The end of the school year has arrived and finals are about to begin. Since last August, we at the California Patriot have taken great pride in covering the issues that have faced us as UC Berkeley students and also as Americans. We were able to experience the ending of the tree sit back in September, the closing of Code Pink’s East Bay office, California’s passage of Proposition 8, two former terrorists addressing a sell-out crowd in Wheeler Hall, and Phyllis Schlafly speaking to a standing-room only audience of students and local Bay Area conservatives.

But the biggest event that took place in the 08-09 school year was the election of Barack Obama. He came into the presidency promising “hope and change,” but what he’s done so far has made America less safe—whether by releasing the CIA interrogation memos (liberals call them “Torture Memos”), pledging to shut down Guantanamo Bay, or by becoming the first “teleprompter-in-chief”. President Obama’s first 100 days in office have come to pass and while the news conference to celebrate his hundredth day almost put me to sleep, there was one question in particular that basically sums it up. When questioned by The New York Times, Obama was asked what he was most “enchanted” about during his time in office so far.

In the final publication of the California Patriot for the 2008-2009 school year we bring you the latest from our dedicated staff writers. Katelyn Sills provides readers with an update on the controversy surrounding Revered Walter Hoye who was arrested and served time in prison for protesting outside an Oakland abortion clinic last February. Margaret Mele reports on the City of Oakland’s memorializing of Lovelle Mixon, who shot and killed four policemen after being pulled over for a routine traffic stop last month. Andy Nevis and Jaymes P. Dunsmore report on the spike in crime around Berkeley and the East Bay, remembering slain Cal student Vincent Choi, 22, who was shot and killed in March.

Also, the May feature is stylized with a yearbook layout and addresses four different people or events that made a dramatic impact this year. In the Perspectives section, you can read an article by graduating writer Tommy Owens concerning the controversy surrounding this year’s graduation commencement ceremony. Francesca Parise addresses the ballot propositions for the upcoming California special election and Andrew Glidden gives his opinion on national fiscal policy.

Good luck on finals and have a great summer. Go Bears!

Your Compatriot,

Bryant Milesi

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