Dear University of California Supporter,
I'd like to share with you two messages from University of California President Mark G. Yudof in response to the recent events on some UC campuses. I believe it is important that you and other members of the UC family be informed about how the University is responding to the issues raised by these events.
The first message is the President’s immediate response issued yesterday (Nov. 20th), to an incident which occurred on the UC Davis campus Friday.
The second is an update released today on the developments that have taken place in the last few hours.
In addition to President Yudof’s statements, a message from the Chair of the UC Regents, Sherry Lansing, is also available at this link: http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/article/26709
Clearly, these are challenging times for our state, our students and our entire university community. We will continue to keep you apprised of developments as they occur. In the meantime, and on behalf of President Yudof, I thank you for your continued support for the University of California.
Sincerely,
Steve Juarez
Associate Vice President
State Governmental Relations
UC Office of the President
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2011
To view online: http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/article/26702
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sunday, Nov. 20, 2011
UC Office of the President
President Yudof acts in response to campus protest issues
University of California President Mark G. Yudof today (Sunday, Nov. 20) announced the actions he is taking in response to recent campus protest issues:
I am appalled by images of University of California students being doused with pepper spray and jabbed with police batons on our campuses.
I intend to do everything in my power as President of this university to protect the rights of our students, faculty and staff to engage in non-violent protest.
Chancellors at the UC Davis and UC Berkeley campuses already have initiated reviews of incidents that occurred on their campuses. I applaud this rapid response and eagerly await the results.
The University of California, however, is a single university with 10 campuses, and the incidents in recent days cry out for a system-wide response.
Therefore I will be taking immediate steps to set that response in motion.
I intend to convene all 10 chancellors, either in person or by telephone, to engage in a full and unfettered discussion about how to ensure proportional law enforcement response to non-violent protest.
To that end, I will be asking the Chancellors to forward to me at once all relevant protocols and policies already in place on their individual campuses, as well as those that apply to the engagement of non-campus police agencies through mutual aid agreements.
Further, I already have taken steps to assemble experts and stake-holders to conduct a thorough, far-reaching and urgent assessment of campus police procedures involving use of force, including post-incident review processes.
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.
Nonetheless, the recent incidents make clear the time has come to take strong action to recommit to the ideal of peaceful protest.
As I have said before, free speech is part of the DNA of this university, and non-violent protest has long been central to our history. It is a value we must protect with vigilance. I implore students who wish to demonstrate to do so in a peaceful and lawful fashion. I expect campus authorities to honor that right.
MONDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2011
To view online: http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/article/26708
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, Nov. 21, 2011
University of California Office of the President
In meeting with chancellors, President Yudof outlines actions on several fronts
University of California President Mark G. Yudof convened the chancellors of all 10 campuses today (Monday, Nov. 21) and asserted that they must do everything possible to protect the rights of students, faculty and staff to peaceful protest.
He reiterated that he was appalled by the images of students being doused with pepper spray at UC Davis and jabbed with batons at UC Berkeley. “We cannot let this happen again,” he said.
During a teleconference, Yudof told the chancellors he had directed senior UCOP staff to move immediately on several fronts to:
Examine recent incidents involving use of force on UC campuses.
Organize a thorough examination of police procedures, protocols and training.
Put in place a structure to assemble recommendations for longer-term practices to ensure the safety of members of the UC community engaged in peaceful protest.
While expressing his confidence in the leadership of UC chancellors, he said he was directing senior staff to work with all of the campus police chiefs to bring together policies governing use of force at each of the locations, as well as requirements for the presence of senior administrators and observers in certain situations.
Further details about plans for the systemwide reviews of specific incidents of use of force and current protocols are expected to be shared with the public this week.
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