San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
No mass geese slaughter
The decision of the 11-member board of directors of the University of California Hastings College to rename the oldest public law school in California is pure virtue-signaling. The board and dean of Hastings both acknowledge that the school’s founder, Serramus Hastings, was culpable for acts of ethnic cleansing against the Native American population of California. However, they propose no change to the governing board’s structure, under which a representative of the Hastings family is guaranteed a seat in perpetuity.
The costs of renaming the school will be borne by the school’s alumni, who will likely have to explain to prospective employers the distinction between the renamed college and the unaccredited San Francisco Law School. The Hastings family will retain influence over the school despite their ancestor having committed acts of genocide. That hardly seems like an equitable resolution of the issue.
As a former resident of Foster City, I am horrified about the vote to kill the geese “Foster City’s plan to kill more than 100 geese, potentially by spinal dislocation, is moving forward” (Bay Area, July 20). By taking this violent action, the mayor and city council are teaching the children of their community that it’s perfectly acceptable to kill animals for simply doing what comes naturally.
The geese are looking for safe homes and nest areas just like the humans
Amid objections from descendants of Yuki and Round Valley tribal members, UC Hastings law school was renamed UC College of the Law, San Francisco.
who live and prosper there. Foster City naturally attracts wild birds with big wetlands all around. And, huge amounts of wetlands were destroyed to make way for this manmade city with its large grassy areas and canals. Of course birds are attracted! The city invites them in and then betrays them. This is the lesson? My dogs and I lived among the geese there for six years and enjoyed their beauty and personalities. Killing them mercilessly is not a solution — it is a heartless act. There is still time for the mayor and council to find their empathy and give the geese one last consideration.
There are humane alternatives to mass slaughter.