Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Reporting from #UCDavis Town Hall meeting re: #OccupyUCDavis

Well here is  quick post about the Town Hall meeting.  I went there at about 4:30 with one of the PhD students in my lab - Russell Neches.  We got to Freeborn and a line was forming outside.  Russell got in the line and I went to the front to make sure it was the right place to be.  I saw one of the students in my Intro Bio class and he said it was the right place to be.  So I then went inside to grab a drink and headed back to the line.  I then took a few pictures and and posted some comments on twitter.  I am intermixing my comments here with twitter posts and my pictures.  I note - I would use Storify for this but they make it hard to include pictures from picasa so I am going to have to do it this way.  I realized this post is a bit raw - but I am very tired and I need to try and get some other work done, so this is going to have to suffice for now.  I may try to enhance it with more text in a bit.

UPDATE: Video of the Town Hall Meeting is here.

phylogenomics
Crowd starting to form outside Freeborn Hall for #occupyucdavis Town Hall - TV crews coming too http://t.co/GbWPKKoX
11/22/11 4:23 PM










I bumped into another student I knew Dvid Harris.  He had a letter he was hoping to read for the Chancellor.  I took a pic of his letter and posted it.

phylogenomics
Preview of one of the letters that may be read at Town Hall meeting re #occupyucdavis http://t.co/idRivoP6
11/22/11 4:34 PM



phylogenomics
Hmm Town Hall meeting rules re #occupyucdavis includes no filming after 1st hour http://t.co/vmyTA9Jl
11/22/11 4:37 PM


SciTriGrrl
@phylogenomics What happens after hour 1?!
11/22/11 4:41 PM
phylogenomics
@SciTriGrrl no clue
11/22/11 4:49 PM
phylogenomics
Crowd has been let in to Freeborn Hall re #occupyucdavis http://t.co/Ss3Ig27J
11/22/11 4:42 PM



We sat way near the front - in the third row.  And people started to pile in.  I got up and took some pics of the crowd and posted to twitter.
phylogenomics
Lots of media here for Town Hall re #occupyucdavis http://t.co/9j6EiJQN
11/22/11 4:48 PM
jaimedash
@phylogenomics how full? should cpb seminar speaker phil ward attempt to wrap his talk so we can come by?
11/22/11 4:49 PM
phylogenomics
@jaimedash lots of space still http://t.co/jfY9pQ64
11/22/11 5:01 PM
hhollandmoritz
@phylogenomics Do you know when AggieTV will begin streaming online?
11/22/11 4:51 PM
phylogenomics
Town Hall will be streamed live at http://t.co/2VqkdHs4 #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 4:52 PM





Then the UC Davis administrators started to arrive and eventually a bunch of people went up to talk to them.  I took a bunch of pics of the scene - it was very friendly I note - no yelling at anyone.  No chanting for resignation.  Just chatting with Katehi and others.
phylogenomics
The UCDavis administration has arrived #occupyucdavis http://t.co/3hy9wO6h
11/22/11 5:04 PM








phylogenomics
Here are @ryneches and @myhelicaltryst waiting for the town hall #occupyucdavis http://t.co/zVL34inj
11/22/11 5:07 PM


And eventually they started to assemble a "panel" up on the stage.










 And then the students in charge of the Town Hall opened things up, set the ground rules regarding the lottery system that had been set up for questions.  And then they started



 First Chancellor Katehi got to say a few words.




phylogenomics
Katehi directly apologizes and says charges will be dropped and medical expenses will be covered #occupyucdavis http://t.co/FJuSVmcD
11/22/11 5:15 PM

phylogenomics
Katehi says she explicitly instructed the police to not use force and to not make any arrests #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 5:16 PM

phylogenomics
Katehi says she will do the best in her power to support students during these difficult times #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 5:18 PM

ryneches
@phylogenomics Why didn't she say that police disobeyed her orders on Friday? That would have been helpful. #OccupyUCDavis
11/22/11 5:19 PM

phylogenomics
@ryneches implied
11/22/11 5:23 PM

Then Vice Chancellor Wood spoke very emotionally



phylogenomics
Vice Chancellor Wood says he is traumatized by the whole incident - says it was darkest day in his 30yrs here http://t.co/1J245UCF
11/22/11 5:21 PM

phylogenomics
Someone just shouted out "Katehi" as the person to blame during Wood's talk - but they were hushed down
11/22/11 5:22 PM

phylogenomics
Wood says he is saying a prayer for all harmed by incident #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 5:23 PM

phylogenomics
Wood says he is hopeful for healing because of the students here who he is very proud of #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 5:25 PM

jamesdotcuff
/me thinks @phylogenomics and @kbradnam ought to dash out and buy some tents and pepper repellent
11/22/11 5:24 PM

geetika1255
with @AggieTV off air and @CBSSacramento 's sucky audio, I am now following this meeting mainly via @phylogenomics ' tweets.
11/22/11 5:25 PM

the_eco_thought
@phylogenomics thanks for tweeting this mate, i have to be at home with the smalls
11/22/11 5:26 PM

MarilynM
@phylogenomics thx for the live-tweeting.
11/22/11 5:27 PM

And then the questions began.  They announced the lottery winners and people lined up to ask questions and they started firing away.  I am posting my twitter posts here b/c that is the best way for me to remember everything that was going on.  First though some of the pics from the Q&A















phylogenomics
First person to comment - senior - Chase - says "thank you" to chancellor for her work for #UCDavis #occupyucdavis http://t.co/1pizVWwF
11/22/11 5:28 PM

phylogenomics
Next is a question is about tuition increases and it's affect on Latino students w/ high dropout rate #occupyucdavis http://t.co/YFOtJOVW
11/22/11 5:30 PM

phylogenomics
Katehi says she does not support the 81% tuition increases http://t.co/w2s9Os0U
11/22/11 5:31 PM

phylogenomics
Students has a box with petition to call for Katehis resignation Asks if she will accept it http://t.co/7MeXq1Qm
11/22/11 5:33 PM

phylogenomics
Student who was areested asks why police were in riot gear; Katehi says was police chiefs decision #occupyucdavis http://t.co/XIOdKGvV
11/22/11 5:35 PM

phylogenomics
Student proposes a vote by #UCDavis students to say whether they want Katehi to resign #occupyucdavis http://t.co/PLLLaFII
11/22/11 5:37 PM

phylogenomics
Student asks why police needs weapons - police rep says weapons are needed to provide for safety #occupyucdavis http://t.co/AH10jsyT
11/22/11 5:39 PM

phylogenomics
Provost says policies should be reviewed regarding police use #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 5:41 PM

phylogenomics
Student asks re report that Katehi helped write a report for Greek University to allow police back on their campus http://t.co/MR3VZxOH
11/22/11 5:42 PM

phylogenomics
Student also asked about Katehi being on FBI board
11/22/11 5:43 PM

phylogenomics
Katehi says Greek report was In Response to anarchists taking over and burning campuses
11/22/11 5:46 PM

jaimedash
@phylogenomics student question re Greek policy may relate to this report http://t.co/pRZiJaRA
11/22/11 5:51 PM

phylogenomics
Katehi says she is advising FBI about university "security" in general
11/22/11 5:47 PM

phylogenomics
Police rep who is acting police chief says he wants to have open dialog in the future re police actions # gets round of applause
11/22/11 5:49 PM

phylogenomics
Question - Enough w/ words what are your proposed actions in The future; Katehi says she needs to interact w/ students more
11/22/11 5:51 PM

phylogenomics
Acting police chief agrees that words are not useful - action is - says he should be judged by actions
11/22/11 5:54 PM

phylogenomics
Student asks where is the police chief and responsible vice chancellor - Katehi says police chief cannot come b/c on leave
11/22/11 5:57 PM

phylogenomics
Katehi says police chief reports to vice chancellor for facilities and not to her - Vice Chancellor now answering http://t.co/DluZL0zB
11/22/11 5:58 PM

phylogenomics
Vice Chancellor says were worried about encampments taking hold like at Berkeley; doesn't really give good answer http://t.co/kk4TgtRO
11/22/11 6:01 PM

kbradnam
@phylogenomics Yeah, I was surprised by his answer. Didn't want another Berkeley situation so we sent riot troops in?!?
11/22/11 6:02 PM
phylogenomics
High school student asks what is going to be done to connect to prospective students and alumni #occupyucdavis http://t.co/YoGh2Rk0
11/22/11 6:03 PM

phylogenomics
Katehi says changes are coming - and reaching out is needed #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 6:06 PM

vsbuffalo
@phylogenomics @ryneches Are you guys allowed to still tweet? I hope so!
11/22/11 6:09 PM

phylogenomics
@vsbuffalo don't know
11/22/11 6:15 PM

phylogenomics
Katehi says there will be five investigations at least including UCOP, DA, LA, faculty senate and others #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 6:17 PM

phylogenomics
Acting police chief is the most eloquent on the stage - very impressive #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 6:18 PM

kbradnam
Agreed! “@phylogenomics: Acting police chief is the most eloquent on the stage - very impressive #occupyucdavis”
11/22/11 6:19 PM

phylogenomics
Next question is about claimed poor relationship between UCDavis, police and black people and hate crimes and what will be done in future
11/22/11 6:21 PM
phylogenomics
Questioner asks for remaining three panelists to please say "black people" in their answers ; Wood does a good job w/ answer
11/22/11 6:25 PM

phylogenomics
Student asks "when is it going to be the right time or place to protest?"; Katehi says try were not trying to remove people #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 6:30 PM

phylogenomics
Student then says "the tents were a key part of the whole enterprise" and removing them was silencing speech #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 6:31 PM

phylogenomics
Katehi says she agrees with student #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 6:32 PM

phylogenomics
One of the arrested students says that the claimed "outside agitators" were all UCDavis alumni #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 6:42 PM

phylogenomics
He asks also "what are you doing right now?" to protect free speech #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 6:43 PM

phylogenomics
Student says the only violence that occurred during protests was by police and admin against students #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 6:46 PM

phylogenomics
Student also claims that there was some organization "spying" on student groups from the administration #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 6:46 PM

phylogenomics
VC Wood says student affairs has tried to engage student groups to keep the police ut of situations #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 6:47 PM

phylogenomics
Student also calls on UC Davis to make plans transparent for future actions #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 6:51 PM

phylogenomics
Student also says faculty in women's and gender studies would like to meet Katehi as she is part of their department #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 6:51 PM


phylogenomics
Students asks why Katehi held Saturday press conference in tiny room with big hall across the street #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 6:54 PM

phylogenomics
Katehi accepts criticism by student that she has not been engaging with students at protests #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 6:54 PM

phylogenomics
VC Wood says they will make a request to the attorney generals office for an investigation but likely will be sent back #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 7:10 PM

phylogenomics
Student expresses concern that encampment is interfering w/ education - it is loud and she is worried it is unsafe #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 7:12 PM

phylogenomics
Police Chief answers "I have no experience with occupy tent cities" but they are trying to keep it safe #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 7:13 PM

phylogenomics
Student also says that it is ironic that #occupyucdavis started w/ improving access to education yet is disrupting education
11/22/11 7:17 PM

phylogenomics
Student says she wants to remind faculty that students are here for education #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 7:18 PM

Merz
@phylogenomics What, was class cancelled? #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 7:19 PM

phylogenomics
Student says the pepper spaying on Friday will damage and change recruitment of minorities on campus #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 7:21 PM

phylogenomics
The pepper spraying incident was awful but I have never been prouder of being at #ucdavis w/ the students we have here #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 7:23 PM

phylogenomics
Katehi says this is an opportunity to define ourselves by what we do in the future #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 7:24 PM

phylogenomics
In response to ? katehi says may be bad idea for her to be in charge of law enforcement actions b/c she is just an electrical engineer
11/22/11 7:26 PM

phylogenomics
Police Chief again impresses - he says we shouldn't wait for any reports - we need to start now #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 7:27 PM

phylogenomics
Student says he supports chancellor and police department for enforcing laws #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 7:27 PM

phylogenomics
student says this is not just about pepper spray - it is about inequities - and we don't need any reports to tell us that #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 7:30 PM

phylogenomics
Question from theatre dept. Member says admin should engage in teach ins about what happens to $$ on campus #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 7:32 PM

phylogenomics
Commenter says don't refer to drumming in quad as "them" - they are "us" if you don't like it you can go and vote there #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 7:33 PM

phylogenomics
Student says the administration needs to interact more with students .. Have open meetings ..eat in union . Etc #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 7:35 PM

phylogenomics
Student has gotten Katehi to and everyone to laugh by telling admin to get engaged #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 7:36 PM

phylogenomics
Katehi tx crowd; says she hopes we can do this more .. W/ 32000 students it is silent majority they need to reach out to #occupyucdavis
11/22/11 7:43 PM

And then it was over.  And there was lots of mingling.  The tone in the mingling was very very friendly.  It seemed that Katehi and the administrators had won over much of the crowd.  I took a lot of pics of this mingling.  Here are some:








































I note during the mingling Russell Neches from my lab went up to Ken Burtis who had the box with the signed petition calling for Katehi's resignation. And he "unsigned" it - I think because he was semi impressed with the response of the administration that night.





I note - I was finally impressed with the way the administration was handling the crisis.  Not sure what was happening for the past few days but finally they seemed to be doing something and much of what they seemed to be doing sounded like good plans.  I note I was also absurdly impressed with our new acting police chief.  Hope he stays on as permanent chief.

Russell and I then walked through the quad just to see how things were going and then we went out to dinner and I went home.



1 comment:

  1. Thank you for the report, Jonathan. Most helpful and informative for those of us who could not attend.

    ReplyDelete

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