Updated 11/21
11/19/11 12:30am-uc-davis-professor-demands-chancellor-resign-over-pepper-spraying-of-students
I really don’t care if you’re a UC student, a private school student, a high school student, or a drop out. Parent, younger sibling, or relative. Police brutality is what it is, especially when it’s on peaceful protesters, innocently sitting on the ground. I don’t consider myself very outspoken, and I’m not sure I’ll ever find myself in one of these situations, but I’m not just going to let it slide past like it was something that happened to be in the news. You’d be amazed at the difference it makes when people, at the very least, “know.” If you don’t feel the urge to share this, I’ll respect that, sometimes it takes a while for it to set in–that fact that the students being sprayed in this photo are really our peers, and in some cases, friends we know.
7:11pm update-There’s a petition going around to request that UC Davis Chancellor Katehi resign from her position immediately: Currently at 13,000/15,000. It’ll be interesting to see how all of this turns out. People put their entire lives behind the resignation of her, and what she decides to do will be very interesting. I proudly signed it, pass it on.
http://www.change.org/petitions/police-pepper-spray-peaceful-uc-davis-students-ask-chancellor-katehi-to-resign
11:19pm update-I guess they changed the petition goal because of the overwhelming response. Currently at 18,000/25,000. The power of students seeking change. Go UC Davis.
“Linda Katehi told CNN’s Don Lemon that she considered the police action on Friday “unacceptable,” but stressed she has no plans to step down.” -CNN
11/20/11 11:04pm-I just checked back and the petition is at 47,400/50,000.
“My intention is not to micromanage our campus police forces. The sworn officers who serve on our campuses are professionals dedicated to the protection of the UC community. Nor do I wish to micromanage the chancellors. They are the leaders of our campuses and they have my full trust and confidence.” -President Yudof
11/21/11 11:11am-There is supposed to be a huge rally/protest today at UC Davis, looks like Chancellor will be speaking as well to the students and public. Can’t wait to see what goes down.
Exerpts from NY Times article today.
“The university said Sunday that it had been flooded with comments, including some from alumni who pledged to stop donating. “We’ve been inundated with people sending messages,” said Mitchel Benson, the associate vice chancellor for university communications. “It literally brought down our servers.””
-Over the weekend the police chief and two officers had been placed on administrative leave, pay pending… Chancellor’s way of attempting to calm the campus.
Ms. Katehi said: “I spoke with students this weekend, and I feel their outrage. I have also heard from an overwhelming number of students, faculty, staff and alumni from around the country. I am deeply saddened that this happened on our campus, and as chancellor, I take full responsibility for the incident. However, I pledge to take the actions needed to ensure that this does not happen again.”
What that means to me is… “I catch your flow, but I’m not going anywhere. Instead I’ll do my best to say I’m sorry and maybe next time it won’t happen again.” Which also makes me wonder… Say, Chancellor does resign and someone else takes her place. I realize it’s the actual act of resigning that students want from her–the ultimate shame of stepping down as per someone else’s request. It’s got to be the lowest point in one’s life… but, what about that “someone else” who ends up taking her place. How are things going to change under that other person? Is everything going to be suddenly reversed? Is it just going to be that easy? Hard to believe the next chancellor will prevent/disapprove of every outrageous UCPD act in the future. It feels a little over-the-top. But, I have to remind myself–I heard on KQED this morning towards the end of the portion about Chancellor Katehi, that this isn’t the first time students have had anger towards her, and that students have been dealing with her for some time. I have to remind myself that I’m not a UC Davis student, but a UC student… and stepping down as Chancellor is probably best for the campus. While the future after her is probably just as uncertain, it’s probably more promising than having her as the future. They want her out, and they probably can’t stand to go to school any longer while she’s looking over them. If she doesn’t step down, the consequences for the campus in the future are going to be bad. If President Yudof doesn’t do something about Chancellor Katehi, the consequences for the campus in the future are going to be bad. I guarantee there’s going to be students who turn UC Davis away because in the back of their head, this incident DOES have major weight. Whatever happens, I hope for the best for UC Davis, all the UC students, and students everywhere actually.
11:26 am-I almost forgot to mention this, someone has set up an Amazon page, asking for donations in the form of tents at UC Davis.
72,000/75,000 and she still feels confident that the university needs her.
“The decision was not to disperse the students, but to dismantle the equipment for the encampment… ["the students are sitting there peacefully, doesn't appear to be a violent situation"] …Exactly.” -Linda Katehi
11/22/11 12:01am-apparently there is a 30ft tall geodesic dome accompanying a couple dozen pitched tents at the Davis quad… the world shall see in the morning.
1:34pm-lots of tents set up, geodesic dome up, and the world continues to watch.
General strike on Monday 11/28/11. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
