Update on UC Davis

The MSU has appealed the ruling that has put the student group on probation after the groups members conspired to disrupt a presentation given by former ambassador Michael Oren at UC Irvine. In the midst, there has been significant reaction to the issue on the ed blogs and from First Amendment groups.

Yet, we have been disappointed in the coverage of the incident and the subsequent punishment of the MSU involved in the incident. Other than the Los Angles Times, no major commentary on the incident has highlighted a very important part of UC Davis recommendation to suspend. As the recommendation states,

"...the MSU, and each of its authorized signers, violated
the following University Policies:

Section 102.02 :

Other forms of dishonesty including, but not
limited to fabricating information, false information, or reporting a false
emergency to the University."

The other sections 102.13 through 15 are free speech matters which most of the commentary has focused on to date. The 02 section, however, we see as the most serious. Regardless of any appeal by the MSU towards their actions at the lecture, giving false testimony ought to be enough to reap some consequences. Given now that emails from members of the MSU and organizers of the disruptions demonstrate that the disruptions were premeditated and were carried out with the blessing of the MSU, contradicting earlier claims by members that the individuals arrested were acting independently.

It is unfortunate that the controversy is a victim of obfuscation by making it something it is not. Like the dog pile with Ward Churchill, this is no longer a free speech issue; now it is a criminal issue.

Posted by Hound No. 8