Disturbing is this Move by the Chancellor
We discussed it a few weeks ago, but some new developments have arisen. Student investigations by StopBP-Berkeley have revealed a significant list of appendices that were omitted from public view. This comes after the Chancellor publicly admitted that this was a completely open endeavor.
Among other things, the appendices list names and resumes of faculty members who might be involved with the institute. Ironically it lists some professors who have publicly opposed the deal and were surprised to be included. Stressing the school’s desire to appear business friendly, another appendix reprints an article from “Inc.” magazine naming Berkeley as the first choice on a list of “Five Universities You Can Do Business With.”
We don’t really care much for political wrangling on either side, but we’re wary of corporations having any such sway in what a public university should research, especially if their big aim is just to give their PR team something positive to spin. We’re even more wary of zealous campus administrators trying to cater to big business. It has meant bad things in the past (anyone remember Stanford’s compact with Exxon-Mobil?), and it probably means bad things now. Sacrificing academic freedom does not seem like a justifiable goal.
Berkeley Chancellor Mischaracterized Dealings with BP as “Open” [California Progress Report]
Bing annuls gift due to ExxonMobil ties [The Stanford Daily]
(Image taken from Art Not Oil)
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