Protesters, Police Clash at UC Santa Cruz Tree-Sit
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source: http://www.dailycal.org/sharticle.php?id=26808
Protesters, Police Clash at UC Santa Cruz Tree-Sit
BY Jane Shin and Desiree Matloob
Contributing Writer
Friday, November 9, 2007
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Correction Appended
While tree-sitters continue to protest the construction of a proposed athletic center next to Memorial Stadium, UC Santa Cruz is in the midst of its own tree-sit protest, which led to a large-scale confrontation between police and protesters Wednesday.
About 500 UC Santa Cruz students and local community members gathered Wednesday to support four tree-sitters stationed on makeshift platforms in redwood trees at the proposed site of the Biomedical Sciences Facility, said Jennifer Charles, UC Santa Cruz alumna and spokesperson for the tree-sitters.
According to a statement released by UC Santa Cruz Chancellor George Blumenthal, six protesters in total were arrested Wednesday but released later that day.
Charles said many who attempted to cross police lines to send up food and water to the tree-sitters were pepper-sprayed and beaten.
She added that UC Santa Cruz students were inspired by the Berkeley tree-sitters’ protest against university’s plans to clear the 26 coast live oak trees adjacent to the stadium.
“We’ve been really inspired by what’s going on at Berkeley,” Charles said. “I think all the UCs are experiencing the same kind of issues with the privatization of the university and (administrators) not listening to student input.”
UC Berkeley senior Luiz Batista along with eight other UC Berkeley students camped out Tuesday night on UC Santa Cruz’s upper campus, an undeveloped area home to many redwood and evergreen trees, and participated in the protest.
UC Santa Cruz police could not be reached for comment.
As the protest escalated into a violent confrontation, it was necessary to call Santa Cruz city and county law enforcement as well as UC Berkeley police, Blumenthal said in the statement.
UCPD Assistant Chief Mitch Celaya said two sergeants and 10 officers were sent.
He added that the actions of the police were justifiable because people were trespassing in an area that police had blocked off.
“Officers do have a right to protect themselves,” he said. “The protesters have a responsibility to follow and obey the instructions of a police officer.”
The planned facility is part of the campus’ Long-Range Development Plan, controversial because it will impact the natural reserve of Redwood and Evergreen trees on its campus.
The city of Santa Cruz and a community group are currently in court with the university over what they believe is an inadequate environmental impact report on behalf of the plan.
The Biomedical Sciences Facility is facing opposition by many students and faculty because of its source of funding.
The facility will be funded by private investors, similar to UC Berkeley’s Energy Biosciences Institute, which is to be funded by energy giant BP.
“When private companies are funding the research, they want to control the outcomes and we’re concerned with that,” Charles said.
Correction:
The article incorrectly stated that the Biomedical Sciences Facility is going to be funded by private investors. In fact, it is to be funded by state tax dollars. The Daily Californian regrets the error.
Contact Jane Shin and Desiree Matloob at newsdesk@dailycal.org.
Protesters, Police Clash at UC Santa Cruz Tree-Sit
BY Jane Shin and Desiree Matloob
Contributing Writer
Friday, November 9, 2007
View Printable Version
Leave a Comment (2) | Trackback (0)
Recent Articles from this Writer
More
Correction Appended
While tree-sitters continue to protest the construction of a proposed athletic center next to Memorial Stadium, UC Santa Cruz is in the midst of its own tree-sit protest, which led to a large-scale confrontation between police and protesters Wednesday.
About 500 UC Santa Cruz students and local community members gathered Wednesday to support four tree-sitters stationed on makeshift platforms in redwood trees at the proposed site of the Biomedical Sciences Facility, said Jennifer Charles, UC Santa Cruz alumna and spokesperson for the tree-sitters.
According to a statement released by UC Santa Cruz Chancellor George Blumenthal, six protesters in total were arrested Wednesday but released later that day.
Charles said many who attempted to cross police lines to send up food and water to the tree-sitters were pepper-sprayed and beaten.
She added that UC Santa Cruz students were inspired by the Berkeley tree-sitters’ protest against university’s plans to clear the 26 coast live oak trees adjacent to the stadium.
“We’ve been really inspired by what’s going on at Berkeley,” Charles said. “I think all the UCs are experiencing the same kind of issues with the privatization of the university and (administrators) not listening to student input.”
UC Berkeley senior Luiz Batista along with eight other UC Berkeley students camped out Tuesday night on UC Santa Cruz’s upper campus, an undeveloped area home to many redwood and evergreen trees, and participated in the protest.
UC Santa Cruz police could not be reached for comment.
As the protest escalated into a violent confrontation, it was necessary to call Santa Cruz city and county law enforcement as well as UC Berkeley police, Blumenthal said in the statement.
UCPD Assistant Chief Mitch Celaya said two sergeants and 10 officers were sent.
He added that the actions of the police were justifiable because people were trespassing in an area that police had blocked off.
“Officers do have a right to protect themselves,” he said. “The protesters have a responsibility to follow and obey the instructions of a police officer.”
The planned facility is part of the campus’ Long-Range Development Plan, controversial because it will impact the natural reserve of Redwood and Evergreen trees on its campus.
The city of Santa Cruz and a community group are currently in court with the university over what they believe is an inadequate environmental impact report on behalf of the plan.
The Biomedical Sciences Facility is facing opposition by many students and faculty because of its source of funding.
The facility will be funded by private investors, similar to UC Berkeley’s Energy Biosciences Institute, which is to be funded by energy giant BP.
“When private companies are funding the research, they want to control the outcomes and we’re concerned with that,” Charles said.
Correction:
The article incorrectly stated that the Biomedical Sciences Facility is going to be funded by private investors. In fact, it is to be funded by state tax dollars. The Daily Californian regrets the error.
Contact Jane Shin and Desiree Matloob at newsdesk@dailycal.org.
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