(Ed Note:  I turned this into the link dump for today, because it seemed like a good survey of recent Cal events.  And something related to the Iraq war, but let's try to stay on message here.  We're fighting our own seemingly intractable battle in Berkeley here!  So, dump away!)

I'm no lawyer, but don't you need a reason to file an appeal? And doesn't the reason have to be something a little better than "they didn't want to build the gym across the street, they wanted to build it here"? And doesn't the UC have the right to cut down trees on its own property? I mean, there is no CRIME being committed here. Anyway, take a look at this email. Are they grasping at straws? Conceding defeat? Just wasting time like they always do? I have absolutely no idea, but check it out.

What: Please come to Berkeley City Council Meeting to ask the city to continue the lawsuit and appeal the lawsuit decision! And also call, fax, and email your city councilmember and the mayor.

Where: 2134 MLK Way

When: Monday June 30th 5pm (please arrive before 5pm to get on the speaker's list... even if you don't want to speak we need supporters to show up!)

Details below.................

Dear friends of Memorial Oak Grove,

We have a *major* request: please come to a special session of Berkeley City Council on Monday (tomorrow!) at 5pm (please arrive before 5pm!) to ask the city of Berkeley to continue its lawsuit to save Memorial Oak Grove and also to file an appeal. And if you can, please call and/or email city council members and the mayor.

As you may have heard, UC is attempting to modify its construction plan for the training facility to meet Judge Miller's objections, and UC will ask Judge Miller to lift the injunction on cutting the grove on
Tuesday.

That means UC could bring chainsaws to the grove as early as Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning!

Right now, it is *crucial* that the city of Berkeley stay the course on
this lawsuit and file an appeal ASAP. It is possible that an appeals
court could uphold the injunction on treecutting, and we need the city of Berkely to stand up for our community and the oaks.

An independent UC Boalt Hall attorney named Antonio Rossman - who has successfully litigated similar cases in the past - has written an independent analysis of the lawsuit, and he indicates there's a strong possibility of success on appeal, for example on the issue of whether UC has properly considered alternatives to cutting the grove... Please read Rossman's article...

http://www.berkeleydaily.org/issue/2008-06-19/article/30363?headline=News-Analysis-The-Stadium-Decision-An-Initial-Assessment-

As Rossman indicates:

"In general, the courts have vigorously enforced the need for a genuine examination of alternatives that pose real, not false, choices....
Suffice it to contemplate at this time the stadium decision, if taken to the court of appeal, will provide worthy “alternatives” material for
that tribunal."

As Oak Grove supporters have been stating since the beginning of this campaign, UC could save the oaks and build the gym somewhere else, such as under Maxwell Family Field, and satisfy everyone's needs. The fact that UC did not study genuine alternative sites for the athlete center in its Environmental Impact Report leaves open a good chance of success at appeal.

You can also call or email Berkeley city council members and the
Mayor... the sooner you can do this, the better!

Please let them know in your own words:

* Berkeley should follow through on this lawsuit, with the beloved
 Memorial Oak Grove at stake and also people's safety and the concerns of the community!
* We have an excellent chance of winning an appeal on Alternative
 Locations and other issues - please specifically reference the Rossman article!
* We need to file the appeal as soon as possible so that UC cannot
 start cutting trees if Judge Miller lifts the injunction!

Well, I love to hear them say stuff about the UC bringing chainsaws to the grove on tuesday or wednesday. It warms me heart. Anyway, we should be writing emails and sending letters to our city council telling them NOT to file an appeal.

And in other news:

-Star RB recruit Dasarte Yarnway will make a decision sometime in the next few weeks. He is considering (in order) Cal, Oregon, Arizona State. He also was quoted as saying "Cal has the best academics in the world. I have a great relationship with the coaches and it's just a comfortable place for me."

-The facebook group about the Gold Out has 1407 members.

-Someone edited the California Memorial Stadium article on Wikipedia. Now, it doesn't look like it was written by a fifth grader. And there is a link to the California Golden Blogs!  Go to Wikipedia and type in "California  Memorial Stadium" and scroll down until you get to "Gold Out".

-Someone posted a comment on Youtube on the "California Football 2008 Season Tickets" video. He said he was from Michigan State, and that 10,000 fans were expected to turn up in Berkeley for the game. He's probably full of crap, though.

-George Bush will spend another $162,000,000,000 on the war in Iraq. Asshole.