We, the alumni of UC Davis, write in solidarity for the student occupation of Mrak Hall, in light of the recent scandal where Chancellor Katehi was found to be on the boards of DeVry University, and the Wiley and Sons textbook company, both of which are for-profit educational institutions.

We join these students in condemning Chancellor Katehi’s greed and complicity in the privatization of our education system. (Her termination or resignation is long overdue.)  Most recently, we see her willingness to create relationships with these institutions for her personal gain. Moreover, she has a history of poor judgement, (ranging from lack of transparency, to militarization of campus) Katehi has consistently displayed qualities that a leader of a public organization should never have.

In addition, we condemn the administration’s attempts to unfairly punish the students involved in the occupation through the inherently unjust and undue process of Student Judicial Affairs. No student should have to spend their finals week advocating for their educational system, nor should they be punished or threatened with academic probation, expulsion, or suspension for doing so.

We join these students in their call for the resignation of Chancellor Katehi.