They Pepper Sprayed MY Students!

In case you haven't turned on a radio or television or the internet in 3 days: peacefully protesting students at UC Davis were dispassionately pepper sprayed at close range. It was video taped by phone and the video went viral. (It may be one of the most watched videos of the year on you-tube.) The event is a media disaster for UC Davis linking it as never before to police brutality and the squelching of free speech on campus.

Here is Ellie, a sophomore in the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems major, who, together with former students of mine, was pepper-sprayed last Friday. Their action speaks to the power of the type emancipatory education that is being taught in SAFS. Civil engagement is one of the learning outcomes planned into the major, if this isn't civil engagement... I don't know what is!?



Here are some photos taken by my friend, Chris J Kim of the student General Assembly today where Chancellor Katehi attempted to make amends- unsuccessfully- with students.

Chancellor Katehi

Monday 11.21.11 General Assembly, UC Davis by Michele Tobias