It is regrettable that some students were pepper-sprayed by a Police Officer last Friday November 18th during a protest regarding UC finances and budget cuts. However, it seems that pleas for Chancellor Katehi’s resignation are short-sighted. UC budget cuts are more of a state legislative matter than a campus matter. Thus far, the issue has become a national news story and there are numerous signatures supporting her resignation. Most likely a high ranking officer commanded the police to pepper-spray the students, not the Chancellor. The Chancellor has already demanded the officers be censured.

We support our Chancellor because she is outstanding.  Furthermore, there are so few women in Engineering, let alone women Chancellors in the U.S. who are also Engineers. Chancellor Katehi is a noted Engineer and seems to have overcome a great deal of adversity as a female to reach her position on campus. Although not all of her policies have been popular, she has carried out her position with marked professionalism and, so far, with excellent results.

We, as UC Davis Scientists and Engineers, support Chancellor Katehi and denounce calls for her resignation.  We trust our Chancellor and we believe in her.

Signed,