The UC Academic Council sent a pointed letter to UC President Yudof on Nov. 20th, emphasizing their outrage at police abuse, the responsibility of the Chancellors in these actions, and the divestment of education support as an ultimate cause for student unrest.
MARK G. YUDOF
PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
Dear Mark:
The Academic Council met by teleconference for two hours this afternoon, and unanimously adopted the following four statements:
- We are outraged by the display of force against members of the UC community that we have seen at the Berkeley and Davis campuses.
- It is essential that there be a clear chain of command, with the Chancellor accepting ultimate responsibility for actions of the police, who must be trained to respond appropriately to protests.
- Campuses should exercise restraint in responding to peaceful protests and seek to resolve the situation through dialogue.
- We support the right of free speech and peaceful protest by all members of the University community. We reaffirm our opposition to the state’s disinvestment in higher education, which is at the root of the student protests.
Sincerely,
Robert M. Anderson, Chair
Academic Council