Nathan Brown on Chancellor Katehi.

Slogans and Slurs

I've pasted below a campus-wide email sent by UC Davis Chancellor Katehi the day after Tuesday's strike—involving a rally of well over 1000 people and an overnight occupation of Mrak Hall (the main administration building)—and shortly after the eviction of that occupation by riot police this afternoon.

The letter seems to be addressing a hate crime which occurred on the UCD campus this past Sunday. And indeed, a group of students of color also spoke about the impact this incident had upon them at the rally yesterday. But in her letter, the Chancellor goes on to implicitly link *hate speech* to *student protest* as forms of speech that may be in violation of the UC Davis "Principles of Community."

She writes: "We strongly encourage all members of our community to engage in dialogue rather than confrontation, to exchange ideas rather than shout slogans and slurs, and to be respectful and inclusive of others."

On the day after a strike, mass rally, and occupation Mrak Hall, to imply that "slogans" are a form of confrontation that is as unacceptable as "slurs" is to imply that student protest is a form of hate speech. What I find particularly alarming about this formulation is that it equates the speech of students of color at our rally, for example (who certainly "shouted slogans" along with everyone else), with hate speech that is used against students of color: hate speech that these students took the opportunity of the rally to denounce.

It's hard to isolate the *most* disgusting effort to deligitimize protest over the past two years, but I think this might be it. I'll likely write a response tomorrow, as an open letter, linking Katehi's message to Birgeneau's after Nov. 9.

Here's the letter:

To the UC Davis Community:

Many of you might have already read or heard about a recent incident on our campus that is now being investigated as a possible hate incident.

On Sunday, November 13, during the UC systemwide Student of Color Conference, an unknown individual vandalized one of the Veterans Day yellow ribbons tied around a tree on the quad, writing on it, "USE ME AS A NOOSE." As one of our students rightly noted, the historical background related to the use of nooses and their racist implications are well known.

We do not know if the person who scrawled this offensive graffiti knew about the three-day conference on our campus. But it is particularly disturbing that such an act of intolerance should occur at a time when the campus community is working to create a safe and inviting space for all our students. In fact, this was just the latest in a recent series of distressing incidents of hate and bias on our campus since the start of the fall quarter.

We know these are very stressful times for our students and for the entire UC Davis community. Especially during these difficult times, we believe it is important to remember that while written and spoken words might challenge our beliefs and perspectives, words and actions that seek to promote hatred or to degrade any particular individual or group is an affront to all in our community.

Indeed, our "Principles of Community" constitute one of the most distinctive features of UC Davis. They represent the ideals of expression and interaction that we as university citizens seek to uphold. They can be read at:

http://occr.ucdavis.edu/poc/

Expressions of hate, intolerance and incivility have no place in a university community that prides itself on educating the brightest minds and future leaders of tomorrow. Such behavior is not only inconsistent with the goals of our Principles of Community, but in many instances is criminal, as well. We strongly encourage all members of our community to engage in dialogue rather than confrontation, to exchange ideas rather than shout slogans and slurs, and to be respectful and inclusive of others.

While much has already been accomplished, clearly there is much more work that needs to be done. A civil and respectful community necessitates the support and commitment of each and every one of us. While these are turbulent economic times, as a campus community, we must all be committed to a safe, welcoming environment that advances our efforts to diversity and excellence at UC Davis.

Sincerely,

Linda P.B. Katehi

Chancellor

If anyone has information concerning the Nov. 13 incident, please contact UC Davis Police Sgt. Don Malloy at (530) 752-3278. In addition, any incidents of hate and bias on campus can and should be reported through the UC Systemwide Hate and Bias Reporting System:

https://ucsystems.ethicspointvp.com/custom/ucs_ccc/default.asp

Open Letter to Admin of UCB.

An Open Letter to the Administration of the University of California Berkeley

Dear Chancellor Birgeneau, Executive Vice Chancellor Breslauer, and Vice Chancellor LeGrande,

You should all resign—now.

On Tuesday, you sent a message to students informing us that we would not be allowed to set up encampments or occupy campus buildings. You quoted a passage from the student code of conduct that prohibits “[a]ny activities such as pulling fire alarms, occupying buildings, setting up encampments, graffiti, or other destructive actions that disrupt or interfere with anyone's ability to conduct regular activities—go to class, study, carry out their research etc.” In this same message, you claimed that UC Berkeley shares “many of the highest principles associated with the OWS movement” and aims to provide “a model of the right to free speech, assembly and activism.”

We could not agree with you more: UC Berkeley does share the principles of the OWS movement. In fact, we were instrumental in sparking the wave of occupations—yes,occupations—that is now sweeping the globe. Recall November 20th, 2009: the students who occupied Wheeler Hall that day were not fringe radicals or outsiders, they were students who cared so deeply about the university that they were willing to be dragged away in handcuffs for it. They spoke for all of us, and now we are answering back. The model of activism you refer to: it’s us. We're all occupiers now.Don’t patronize us, then, by telling us how we ought to behave. Time and again, our protests have been met with batons and guns and admin-speak about “protecting us” and obeying the “limits of protest.” After three years of brutality, we now know exactly who is being protected, and from what.

Yesterday, the police force you sent to disperse us beat and maimed several dozen students, faculty, and staff. When UCPD requested reciprocal aid, they were reinforced by OPD and the Alameda County Sheriffs Department—the same officers who shot a young Iraq veteran in the head with a tear-gas canister last week at Occupy Oakland, in violation of their own rules of engagement. He still has not regained the ability to speak. This is how you would protect us: with blood and fear. We are appalled, but not surprised, that your police beat an English Department graduate student so badly yesterday that he was rushed into urgent care. This is how you would uphold the legacy of the free speech movement. Let us remind you: we are the free speech movement. We are speaking, and you are beating us to the ground.

About the “regular activities” of students at UC Berkeley: we do not agree that these activities can be limited to going to class, studying, and doing research. First, because this school is the center of our lives, which are richer and more meaningful than is allowed for by the student code of conduct. Second, because there can be no “regular activity” in a time of crisis. We are not blind to the world; we know that it is falling apart, torn to shreds by the profit-hungry elite of the the 1%. We know that you have been tasked with operating the university in crisis mode; we know this means ensuring that the 1% do not lose their financial stake in the university and its affiliate industries—the student loan racket, for example. We see right through you. It is you, on the other hand, who mistake our purposes: when we occupy buildings and set up encampments, these are our regular activities. The only people interfering with the business of the university are the police; for that, they should be banned from campus permanently and immediately.

You describe UC Berkeley as “a place where the best and brightest youth, staff and faculty from all socioeconomic backgrounds work collectively to solve world problems.” We wholeheartedly agree. However, by this definition, it is you who have violated the code of conduct; you are the ones who should be driven out of Sproul Plaza, not us. Make no mistake: there can be no “regular activity” when a militarized police force is allowed to brutalize students with impunity, nor can there be any peace so long as you remain at the helm of the university. Take a lesson from history (Egypt, for example) and step down now.

Signed,

The Students of the University of California Berkeley