Executive Summary

On May 6, Chancellor Khosla, by his executive authority, instructed campus police to remove the unauthorized protest encampment. The encampment started on May 1 when the organizers had agreed with the campus administration on boundaries on size and space, use of restroom facilities, and to provide a safety plan. The camp grew threefold by May 3, and still had not provided a safety plan. 

By May 6, the protesters greatly outnumbered the 40 campus police who were providing protection to the protesters. The campus police, per protocol, called upon mutual aid from local City and County police, given the size of the task. On May 6th, working together,  the police warned the protesters to leave three times; most protesters left; the police then removed the encampment. The remaining protesters who refused to leave were arrested, taken to the county jail, and released later in the day.  Campus returned to normal operation on May 7, 2024.

The action to clear the encampment earned the Chancellor a public commendation from UC  President Drake. On May 9th, the administration provided a Factsheet Regarding the Encampment with details and a timeline of actions taken from May 1 to May 7. The Chancellor attended the Senate Administration Council meeting on May 20, 2024, where he described his decision-making process and answered questions from the committee consisting of Senate and administration leaders. 

Unfortunately, the distress due to the continuing war has prompted some of our colleagues to register their protest against the decision to clear the encampment by calling for no-confidence and censure votes to be sent to the entire faculty.  Also on the ballot is a vote of confidence in the Chancellor for handling the situation. 

Now is your chance to help all faculty voices be heard. We ask you to vote as follows: 

• If it says Confidence, vote YES. 

• If it says No Confidence, vote NO. 

• If it says Censure, vote NO. 

Here are some verifiable facts to help: 

• The unauthorized encampment violated university rules. The U.S. Supreme Court determined in 1984 that an encampment is not a protected form of Free Speech. • With antisemitic posters and chants, the encampment grossly violated our Principles of  Community. 

• Clearing the encampment did not violate freedom of speech: Protests continue. • Illegal campers were warned to disperse multiple times and were advised of the penalties for violating University rules. Most left the encampment. 

• The Chancellor and members of the Executive Policy Group repeatedly consulted with the Faculty Senate during the encampment period. 

• Clearing the encampment resulted in part of the University being closed for one day.