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STUDENT

INDICTMENT AND DEMAND FOR INSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY:



On July 7, 2015, the 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 Choudhrys 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 deans
career, that is, destroy his future chances for higher appointment.

While Choudhrys sexual harassment began on July 1, 2014, the Berkeley Law
community was first made aware of Choudhrys egregious sexual conduct by local
news outlets1 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 Universitys deliberate
withholding of information concerning the safety of students, staff, and faculty. At
the very least, the moment OPHD concluded, through Choudhrys 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.


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.

This incident highlights UC Berkeleys 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 Steeles timely acquiescence to
a meeting with BHSA and CFD.

Third party investigation of Claude Steeles procedural and disciplinary
decisions--which prioritized Choudhrys 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 OPHDs 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

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