Ward Connerly’s term as a Regent is nearing a close. A look back, in his own words, in the Sacramento Bee. Props to Res Ipsa Loquitur for finding the article, which they have posted in whole. And it looks like they’ve reenabled comments, so leave them a couple. Here’s some highlights from the article:

Tuesday, I will end what I have affectionately called a 12-year “sentence” on the Board of Regents of the University of California. For the better part of that period, I was the target for many political snipers who viewed me as an enemy of the people, a despicable Uncle Tom and an agent of America’s political right-wing.

And, yet, there are those who have described me as a public figure who has had more influence on public policy affecting race in California than any other elected or appointed individual of the past two generations. For whatever they are worth, my own insights might be of some value.
—
One of the things I have learned as a regent, is how anxious those of us in the public arena are to invoke and apply ideological labels - “liberal” and “conservative” - to those with whom we disagree.

Admittedly, I lean to the right on most political issues. But, when I became a regent, I left my ideological label at the door. There is nothing uniquely “conservative” about wanting all students to be treated equally when they apply to UC. There is nothing conservative about the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which guarantees equal treatment before the law “without regard to race, color or creed.”

How conservative can I be by wanting same-sex domestic partners to receive equal health and medical benefits as other employees? Is it a measurement of my conservatism that I oppose raising student fees when our students and their families can least afford such increases? Am I conservative because I want UC’s 200,000 employees to have a voice at the governance table alongside the regents, faculty, alumni, students and others who comprise the UC family? In short, these ideological labels are merely a tool for demonizing those with whom we disagree on specific issues and using those labels, once applied, to rally others to oppose our enemies.

Before I became a member of the Board of Regents, I never heard the term “black conservative” applied to me. Now, it is rare that such a label is not applied. And, once the label is applied, we close the door to further communication with individuals merely because they now belong to an ideological set to which we have assigned them.

Check it all out. Then check out our post about him from last month, for more links.