 |
|
     |
|
|
At key moments during this academic year, the Berkeley campus and its chancellor, Robert Berdahl, were intent on providing and securing a space for the free expression of ideas in reaction to world events. The first of these moments came as the campus responded to September 11. Berdahl likened the reaction to that day to what must have been felt on campus after the bombing of Pearl Harbor or the assassination of John F. Kennedy--"those times when life stops for a period of time, and you take stock on many fronts," as he described it in a recent interview. About 10,000 people gathered in front of Doe Library for a memorial service on September 17. "It was a singular event on campus," said Berdahl. "People all year long have told me how moving that memorial service was, how it gave people an opportunity to express their grief publicly and to come together as a community." At the beginning of the academic year, the administration had been concerned about the tension between supporters of Israel and Palestine. Berdahl said that, after September 11, "There was a sense that we needed to recognize the importance of treating a particular group of students--Arab students--with civility." During the Spring semester, he continued, "Our challenge was to recognize the importance of civility in how every group of students, in particular on both sides of the Mideast issue, are treated and regard one another." As the situation heated up, the chancellor met with student leaders on both sides of the conflict, took out an ad in the Daily Californian, and held a press conference, calling for restraint and civility before planned gatherings by both sides on Sproul Plaza April 9. "What we tried to do, and I believe we succeeded, is to say: This campus is a neutral space," said Berdahl. "We provide an opportunity for students who feel strongly on any side of any issue to express themselves. And we try to facilitate that free expression." Chancellor Berdahl said that he was under great pressure during the spring standoffs. "Most of the e-mail and the telephone calls I received had to do with a perceived partiality toward the other side. What happens when you try to occupy neutral ground is that each side interprets this as being supportive of the other side." Why? "Because the other side is being given a voice." But, said the chancellor, "our mission as a University is to enable reasonable discourse from all sides." Another major event was the campus visit, in January, of former President Bill Clinton. While the students who flocked to hear him seemed united in their enthusiasm, the negative response to Clinton’s visit from many alumni (see a sampling in "Letters to the Editor") surprised the chancellor. "I was taken aback by the number of people who expressed dismay, condemnation, and outrage that the campus would invite former President Clinton here," he said. Many objected to the fact that Clinton received the Berkeley Medal. "But we have never had a head of state come to this campus without presenting the Berkeley Medal," Berdahl said. "That’s part of the protocol. And we have a tradition of free speech on this campus," he continued. "It seems to me that people who argue that we should not invite the former President of the United States tend to overlook that." The year was also personally an eventful one for the chancellor. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer and underwent successful surgery for it in February. He also faced the unexpected death of his colleague Matt Lyon, who had served since 1999 as assistant vice chancellor for public affairs. "I had known Matt for about eight years--he had worked with me at Texas and then preceded me in his move to California. He did a lot for this campus and was also a close personal friend. I miss him a lot." A happy moment for the entire campus came last November, with the awarding of a Nobel Prize to George Akerlof, the second year in a row that an economics professor here has won the award (Daniel McFadden was so honored in 2000). "I’m very delighted that we have had a Nobel Prize in each of the last two years," said the chancellor. "It underscores the continuing level of excellence of the faculty here. It’s just a very, very exciting event. I’d like to do that every year." --Russell Schoch |
 Robert M. Berdahl
| |||||||||||
| About
CAA Contact
Us
Update
your Address CAA Career Opportunities Privacy Policy |
©2009 California Alumni
Association. All Rights Reserved For questions about CAA: info@alumni.berkeley.edu Technical inquiries: web@alumni.berkeley.edu
|
Alumni House Berkeley, CA 94720-7520 Toll-Free: (888) CAL-ALUM Phone: (510) 642-7026 Fax: (510) 642-6252
|
