The chancellor of a US university who has faced widespread criticism following the pepper spraying of peaceful demonstrators has told an assembly of 1,000 students that she had instructed campus police not to use force in breaking up the protest.
"I explicitly directed the chief of police that violence should be avoided at all costs," she said. "It was the absolute last thing I ever wanted to happen." She stressed that students have a right to demonstrate peacefully.
"Because encampments have long been prohibited by UC policy, I directed police only to take down the tents," she said. "My instructions were for no arrests and no police force."
This is a NEW explanation coming from the Chancellor, who certainly did not mention a break down in communication between herself and the police earlier. Bringing it up after all of this time certainly does nothing for her credibility.
So are the students buying it?
Doesn't look that way.
Yet not all students who attended the town hall in a performing arts complex were satisfied with the response from Katehi.
Puneet Kamal, 22, an environmental science and policy major, was among those lined up to ask questions Tuesday.
"She didn't say 'I'm sorry that I did this, or I'm sorry I made this call,'" Kamal said. "She said 'I'm sorry that this situation had to happen.' Where's the blame going to?"
Natalie Poulton, 20, a communications major, said Katehi has not fully explained what she knew in advance about the police plans for clearing out protesters.
"I want more answers," said Poulton. "She totally didn't explain if there was a miscommunication with the cops and what exactly happened in terms of the higher-ups."
In a further effort at damage control the university itself has offered to pay for the medical expenses of the students sprayed by police, AND launch an independent investigation:
University of California officials said Tuesday they will pay the medical expenses of students who were pepper sprayed during an Occupy Davis protest last week.
Authorities have also decided to drop charges against 10 people who were arrested during the Friday protest on the campus of UC Davis. The university system has also created an advisory panel to look into the incident, University of California President Mark Yudof said.
Bill Bratton, who has led police departments in Los Angeles, Boston and New York, will head the panel, Yudof said.
"My intent," Yudof said, "is to provide the chancellor and the entire University of California community with an independent, unvarnished report about what happened at Davis."
In my personal opinion the Chancellor has lost all credibility and until she is removed from her job, or resigns willingly, there will be no opportunity to the university to start earning back the student's trust, and to allow the healing process to begin.
I will predict right now that Chancellor Katehi will be out of a job before the Christmas break.
