Sonoma State president placed on leave after announcing deal with protesters

BLOCKED OUR VIEW. THE CHP HAS NOT REPORTED ANY ARRESTS. >>> STUDENTS AND LOCAL LEADERS ARE REACTING TO THE DECISION TO PLACE SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY'S PRESIDENT ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE. IT COMES AFTER PRESIDENT MIKE LEE SENT OUT AN EMAIL ANNOUNCING A DEAL WITH PRO PALESTINIAN PROTESTERS ON CAMPUS WITHOUT APPROVAL ACCORDING TO CAL STATE UNIVERSITY CHANCELLOR MILDRED GARCIA. KEVIN COE IS AT SONOMA STATE WITH MORE ON THE PRESIDENT'S CONTROVERSIAL MESSAGE AND THE FALLOUT. >> Reporter: THE ENCAMPMENT HERE AT SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY IS NOW GONE, BUT TENSIONS REMAIN HIGH FOR A LOT OF STUDENTS I TALKED TO ON CAMPUS TODAY FEELING UNSAFE, DISAPPOINTMENT, A COUPLE EMOTIONS STUDENTS TELL ME THEY'RE FEELING NOW AFTER PRESIDENT MIKE LEE WAS PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE. >> IT SAYS JUST JUSTICE FOR MIKE LEE AND IT HAS ALMOST 900 LIKES. I THINK IT'S PRETTY REPRESENTATIVE HOW WE FEEL. >> Reporter: ZACK JOHNSON IS SHOWING US FIZZ, A STUDENT ONLY APP AT SONOMA UNIVERSITY. >> A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SAYING WE WANT MIKE LEE TO STAY. WE LIKE MIKE LEE. THIS HE HAVE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF LIKES. >> Reporter: EVERY STUDENT WE SPOKE WITH ON CAMPUS TODAY SAYS THEY SUPPORT UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT MIKE LEE. YESTERDAY LEE WAS PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE BY CSU FOR INSUBORDINATION AFTER HE SENT OUT A CAMPUS-WIDE EMAIL ANNOUNCING AN AGREEMENT WITH PRO PALESTINIAN PROTESTERS. IT INCLUDED AN ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR JUSTICE IN PALESTINE, A BOYCOTT OF ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS SPONSORED BY ISRAEL AND CALLING FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IN GAZA. >> I FEEL LIKE HE WAS SUPPORTING THE STUDENTS AND WAS ACTUALLY PUSHING FOR A CHANGE IN THE WAY THE SYSTEM WORKS AND HELPING PALESTINE IN THE BEST WAY THAT WE CAN AS STUDENTS AND I DON'T THINK THERE WAS ANYTHING HE DID WRONG. >> THIS LETTER WAS SO TONE DEAF TO THE NEEDS AND CONCERNS OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY. >> Reporter: JONATHAN MINCER WITH JCRC BAY AREA SAYS HE'S THANKFUL TO CSU CHANCELLOR GARCIA FOR SWIFT ACTION ADDING THE EMAIL WAS PROBLEMATIC AND PAINFUL FOR THE JEWISH COMMUNITY. >> THE PRESIDENT MADE CLEAR THAT JEWISH VOICES ARE NOT WELCOME ON CAMPUS AND YOU DON'T NEED TO MARGINALIZE ONE GROUP TO UPLIFT ANOTHER. >> Reporter: LEE LATER SAID THE EMAIL WAS SENT WITHOUT APPROVAL OF ANY CAL STATE SYSTEM LEADERS, BUT HE CONTINUES TO SUPPORT STUDENTS LIKE JACK JOHNSON. >> I LIKE MIKE LEE. I WANT HIM TO STAY. >> Reporter: NOW A BIG QUESTION STILL LEFT, WILL ANY OF THE AGREEMENTS THAT PRESIDENT MIKE LEE ANNOUNCED BE HONORED? THAT'S A QUESTION THAT CAMPUS REPRESENTATIVES TELL ME IS VERY COMPLICATED AND STILL UP IN THE AIR. >>> SOME STATE LAWMAKERS ARE SPEAKING OUT IN SUPPORT OF THE DECISION TO PLACE LEE ON LEAVE. STATE SENATOR SCOTT WIENER SENT A STATEMENT AS A CO-CHAIR OF THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE JEWISH CAUCUS THAT CALLED LEE SUPPORTING AN ACADEMIC BOYCOTT TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND EVIDENCE PRESIDENT LEE IS UNFIT TO LEAD ONE OF OUR GREAT STATE INSTITUTIONS AND STATE SENATOR BILL DODD WHO REPRESENTS NAPA AND PART OF SONOMA

Channel: KPIX | CBS NEWS BAY AREA

Views: 8,937

Keywords: Sonoma State University, Education, Protests

Id: DXkJROvozZw

Length: 3min 26sec (206 seconds)

Published: Fri May 17 2024