The conversion to text below was done automatically and is likely to contain errors.
To: Gino Cortopassi[gcortopassi@ucdavis.edu]
Cc: Chancellor Katehi[chancellor@ucdavis.edu]
From: Linda P.B. Katehi
Sent: Wed t 1/23/201 t 4:45:04 PM
Subject: Re: confidential
GJno
Thank you so much for your support. Yesterday evening I had a open town hall meeting with the students
where I clearly stated my position that I did not ask the police to do this horrible thing. On the contrary my
clear directions to the police chief in from of a whole group was for a peaceful resolution. I have published
those statements widely and the press has picked it up.
Still a lot more to do and a long ways forward.
Best
Linda
On Nov 23,2011, at 8:23 AM, "Gino Cortopassi" <gcortopassi@ucdavis.edu> wrote:
> Dear Linda,
>
> First I want to let you know that I absolutely support everything that you have done for Davis. You have
a winning strategy and vision, and I hope you can weather the recent events and stay, and be effective.
>
> In the current situation of the protesters, there are lawyers gathering, offering to defend the protesters
and pursue a class action suit against UCD, unfortunately this is not an issue that is going to go away. As
you probably know, the English department is particularly vocal against you, but they may have been anti-
Chancellor before the protest events, and vocal protests of you may be a way to achieve their previous
aims.
>
> In any event, it seems particularly crucial at this time for you to distance yourself from the decision to
pepper spray the students, and soon. Physical movement of them, and arrest, is what they were
expecting, but I think you can weather that. What is particularly visible and visceral is the pepper
spraying.
>
> If you can truthfully say publicly that the UCD Lieutenant Pike overstepped his authority, i.e. was acting
above and beyond your orders, that you requested removal but he opted on his own for pepper spraying,
I think you can weather this storm. It doesn’t make you look weak, because you clearly asked for their
removal, but he went beyond your request. I think it is important to do this now, though, to remove
yourself from the direct decision to pepper spray. The mood of the students, and to some extent the
faculty, is that for that image of pepper-spraying peaceful protesters there has to be somebody to blame.
I fear if you are not able to distance yourself from that image it will be difficult to remain the effective,
powerful force for positive change that you have been up to now at UC Davis.
>
> Sincerely Yours,
>
> Gino Cortopassi
> Professor of Molecular Biosciences
> University of California, Davis
> http://Cortopassilab.ucdavis.edu
> cell~
>
>
>