Not commenting on the politics of it..

But boy, it's nice to see the Chancellor (to-be) actually communicating like this.

Pattern on the grass from decamped tents @UCBerkeley. pic.twitter.com/nEszblizvp

— Rich Lyons (@richlyons) May 18, 2024

Not commenting on the politics or taking a "side," but I don't think anyone who gave it any consideration thought that the student protesters would stay beyond the term...

It's unfortunate that we have those in administration that would allow protestors to camp out on campus, many of whom were not even students.

What exactly is he communicating? That grass will be back to normal in a couple weeks of watering

That he supports decisive action to protect the campus.

I am really hoping that he takes a firm stance balancing freedom of speech with disrupting student and other university activities.

IMHO this is a university funded by the people of California to educate and provide future opportunities to the next generation. I believe the needs and whims of the few have been outweighing the many. Part of waking the giant is changing the protest for protest sake culture.

My suggestion would be to designate places and times that could provide people to express their points of view. After that time they go home, move on.

There is no right that allows anyone to sleep on the university property, block kids from going to school, intimidate people trying to pass through.

Time to dump the hippy vibe. That was 50+ years ago. I feel there are a handful of vocal people and students that continue that culture.

Sorry I showed my cards. I am over 50 and I have a daughter at Cal now and I am over the hippy, anti establishment BS…

Sonofoski said:

---

It's unfortunate that we have those in administration that would allow protestors to camp out on campus, many of whom were not even students.

---

The schools that gave the protesters a little slack to blow off some steam tended to have less problems than the ones that cracked down hard right away. Nationally, Cal came out looking pretty good on this! We looked like this wasn't our first rodeo and we had learned how to stay on the bull for awhile. (How's it goin', fUCLA?)

There are some things to absolutely not tolerate (blatant antisemitism, law-breaking, the non-student agitators, etc.). Outside of that, humor them a little bit -- some of their concerns have validity -- and they will pack up by finals week.

Big C said:

---

Sonofoski said:

---

It's unfortunate that we have those in administration that would allow protestors to camp out on campus, many of whom were not even students.

---

The schools that gave the protesters a little slack to blow off some steam tended to have less problems than the ones that cracked down hard right away. Nationally, Cal came out looking pretty good on this! We looked like this wasn't our first rodeo and we had learned how to stay on the bull for awhile. (How's it goin', fUCLA?)

There are some things to absolutely not tolerate (blatant antisemitism, law-breaking, the non-student agitators, etc.). Outside of that, humor them a little bit -- some of their concerns have validity -- and they will pack up by finals week.

---

Well said, Big C. Cal's approach (from afar, at least) seemed mature, sensible, and above all, non-performative.

GerryLopezBear said:

---

I am really hoping that he takes a firm stance balancing freedom of speech with disrupting student and other university activities.

IMHO this is a university funded by the people of California to educate and provide future opportunities to the next generation. I believe the needs and whims of the few have been outweighing the many. Part of waking the giant is changing the protest for protest sake culture.

My suggestion would be to designate places and times that could provide people to express their points of view. After that time they go home, move on.

There is no right that allows anyone to sleep on the university property, block kids from going to school, intimidate people trying to pass through.

Time to dump the hippy vibe. That was 50+ years ago. I feel there are a handful of vocal people and students that continue that culture.

Sorry I showed my cards. I am over 50 and I have a daughter at Cal now and I am over the hippy, anti establishment BS…

---

I am reminded of that great quote:

Quote:

---

There is a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can't take part! You can't even passively take part! And you've got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels ... upon the levers, upon all the apparatus, and you've got to make it stop at a time and place when it is most convenient to everyone who just wants to ignore you.

---

Nice, GMP.

GMP said:

---

GerryLopezBear said:

---

I am really hoping that he takes a firm stance balancing freedom of speech with disrupting student and other university activities.

IMHO this is a university funded by the people of California to educate and provide future opportunities to the next generation. I believe the needs and whims of the few have been outweighing the many. Part of waking the giant is changing the protest for protest sake culture.

My suggestion would be to designate places and times that could provide people to express their points of view. After that time they go home, move on.

There is no right that allows anyone to sleep on the university property, block kids from going to school, intimidate people trying to pass through.

Time to dump the hippy vibe. That was 50+ years ago. I feel there are a handful of vocal people and students that continue that culture.

Sorry I showed my cards. I am over 50 and I have a daughter at Cal now and I am over the hippy, anti establishment BS…

---

I am reminded of that great quote:

Quote:

---

There is a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can't take part! You can't even passively take part! And you've got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels ... upon the levers, upon all the apparatus, and you've got to make it stop at a time and place when it is most convenient to everyone who just wants to ignore you.

---

---

Yes, but the problem is everyone who learns that line decides that their favorite issue is the one that needs to be forced in front of the world this way. The levers and apparatus are pretty crowded here with all the bodies and the odiousness. No comment on the substance of any particular protest or issue, but they can't all be so important. It's exhausting.

drizzlybear said:

---

Big C said:

---

Sonofoski said:

---

It's unfortunate that we have those in administration that would allow protestors to camp out on campus, many of whom were not even students.

---

The schools that gave the protesters a little slack to blow off some steam tended to have less problems than the ones that cracked down hard right away. Nationally, Cal came out looking pretty good on this! We looked like this wasn't our first rodeo and we had learned how to stay on the bull for awhile. (How's it goin', fUCLA?)

There are some things to absolutely not tolerate (blatant antisemitism, law-breaking, the non-student agitators, etc.). Outside of that, humor them a little bit -- some of their concerns have validity -- and they will pack up by finals week.

---

Well said, Big C. Cal's approach (from afar, at least) seemed mature, sensible, and above all, non-performative.

---

Yep. Didn't USC cancel their main commencement ceremony???

PtownBear1 said:

---

What exactly is he communicating? That grass will be back to normal in a couple weeks of watering

---

Doesn't matter what he is communicating (which is why I put the qualifier in there). It's the fact HE IS COMMUNICATING, directly with his constituents (and others). And it's from him, not some social media handler.

This would be such a great thing for him to do regularly if not daily. Doesn't have to be anything major (and probably shouldn't be). But an un-filtered look at campus / leadership / life from the Chancellor would be an awesome way to engage with people.

TheFiatLux said:

---

PtownBear1 said:

---

What exactly is he communicating? That grass will be back to normal in a couple weeks of watering

---

Doesn't matter what he is communicating (which is why I put the qualifier in there). It's the fact HE IS COMMUNICATING, directly with his constituents (and others). And it's from him, not some social media handler.

This would be such a great thing for him to do regularly if not daily. Doesn't have to be anything major (and probably shouldn't be). But an un-filtered look at campus / leadership / life from the Chancellor would be an awesome way to engage with people.

---

carol Christ is the chancellor until July 1. Whatever policy you see in place presently is her policy.

Thank you Jalonso510
Exactly what I was trying to get at. There are issues in this world that you could throw yourself on the machine everyday. The machine never gets going, it's just exhausting. I also do not believe Cal needs to be the staging point for every persons discontent. Feels very different when you have kids and you want the machine to work.

By the way, you are not stopping most of the world's problems by stomping around the Berkeley campus, you are just exhausting people. If you want change, go to DC, go to the place they make the bombs or whatever, got out of the bubble.

My first day on campus I heard this distant rhythmic pounding that got louder and louder. Eventually I could see what it was: a column of riot police marching in unison toward the President's home / office ( I can exactly remember) to remove protesters who had invaded and occupied the building in protest of UC of divesting itself of South Africa investments. I have not followed the current stuff on campus enough to know if history repeated itself or if anyone learned anything

This entire thread illustrates how difficult it is to define the line between what is tolerable and what is unacceptable when it comes to free speech and expression, especially in and around a university environment. I don't envy the role of a chancellor in making these tough choices. I share the prevailing sentiment that we can't succumb to professional excrement disturbers and sacrifice a functional campus but i also want to be sure that we continue to enable our intelligent and thoughtful next generation to speak their minds. Our students will be leaders in the coming decades. They are inheriting what current leadership is creating. Yes, apparently we navigated this last incident pretty well. There will be others.

Just read the paper on the building take over at Cal. 11 out of 12 were not students. They wore masks and tore down areas of the building and spray painted a historically meaningful building. They were given a chance to leave with no action. They did not and when confronted two policemen were hit in the head with crow bars. This is not starry eyed students figuring out their moral compass.

I am done with it. Hope they prosecute to maximum extent and expel the one student and charge.

I was in London at the beginning and I watched 50,000 people march by our hotel from 3-5pm. For the most part they disbanded and the city went back to functioning. Free speech and destruction of property and threatening others is quite different.

Imagine the kid across the street slashing your tires every morning because he does not like your fossil fuel car and you can't get to work. How long are you tolerating that???

GerryLopezBear said:

---

Just read the paper on the building take over at Cal. 11 out of 12 were not students. They wore masks and tore down areas of the building and spray painted a historically meaningful building. They were given a chance to leave with no action. They did not and when confronted two policemen were hit in the head with crow bars. This is not starry eyed students figuring out their moral compass.

---

Sure, agreed. But this post is a far cry from, "My suggestion would be to designate places and times that could provide people to express their points of view. After that time they go home, move on."

Nearly every successful protest in history was successful because it brought attention by going outside designated places and times. They didn't go home and move on. I am reminded of John Lewis's march from Selma to Montgomery.

I do not understand why people are so upset about encampments.

That does not mean I condone vandalism and violence.

GMP said:

---

GerryLopezBear said:

---

Just read the paper on the building take over at Cal. 11 out of 12 were not students. They wore masks and tore down areas of the building and spray painted a historically meaningful building. They were given a chance to leave with no action. They did not and when confronted two policemen were hit in the head with crow bars. This is not starry eyed students figuring out their moral compass.

---

Sure, agreed. But this post is a far cry from, "My suggestion would be to designate places and times that could provide people to express their points of view. After that time they go home, move on."

Nearly every successful protest in history was successful because it brought attention by going outside designated places and times. They didn't go home and move on. I am reminded of John Lewis's march from Selma to Montgomery.

I do not understand why people are so upset about encampments.

That does not mean I condone vandalism and violence.

---

Well that's the rub, isn't it. I know you know that time and place restrictions are permissible restraints on freedom of expression. What to do when people voluntarily violate those rules to get attention? It is one thing if those extra actions don't impact others. But when those extra steps infringe on other people's rights and safety…

GMP said:

---

GerryLopezBear said:

---

Just read the paper on the building take over at Cal. 11 out of 12 were not students. They wore masks and tore down areas of the building and spray painted a historically meaningful building. They were given a chance to leave with no action. They did not and when confronted two policemen were hit in the head with crow bars. This is not starry eyed students figuring out their moral compass.

---

Sure, agreed. But this post is a far cry from, "My suggestion would be to designate places and times that could provide people to express their points of view. After that time they go home, move on."

Nearly every successful protest in history was successful because it brought attention by going outside designated places and times. They didn't go home and move on. I am reminded of John Lewis's march from Selma to Montgomery.

I do not understand why people are so upset about encampments.

That does not mean I condone vandalism and violence.

---

You express a delicate balance where you see fairness. I agree, however, so often when things drum up the beat gets louder and the line is crossed as it has been in many places so far since Oct 7.

Edit: I sat through the demonstations at Cal on Saturday May 11 during graduation. I found the incessant chanting was interfering with some good speakers, some not so good, but marveled at how it never got out of hand and the protestors seemed to dissipate on their own. Point made. Missed some good stuff I am sure, but I think Cal has had experience with protests and handles it well compared to what I was seeing elsewhere.

You are romanticizing about peaceful protest at Cal. Please read about the take over of the vacant building 3 days ago, where calmly dismantling their tents was not good enough.

Read about the peoples park protests where millions of dollars of taxpayer equipment was destroyed and vandalized, police over run and knocked to the ground to prevent low income student housing being built and a better alternative for people laying around in the dirt screaming at students and doing drugs. A plan that was negotiated for years.

These are not romantic and many times not students and many times violent and destructive.

GerryLopezBear said:

---

You are romanticizing about peaceful protest at Cal. Please read about the take over of the vacant building 3 days ago, where calmly dismantling their tents was not good enough.

Read about the peoples park protests where millions of dollars of taxpayer equipment was destroyed and vandalized, police over run and knocked to the ground to prevent low income student housing being built and a better alternative for people laying around in the dirt screaming at students and doing drugs. A plan that was negotiated for years.

These are not romantic and many times not students and many times violent and destructive.

---

*These are not romantic and MOST times not students...

Fixed - majority of the protestors are not students...recall the tree sitters. Was there even one who was a student? Of course not

Sonofoski said:

---

It's unfortunate that we have those in administration that would allow protestors to camp out on campus, many of whom were not even students.

---

When I heard Saira Rao get name-dropped I knew the EXACT type of people involved in this.
I wish more people on both sides of the aisle took the steps to kick out political grifters and clout chasers.

Swamphunter said:

---

Sonofoski said:

---

It's unfortunate that we have those in administration that would allow protestors to camp out on campus, many of whom were not even students.

---

When I heard Saira Rao get name-dropped I knew the EXACT type of people involved in this.
I wish more people on both sides of the aisle took the steps to kick out political grifters and clout chasers.

---

I had to google Saira Rao and, oh yeah, she's one of that pair that charges 8-10 white women $2,500 to come to a dinner where she calls them racist until they cry. And the women know that's what's going to happen in advance: What a gig! I'm wondering if I could start something like that for U$C grads, except just call them jerks...

Walton remembered — 4 defining principles. pic.twitter.com/BPSVLWDRd2

— Rich Lyons (@richlyons) May 28, 2024

HoopDreams said:

---

Walton remembered — 4 defining principles. pic.twitter.com/BPSVLWDRd2

— Rich Lyons (@richlyons) May 28, 2024

---

How friggin' refreshing is this to see from the (soon to be) Chancellor? This is a breath of fresh air!!!

This is going to be great. I can't wait for him to be at the helm.

Hypothesis: UC Berkeley has more cultural capital than any other US university. Discuss.

— Rich Lyons (@richlyons) May 26, 2024

MoragaBear said:

---

My daughter asked me to put on my best "Superman" for a photo at Gather the other night. I'm not sure this hit the mark. pic.twitter.com/yGNK66rARb

— Rich Lyons (@richlyons) May 31, 2024

---

That's what I'm talking about!!!

This is going to be a whole new world!

MoragaBear said:

---

My daughter asked me to put on my best "Superman" for a photo at Gather the other night. I'm not sure this hit the mark. pic.twitter.com/yGNK66rARb

— Rich Lyons (@richlyons) May 31, 2024

---

This guy has a crazy funny sense of humor. Love to see it

SBGold said:

---

MoragaBear said:

---

My daughter asked me to put on my best "Superman" for a photo at Gather the other night. I'm not sure this hit the mark. pic.twitter.com/yGNK66rARb

— Rich Lyons (@richlyons) May 31, 2024

---

This guy has a crazy funny sense of humor. Love to see it

---

I don't know that I'd call it crazy funny. He just seems normal as hell - which includes some humor. For a person in his position, that is absolutely unusual.

Uh oh! Unexpected plot twist!

Welcome to the dark side, Rich Lyons fans.