On Saturday, I sent an email to the Regents of the University of California in response to the chilling events that took place on the UC Davis Campus on Nov. 18th. Here is their response:
On behalf of the Board of Regents, thank you for your email regarding the appalling incidents that occurred by police against protestors on the University of California Berkeley and Davis campuses. Please know that your concerns will be forwarded to the Regents shortly so that they are all made aware of your serious concerns.
Several statements have been released by the University regarding these incidents. We hope that the following statements and actions taken by the Regents, the President, the Academic Senate, and the Chancellors will help address at least some of the concerns you expressed.– UC Board of Regents Chairman Sherry Lansing has released a video statement that she is “shocked and appalled” by the images of police actions during recent incidents at UC Berkeley and UC Davis, and that she supports President Yudof’s effort to review systemwide procedures so that students can engage in peaceful protests. Regent Lansing also informed the UC community that the Board of Regents will meet by teleconference next Monday, November 28 at four locations around the state. That meeting will include an expanded public comment period to allow students greater access to express their views to the Board. Regent Lansing’s video statement is available here: http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/article/26709. Please note that tuition increases are not on the Regents November 28 agenda: http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/regents/regmeet/nov28.html.
– Regarding the situation at UC Berkeley, last week President Mark Yudof released a letter to UC students expressing his distress over the incident, and his confidence that campus leadership will conduct a fair review of the unfortunate events (http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/article/26683).
– Following the incident at UC Davis, President Mark Yudof issued a statement that he was appalled by the situation and that he will do everything in his power to protect the rights of UC students, faculty, and staff to engage in non-violent protest (http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/article/26702).
– President Yudof yesterday convened the chancellors of all 10 campuses, indicating that UCOP senior leadership will examine the incidents, thoroughly review police procedures and training, and recommend long-term practices to ensure the safety of those demonstrating peaceful protest (http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/article/26708).
– Regents Faculty Representative and Academic Senate Chair Robert Anderson has forwarded to President Yudof four statements adopted by the UC Systemwide Academic Council regarding the imperative that campuses should exercise restraint in responding to peaceful protests and that UC faculty support the right of free speech by all members of the UC community. The UC Academic Council also reiterated its opposition to the state’s divestment in higher education (http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/senate/RMAtoMGYonProtestsandPolice112011.pdf).
– Chancellor Linda Katehi has apologized for the incidents on the Davis campus (http://dateline.ucdavis.edu/dl_detail.php?id=13761) and issued two media releases stating that the police chief and officers involved in the UC Davis incident have been placed on administrative leave (http://news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=10084; http://news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=10086). She also released a letter to the UC Davis community indicating that a task force of faculty, students, and staff will be formed to review the events, and that the UCD Office of Student Affairs will review policies in relation to encampments and consider whether they reflect the current needs of students (http://chancellor.ucdavis.edu/messages/2011/taskforce_111911.html).
– Chancellor Robert Birgeneau issued a statement to the UC Berkeley campus that he has asked the Chair of the UCB Police Review Board to launch an immediate investigation into the police actions on that campus (http://newscenter.berkeley.edu/2011/11/14/chancellors-message-regarding-last-week%E2%80%99s-events-on-campus/).
Again, we hope that these statements help allay at least some of your valid concerns. Though it was an egregious situation that prompted you to write the Board, the Regents always appreciate your taking the time to express your views regarding any issue involving the University of California. Please feel free to continue to do so in the future.
Sincerely,
Marsha Kelman
Secretary and Chief of Staff to the Regents
——-Original Message——-
From: Brady Brim-DeForest
Sent: Saturday, November 19, 2011 4:37 PM
To: regentsoffice@ucop.edu
Cc: chancellor@ucdavis.edu
Subject: An Abuse of Power at UC Davis
Dear Regents of the University of California,
I watched with great dismay, videotape of the incident that took place
on the UC Davis Campus yesterday afternoon (Nov. 18, 2011) in which UC
Davis Campus Police fired pepper spray directly into the faces of a
line of peaceful, non-violent student protestors, locked arm-in-arm
sitting on the ground in defense of their first amendment rights to
free speech and peaceable assembly.
At the direction of UC Davis Chancellor, Linda Katehi, who was
appointed by your board in 2009, UC Davis Campus Police used excessive
and unnecessary force against the students they swore to protect and
serve. This incident was a brutal demonstration of power that shames
the police force, the UC Davis administration that authorized and
encouraged these actions, and the broader University of California
community.
As a concerned citizen of this great state, I urge you to launch an
immediate investigation into the actions of Chancellor Katehi, UC
Davis Campus Police, and any other agencies involved in this egregious
abuse of power.
Sincerely,
Brady Brim-DeForest
Ilyes Jaryan Music School adv by Memac Ogilvy Label (via szymon)
“There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.” — John Adams, 2nd President of the United States of America, in a letter to Jonathan Jackson (October 2, 1780)
“As to the history of the revolution, my ideas may be peculiar, perhaps singular. What do we mean by the Revolution? The war? That was no part of the revolution; it was only an effect and consequence of it. The revolution was in the minds of the people, and this was effected from 1760–1775, in the course of fifteen years, before a drop of blood was shed at Lexington.” — John Adams
“Posterity! you will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in Heaven that I ever took half the pains to preserve it.” — John Adams, 2nd President of the United States
Expensive. But worth every penny.
“
Do not therefore consider this life as an object of any moment. Look back on the immense gulf of time already past; and forwards, to that infinite duration yet to come, and you will find how trifling the difference is between a life of three days and of three ages.
Let us then employ properly this moment of time allotted us by fate, and lave the world contentedly; like a ripe olive dropping from its stalk, speaking well of the soil that produced it, and of the tree that bore it.
” — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Goodbye Steve.
(Source: blog.steveisaacs.com, via seanbonner)
This feels so un-Apple to me.