A single UC San Francisco police officer stationed behind police lines in a parking garage called for backup after being disarmed of his baton by demonstrators. UCSF police chief Pamela Roskowski confirmed that the officer drew his gun after a UC Merced student reportedly struck him on the head with his own baton. The student in question is being charged with assault with a deadly weapon. The student were arrested with 12 others.
Of the 13 arrested, seven were form UC Berkeley, 1 each from UC Davis, Santa Cruz, Merced and Peralta CCC. The affiliations of the other two were not disclosed. Four officers were injured. One was hospitalized but has been released.
UC Santa Cruz graduate student Brian Malone has attended several UC Regents meetings. He said the protestors’ frustration has escalated in comparison to other meetings.
“Students are angrier,” he said. “UC regents have done more to isolate themselves, not even pretending that they care.”
Meanwhile in the conference room, the regents committee on education policy and committee on finance met to discuss issues including non-resident enrollment and faculty pension plan. The fee increase to be voted on Nov. 18 was discussed in relation to these issues.
UC Student Association President Claudia Magaña spoke on behalf of students. She urged the regents to consider the impact of student fees on students and sympathize with the reactions of the protestors.
“Many have been maced and arrested. They’re not here to hurt you, they’re here to fight for their education,” she said.
She also asked the regents to reevaluate their relationship with students. Magaña said that by keeping an open mind and opposing fee increases, the regents can prove to students that they care about the quality of education and access more than the bottom line.
In addition to the arrests, Roskowski confirmed that 15 people were pepper-sprayed. She reported that — although every confrontation is investigated — as of press time, she was confident that the officers who wielded weapons or dispensed pepper spray followed protocol.
“By appearances, the officer showed great restraint in the matter,” she said. “Our job as police is to keep the peace and ensure the safety of people attending these meetings.”
With the anticipation of the Nov. 18 proposal to raise student fees eight percent, tensions ran high Wed. Without any indication of how this vote will end, it remains to be seen whether or not any resolution will be reached this November.
Regent Sherry Lansing declined to state how she will vote on the proposed fee increase tomorrow.
“I’d like to keep an open mind until discussion tomorrow,” she said. “I’m listening to everything.”
Student Regent Jesse Cheng promised to oppose the fee increase. He embraced the opposition that students face with humor.
The UCI fifth-year said, “When you become student regents you sign a document that says you will fight losing battles.”
Rosa Castañeda, Arianna Puopolo, Molly Solomon, Rosanna Van Straten and Prescott Watson contributed to this article.
