Our Members and Their Activities.

1. Metropolitan Network Against Making National Universities into Independent Administrative Corporations ("Shutoken Netto")

It was established by professors of national universities in Kanto Area in August 1999 when theMinistry of Education was expected to announce the policy of making national universities into corporations. The Metropolitan

Network maintains its web site (http://www.ne.jp/asahi/toushoku/hp/net.top.html) offering wide range of information about the problems of turning national universities into corporations. It has organized many symposia and keep continuous contact with many members of the Diet to exercise its influence over them for the public good concerning national universities. One of its members, Hirokuni TABATA, Prof. at Tokyo Univ., is scheduled to witness at the Diet on June 3.

2. People's Network Against the Plan to Destroy Japan's National Universities ("Zenkoku Netto")

Executive Secretary: Kouichi TOYOSHIMA , Prof. of Physics, Univ. of Saga.
mail: toyo@cc.saga-u.ac.jp, phone/fax: 0952-28-8845

It was founded on May 18, 2001. Its members counts 310, who range over professors (including 10 oversee professors), university staffs, journalists, and citizens. Its past activities include organizing symposia on the problems of national universities with the Diet members as guest speakers, conducting the collection of signatures for the statements against turning national universities into corporations, and other general PR activities. One important focus of its activities is to persuade the presidents of national universities into rejecting the NUC system.

3. The Association of Academics and Artists Appealing Against the Current University and Education Policy

Representative: Ryo IKEUCHI, Professor of Astronomy, Nagoya University

It was founded this January to collect endorsement to the statement composed against the current university and education policy of the government. Up to now 4773 people endorsed the statement, who include academics, artists, and citizens. It held a meeting titled "The Fundamental Law of Education and the National University Corporations "with more that 200 participants on March 27. It is going to hold an "Evening Meeting to Reconsider NUC" at Yasuda Auditorium of Tokyo Univ on June 6 and will conduct Ginza Parade Against NUC on June 7.

4. The Association of Professors Posting Countrywide Protest Advertisements Against the NUC Law Representative: Takashi NOMURA, Professor of Japanese Language, Tokyo University

It was established this April to organize advertisements of opinions against NUC Law on national news papers. The first nation-wide protest advertisement on Asahi News Paper with 1340 signatures was posted on April 23, the second one with 657 new signatures on Mainichi on May 21. The signers paid the cost of advertising amounting to about 20 million yen.

5. Preparatory Committee for National Universities Referendum

Representative: Toru TSUJISHITA, Professor of Mathematics, Hokkaido University
mail: tujisita@math.sci.hokudai.ac.jp, phone/fax: 011-706-3823
http://ac-net.org/rfr/2/e-index.html

It was established to organize and conduct an electronic vote on the bill of National University Corporations (National Universities Referendum) this April. This electronic vote is to be conducted until June 13. Up to now, 3358 people have voted with 89 for the bill and 3269 against it.

6. Association of National Universities Professors Demanding the Resignation of the Executive Members of Japan Association of National Universities.

Representative: Toru TSUJISHITA, Professor of Mathematics, Hokkaido University
mail: tujisita@math.sci.hokudai.ac.jp, phone/fax: 011-706-3823

It was established this March to demand the resignation of current executive members of JANU, who are responsible for the present confusion in national universities in not making correct explanation about NUC Law. It submitted a statement to JANU with the names of 242 professors from 54 national universities to demand the resignation of its current executive members and to immediately hold an extraordinary general assembly in order to give the whole country a due and correct explanation of the bill of NUC .