I'm also expected at that event at UCDavis. I've spoken with the convenor about it. My intention is to still attend but I've suggested the event collectively drafts a response to what has happened at UCDavis, indicating their dismay and discontent with the university's actions and solidarity with the protesters and their aims and objectives. I wonder if Alex's choice of action will be counter-productive or not? Surely you want to go there and support the protesters? But this is a complex issue.
best Simon On 22 Nov 2011, at 10:12, marc garrett wrote: > Why I'm not visiting UC Davis in April. Alex Galloway. > > Thought some of you may be interested in this letter by Alex Galloway... > > Here is an image of the police doing their very special thing, that only > they are 'legally' allowed to do > http://davisenterprise.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/OccupyUCD3.jpg > > > Shameful Act: Police pepper spraying and arresting students at UC Davis > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmJmmnMkuEM > > > Letter > > ------------------------- > > > November 21, 2011 > > To > > Mark Yudof, University of California President, > > Linda P.B. Katehi, UC Davis Chancellor, > > and Linda Bisson, Chair of the UC Davis Academic Senate: > > Dear President Yudof, Chancellor Katehi, and Professor Bisson, > > I am an associate professor at New York University. I teach and write > about digital media and contemporary culture. I was born in California, > raised in Oregon and Washington, and have many times visited colleges > and universities across your great state. > > Several months ago I accepted an invitation to speak at UC Davis on > April 12-14, 2012, as part of an academic conference on new technologies. > > This last weekend the world awoke to videos depicting cruel and > despicable acts, performed by paramilitary police casually spraying > chemical agents on your peaceful students. Such actions are > reprehensible and absolutely contrary to the moral duties of educators > everywhere. These students, like many thousands around the country and > around the world, were peacefully protesting the recent outrageous > tuition hikes at the public University of California, the ballooning > student debt burden, and a political system that puts profits over people. > > I was dismayed to read Chancellor Katehi's statement following the > police attack, a statement that showed no remorse for the violence and > no sympathy whatsoever for the welfare and safety of her own students. > Likewise a subsequent letter from President Yudof, tried to spin the > events further, but offered nothing by way of concrete action. > > I regret therefore that I must withdraw my participation in the April > conference -- until Chancellor Katehi takes responsibility for her > actions by resigning, and until UC Davis removes its paramilitary police > from campus. > > While my admiration and respect for the great public universities of the > UC system remain strong, I cannot in good conscience visit the UC Davis > campus in April. I cannot support Chancellor Katehi. I cannot support > police brutality. And, quite simply, I fear for my own safety were I to > visit your campus. > > Sincerely, > > Alexander R. Galloway, PhD > > Associate Professor > > Department of Media, Culture, and Communication > > New York University > > http://cultureandcommunication.org/galloway/Why%20I%27m%20not%20visiting%20UC%20Davis%20in%20April.html > > > _______________________________________________ > NetBehaviour mailing list > NetBehaviour@netbehaviour.org > http://www.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour > Simon Biggs si...@littlepig.org.uk http://www.littlepig.org.uk/ @SimonBiggsUK skype: simonbiggsuk s.bi...@ed.ac.uk Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh http://www.eca.ac.uk/circle/ http://www.elmcip.net/ http://www.movingtargets.co.uk/ _______________________________________________ NetBehaviour mailing list NetBehaviour@netbehaviour.org http://www.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour
