On July 7, 2015, UC Berkeley’s Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination (OPHD) concluded a four-month-long investigation of Sujit Choudhry, Dean of the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. OPHD found that Choudhry violated the sexual harassment provisions of the UC Policy on Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence and he, himself, admitted to the violations. In response, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost, Claude Steele, lowered Choudhry’s salary of $472,917 by 10% for one year, required him to enter counseling, and instructed him to write a letter of apology to the survivor. In a meeting with the survivor, Steele justified his decision to not terminate Choudhry “because it would ruin the dean’s career, that is, destroy his future chances for higher appointment.”
While Choudhry’s sexual harassment began on July 1, 2014, the Berkeley Law community was first made aware of Choudhry’s egregious sexual conduct by local news outlets[1] nearly two years later on March 8, 2016.
This is unacceptable.
As representatives of the student body, the Boalt Hall Student Association (BHSA)[2] and Coalition For Diversity (CFD)[3] denounce sexual violence and are in solidarity with the survivor. We formally recognize her personhood, privacy, and resilience through this entire ordeal. While we in no way speak for her or attempt to minimize her experiences and voice, we do speak for ourselves:
Sujit Choudhry, Claude Steele, the law school, and the University of California, Berkeley failed to keep the survivor, faculty, students, and staff safe, and continue to fail to do so. We are outraged and disgusted by the University’s deliberate withholding of information concerning the safety of students, staff, and faculty. At the very least, the moment OPHD concluded, through Choudhry’s admission and the preponderance of evidence, that, from his position of power, he did in fact sexually harass a member of the Berkeley Law community, we should have been made aware. He should have been removed. Instead, all women, and Black women in particular, as members of the same demographic as the survivor, were put at further risk.
In response, we formally express a vote of no confidence in Sujit Choudhry, Claude Steele, the law school administration, and the entire University.
This incident highlights UC Berkeley’s history of insulating those who perpetuate sexual violence against members of our community and the culture that allows them to thrive. The actions of all those involved in every stage of the investigation reveal a chain of culpability.
Consequently, we demand the following:
- The immediate resignation of Sujit Choudhry from his position as Dean and a faculty member of Berkeley Law.
- Chancellor Nicholas Dirks’ timely acquiescence to a meeting with BHSA and CFD.
- Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Claude Steele’s timely acquiescence to a meeting with BHSA and CFD.
- Third party investigation of Claude Steele’s procedural and disciplinary decisions–which prioritized Choudhry’s career over the survivor and the community–and appropriate discipline upon the conclusion of the investigation.
- Identification, investigation, and appropriate discipline of all others involved in the failure to take responsible steps to prevent harassment, retaliation, and subsequent disciplinary action upon OPHD’s findings.
- Actual and meaningful student input and power in selection of an interim and permanent Dean.
- Ongoing student access to all investigations.
- Availability of more resources and staff to assist student and faculty survivors of sexual violence.
We, the undersigned, on behalf of the UC Berkeley Law student body, request response to these demands by close of business Friday, March 11, 2016.
Sincerely,
Kyneshawau Hurd, Coalition For Diversity, Co-Chair
Sloan Patrice Whiteside, Boalt Hall Student Association, 3L Class Co-President
[1] See: http://www.ktvu.com/news/102914394-story
[2] The Boalt Hall Student Association (BHSA) is composed of all registered students at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. Each year, a new BHSA Board is elected to represent the student body. BHSA represents student interests in planning, admissions policy, faculty hiring, administration of the library, professional placement, and many other concerns.
[3] CFD is the umbrella organization for the affinity groups and law school programs at Boalt.
#MySafeBerkeley 