Commentary

This ballot is primarily and ultimately a Monday-morning quarterbacking by a body (Academic Senate) that, at best, has an advisory role (see roles and responsibilities of the Academic Senate here). Safety and discipline of the campus is entirely the Chancellor's responsibility as delegated by the Regents and President. The Chancellor consulted with both of them throughout the encampment. 

Yet, there is a subtext of painful events happening in the Middle East. These events have affected the consciences of many in our community. Many want to protest and lodge dissatisfaction with the U.S. government's policies, UC investments, etc. It is their right. 

Our students, scholars, and faculty are a cross-section of the larger society. We also have, amongst us, a minority of Jews who are directly affected by these events and in their day-to-day experience on campus.  

Our response to these experiences has opened several fault lines across the campus community. The Academic Senate has unfortunately been unable to bridge these, leaving the administration in the middle of a political issue of our times. Instead, the Senate has increased polarization by misdirecting anger and frustrations of happenings in the Middle East towards how the UC San Diego administration responded to the illegal component of an ongoing political protest. 

While we will never know what alternative ways of handling the encampment would have achieved, we do know that it ended without harm to anyone. Protests and demonstrations continue at UC San Diego. They are happening and are effective, but without the danger inherent in overnight tents under flammable eucalyptus trees and the violence that has come to characterize many other campuses.