposed to be the “student voice” as the only undergraduate UC student on the highest decision-making body of the UC system, the Board of Regents, has done a disservice to all UC students by misrepresenting them with his sexist, violent, irreproachable behavior.

Jesse Cheng's inexcusable behavior, coupled with his representative power as an appointee UC Regent, will not be tolerated. AF3IRM draws attention to the fact that though Laya was brave enough to file a police report on the incident, the Orange County District Attorney’s office has never seen it, thus never formally holding Jesse Cheng legally accountable for his actions. AF3IRM will remain steadfast in demanding that Jesse Cheng take full responsibility for his crime and that the UC students be able to elect a Student Regent who is truly representative of their needs. Batterers should not be the voice of the UC students.

In the face of UC-wide budget cuts throughout the state of California, including a new cut proposal of $500 million in Governor Jerry Brown’s budget, it is also time for students to ensure that their tuition pay for important services for women on UC campuses, instead of forcing survivors like Laya to depend on university authorities, who take months or even years to investigate and punish crimes of sexual assault on campuses.

AF3IRM calls on all UC students to demand justice – an attack on one student is an attack on all! Demand that Jesse Cheng be removed from his post as student regent, that students be given the right to elect their next regent, and that student resources for women be preserved and funded in the UC system! No longer will Jesse Cheng be able to use his power to sidestep justice. We applaud and echo Laya’s brave statement: “I don’t want to let him silence me anymore.”

To get involved with the Justice for Laya Campaign, please join AF3IRM in a coalition campaign meeting.

WHAT: Justice for Laya Coalition Meeting
WHEN: Thursday, February 17, 2011
WHERE: UC Irvine Student Center - Doheny Beach D
TIME: 6:00pm

UC RIVERSIDE: Email riverside@af3irm.org

UC SAN DIEGO: Email sandiego@af3irm.org

UC BERKELEY: Email sfbayarea@af3irm.org

UCLA: Email losangeles@af3irm.org