As faculty members at UC Davis, we are submitting this letter to express our strong support for our chancellor, Linda Katehi.

First our perception of the Nov. 18 event: There is no doubt that what happened is unacceptable — indeed, it can only be characterized as police brutality. In the immediate aftermath, our chancellor’s initial email was bureaucratically tepid and, thus, inappropriate. To us, however, the pepper-spray incident is an event that is unacceptable and the poor decision of some rogue, Rambo-style police elements.

We need to uncouple this horrible event from the dedicated work and future potential of our chancellor. Linda Katehi is not only a world-class accomplished engineer, she is not only a warm and sensitive person whose main concern is our university and its students, in these past 2 1/2 years she has accomplished some incredible feats. For starters, she has almost single-handedly placed UC Davis on the map as a recognizable academic force.

We are fortunate that we have a leader of her caliber at the helm. In our estimation, this single unfortunate event is far overshadowed by her dedication and potential to guide UC Davis to greatness in years to come. We are optimistic that great days are ahead for UC Davis, Davis, Sacramento and our region. We still believe, without a single doubt, that our chancellor is the best leader for UC Davis.

Scott Simon and Kerry Athanasiou

Davis

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