What do you think: Should Chancellor Linda Katehi resign?
Sherry Cowden
cosmetologist, Davis:
“No. I have had just enough experience in law enforcement to know that things aren’t as simple as they seem.”
Aimee Davis
student, Davis:
“No. I just don’t know if she had much to do with the pepper-spraying.”
Katie Daley
Fleet Feet employee, Davis:
“I don’t. I agree that it was excessive use of force, but I think she was doing her best and her resignation wouldn’t help.”
Harry Zhang
student, Davis:
“I don’t think so. If she’d asked the police to use pepper spray, then maybe.”
Jerry Larsen
photographer, Chino Hills:
“No. It’s a tough job; give her a break. She had to make a decision. That’s life.”
Ashley Yudin
retired UC Davis professor, Davis:
“No. Until it comes out as to whether she’s done something wrong or not, I think we should give her the benefit of the doubt.”
Asked in downtown Davis
Compiled and photographed by Chloe Kim
Short URL: http://www.davisenterprise.com/?p=111811
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We are always told (as Katehi herself has said) that it is necessary to pay bloated salaries to high-level administrators to attract the best “talent” and “leadership” qualities. Then, when an incident arises that truly tests the character, integrity, and judgement of such individuals, we find gross ineptitude and overweening preoccupation with self-interest trumping the overall well-being and prospects of the University. The responsibility rests with the Chancellor, and if she had any dignity or decency she would resign. I have been with the university many years, and am saddened and disgusted to witness the inexorable transformation of chairs, deans, provosts, chancellors, etc, from positions of trust and responsibility into seats of power, privilege, and total lack of accountability.
Chancellor Katehi should resign and stop giving lip service to her authority vs the chain of command. She should know that although she may not have given the “spray” command, she should have known riot gear and sticks were inappropriate to this situation. Since she speaks of her experience in Athens frequently, I must ask what was so intimidating about students who were unarmed and simply making noise? Her credibility is zero with my contacts.
I think someone should line up her children and Lt. Pikes kids and pepper spray them down their throats. Or at least pepper spray the chancellor. You cannot begin to be “sorry” for your actions unless you can put yourself in their shoes. That’s why African-Americans will never accept an “apology”. Take some pepper spray to the face and see if you’d ever allow that stuff even on campus. Also, all students and parents should stop all tuition payments until she resigns!
… an eye for and eye, leaves the whole world blind
Yes, she should resign. If she isn’t willing to preserve some dignity and do the right thing by stepping down, then fire her. She has failed. Are the six people above forgetting about the lies she told right after the incident. I guess she doesn’t know much about the internet, her cover up folded the moment it began.
Upon her command the UC-Davis campus police escalated what could at worst be considered a nuisance into a violent confrontation. That alone is grounds for dismissal or resignation: that her orders–knowing full-well how UC system police react to protests based on a ton of historical examples–initiated a reckless disregard for students’ safety is without a doubt.