In response to recent pepper spray and baton use at UC Davis and UC Berkeley, respectively, University of California President Mark Yudof is calling for a meeting with all 10 chancellors of the UC campuses.
When meeting with the 10 chancellors, either in person or by phone, Yudof plans to discuss how to handle non-violent protest with “proportional” law enforcement, he said in a statement released on Sunday Nov. 20. In addition, Yudof said he is assembling an assessment of campus police procedures.
UC Davis police officers pepper sprayed Occupy UC Davis participants on Friday Nov. 18, while UC Berkeley police officers jabbed Occupy UC Berkeley protesters with batons on Nov. 9.
“As I have said before, free speech is part of the DNA of this university,” Yudof said. “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.”
While the UC Davis chief of campus police and two other officers involved with the pepper spray incident are on a paid leave of absence, students and faculty are calling on UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi to resign.
