In the wake of several new scandals surrounding the CSU Administration, questions continue to be raised about Chancellor Charles Reed’s ability to lead the CSU.

The Chancellor and Board of Trustees have come under fire for overreacting to student protests and for ordering an overly aggressive police response – including pepper spray – to disperse student protestors. During the same meeting, the Trustees held a vote on a controversial fee hike in a closed session where faculty, students and members of media were not allowed to witness the vote.

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who sits on the board and spoke adamantly against the tuition hike, later called the action alarming because the vote was taken out of public view. He called on the board to take another vote in the open at its December meeting.

A coalition of CSU students, including members of Students for Quality Education (SQE), also released a public statement condemning the actions of the Chancellor and Board.

The letter states in part, “Rather than taking precautions to make sure that the concerns of students were taken into account, the Board of Trustees think police presence and force is a necessary condition of diplomacy as the meeting was called to an end by Chairman Herbert Carter….We condemn their decision to proceed with the vote in a private meeting. We condemn the lack of leadership allowing CSU police to act violently against students, faculty, and staff.”

In conjunction with the next CSU Board of Trustees’ meeting on December 5, CFA will be releasing a statement in response to Chancellor Reed’s communications about the last Board of Trustees’ meeting.