UC Student Association says Janet Napolitano’s apology fell short
By Nanette Asimov
University of California students aren’t letting President Janet Napolitano off easy after she apologized for calling a student protest “crap” this week in San Francisco.
The UC Student Association issued a statement Friday saying the apology didn’t go far enough because it covered only her regret for using the derogatory word, captured on UC’s video of the regents’ meeting Wednesday.
“Students do not see President Napolitano truly championing free speech — in all its forms — as a valued feature of university life and measure of free society,” the statement said. “Students should be able to demonstrate their concern peacefully — or noisily.”
The students want Napolitano to apologize for appearing to disdain students’ right to speak freely and for elevating the level of intimidation when students come to address their university leaders. And if Napolitano doesn’t want students to protest, they said, she should provide “an alternate opportunity” for them to discuss with her their opposition to the five-year tuition increase of up to 28 percent set to begin in the fall. It could raise tuition from $12,192 to $15,560 by 2019, excluding room and board.
“Her role as president has given her the opportunity to be a true champion for students and the future of public higher education, but the comments she made point to disrespect for public expression,” said Jefferson Kuoch-Seng, president of the UC Student Association, which represents 240,000 students. “It takes a lot of courage to speak in public in front of figures of authority. … To hear this come from the president of the university makes it even more challenging for students to come forward to share their thoughts with university administration.”
On Wednesday, a few dozen students attended the regents meeting not only to protest higher tuition, but to urge the regents to ensure that low-income residents benefit from the proposed construction of a new UC Berkeley campus in Richmond through jobs and housing. As the comment period concluded, several students — clearly not feeling intimidated — stood on chairs, stripped to brassieres and T-shirts, and tossed fake money while chanting, “Raise up Richmond, not tuition!”
UC police in riot gear lined up between them and the regents. As police prepared to escort the protesters from the auditorium at UC’s Mission Bay campus, the video caught Napolitano turning to the regents’ chairman, Bruce Varner, and saying, “Let’s go. We don’t have to listen to this crap.”
Even as Napolitano apologized on Thursday for saying “crap,” she appeared to admonish the protesters, saying, “We have public comment (time) to listen to comments about serious things expressed seriously.”
On Friday, the student association said, “Students who sacrifice their time and money to come and speak to the regents in San Francisco — away from their jobs, commitments and classes — deserve better.”
Napolitano’s spokesman, Steve Montiel, said the president meets frequently with students and will let her apology stand.
[Source]: SF Gate
