CLAIRE ZUGMEYER Mexican President Vicente
Fox (right) met Thursday with Gov. Gray
Davis (center) and UC President Richard
Atkinson at the James West Alumni Center to officially
inaugurate Internet2, which will provide a high speed connection
between UC campuses and universities in Mexico.
By Marcelle Richards and Scott B.
Wong
Daily Bruin Staff
Newly elected Mexican President Vincente Fox met with Gov. Gray
Davis, UC President Richard Atkinson and 25 educators from both
sides of the border at UCLA Wednesday to discuss the high-speed
Internet2 connection between the University of California and
Mexico.
Davis also announced the opening of the second California House
in Mexico City, which will be home to the UC’s Education Abroad
program.
Due to time constraints, Fox limited his time at the James West
Alumni Center to just under half his expected hour-long stay.
Afterward, he went to Macgowan Hall for an interview with the
Spanish language television station Univision.
Fox, who was elected president in December after more than 70
years of single-party rule, said Mexico has lost a lot of time in
the last century and is lagging in the technological era.
"Right now we have one computer for every 50 inhabitants," Fox
said at the Alumni Center. "In other parts of the world, there will
be a one to one ratio, so we have to speed up the process of
connecting."
"While we have not even finished connecting some roads and
highways, we are already in front of the challenge of connecting
through the internet and connecting through technology," Fox
added.
Later, protesters from across the state joined forces with
student activists at UCLA to chastise Fox for spending time
improving his image in California instead of tending to the needs
of Mexican citizens in Chiapas.
 DANIEL WONG Protesters hold a giant face of a masked
woman, which symbolizes mass solidarity among all struggling
people. The group of 100 gathered in response to an e-mail message
calling for a protest that had been sent barely 24 hours prior by
members of the International Socialist Organization.
Others heard of the protest by word of mouth.
The movement for equality for indigenous people in the area
began in 1994, when the Zapatista army of National liberation
declared war on the Mexican government. After years of skirmishes,
the Zapatistas made a trek from the security of southern Mexico to
the capital city to negotiate with the government.
Currently, efforts are being made to close seven military bases
in Chiapas, release Zapatista prisoners and pass Cocopa legislation
to ensure the rights of indigenous people.
"We know that Fox is for free trade and that’s something that
definitely serves corporate interests," said fifth-year history
student and International Socialist organization member Behzad
Raghian "It’s taking from communities that were self-sufficient and
turning them into plantations for corporations."
The fact that students were not advised of the meeting, and that
the forum took place during finals week was a strategic move made
by Fox to avoid negative media attention, said last year’s
Undergraduate Students Association Council President Mike de la
Rocha at the protest.
"I think students and community have shown they aren’t going to
let the people responsible for the deaths of people in Mexico speak
freely at UCLA," he said.
"The fight of the Zapatistas is the fight of every honest
conscious person."
Davis, who said he was honored Fox chose California for his
first American visit since his inauguration, called the former
president of Coca-Cola not only a distinguished businessman, but
also a humanist.
Fox recently declared his support for extending college
opportunities to resident Mexicans in California. By building
strong ties to the state, Fox said he hopes to allow legal aliens
to gain residency and pay in-state tuition.
Davis said he wanted to take some time today to inaugurate the
Internet2, which will provide a high-speed interconnection between
the California research and education Network-2 and the advanced
Internet in Mexico. Speeding up the process of technological growth
is one of Fox’s greatest concerns, he said.
"Fortunately today, technology permits these huge jumps and
shortcuts and this is basically what we’re after," Fox said.
Nearly 3,000 municipalities in Mexico must be connected in the
next three years, Fox said.
"If we keep on working together, Mexico as well as California
will benefit," Fox said. "This inauguration will be for the better
of both of our nations."
Davis has committed $30 million over six years to enable the
exchange the academic, scientific and intellectual activities
between California and Mexico.
"I believe in the power of ideas. I believe in sharing ideas,
and I believe sharing can lead to more economic progress, moving
our two leaders closer together," Davis said.
"Any researcher, any innovator, and professor can access all
this information at their fingertips to facilitate research and
academic development to achieve a greater understanding of what
we’re doing in this society and where we’re going," he
continued.
With reports from Daily Bruin wire services.