UC Berkeley: The Impact of State Universities on Cities

Recently, a suit filed against the University of California, Berkeley has shaken the state of California and universities across the United States. The case, ‘Save Berkeley's Neighborhoods v. Regents of the University of California,’ argues that UC Berkeley’s expansion of class size and its inadequate housing for students damages the city of Berkeley, through unacceptable levels of noise, traffic, and trash.

In particular, this case has greatly affected the graduating high school senior class, especially those who hoped to be admitted into the prestigious university, which has only a 17% acceptance rate. The court’s decision, ruling in favor of “Save Berkeley's Neighborhoods,” means that UC Berkeley will be required to withhold 5,100 offers of admission this year. It also stopped the construction of two new buildings, which would have been used as classrooms and housing for professors.

Although this news is devastating for hopeful seniors, it is also necessary to understand the reasons behind the lawsuit. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is a law, signed in 1970 by Gov. Ronald Reagan, that requires public universities in California to mitigate the environmental impact of government construction projects. In this case, it was argued that UC Berkeley violated the CEQA by increasing enrollment levels past the allowed number, without conducting an environmental review and development plan.

Neighbors to the university recognized the effects of further increasing the UC Berkeley student body. “Save Berkeley’s Neighborhoods” believes that the overwhelming number of students and the construction of the buildings would interfere with the city’s public safety services, such as police and ambulance. The petition to reduce UC Berkeley’s enrollment was first filed in 2018, but “Save Berkeley’s Neighborhoods” only won the case in 2021.

There is no doubt that education, especially from highly-selective institutions like UC Berkeley, is important for many high school students. However, we must also consider the negative impact that public universities make on the residents of nearby neighborhoods and the environment.