Latest news with #JeffreyArmstrong
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cal Poly professor suspended for pushing police barricade at Pro-Palestine protest
A Cal Poly English professor will be suspended for one month without pay for their conduct at one Pro-Palestine protest last year. The Office of the Provost accused Shanae Aurora Martinez — who uses 'they/she' pronouns — of 'unprofessional conduct' for their behavior at January and May protests in 2024 — the first which exploded into a confrontation between police and protesters that ended in violent arrests. A Faculty Hearing Committee recommended a one-month suspension without pay for Martinez because they joined other protesters to push on a metal police barricade at the January demonstration. However, the committee did not think that Martinez's behavior at the May protest violated campus policies. On Friday, President Jeffrey Armstrong approved the committee's decision — making it official. Martinez's suspension begins on Sept. 11, which is the the first day of the fall quarter for faculty, according to Cal Poly's academic calendar. 'Dr. Martinez stated that she was at the protest to support students' right to protest and to serve as a peace liaison,' the letter from the committee said. 'While we applaud her desire to support Cal Poly students and combat inequity, we note that pushing on the barricade goes beyond what would be expected of a peace liaison or a person simply supporting students' right to protest. Instead of just supporting their rights, she was actively involved in the protest.' Cal Poly professor could face lighter penalty for Pro-Palestine protests The committee included Cal Poly professors Samantha Gill, Gregory Schwartz and Pasha Tabatabai, with Crow White as the alternate member. Because Armstrong agreed with the Faculty Hearing Committee's decision, Martinez cannot appeal the one-month suspension. On Friday, Martinez's faculty representative San Jose State University professor Sang Hea Kil said she would have preferred that Martinez wasn't suspended without pay, but nonetheless, she was glad to see that the committee recommended a lesser penalty. 'It's still a victory in the sense that the faculty hearing panel saw the excessive and punitive nature of the Cal Poly school administration's approach toward Dr. Martinez and, you know, mitigated that,' she said. Sang said she was also glad that the Faculty Hearing Committee's decision included 'protectionist language,' pointing out that they didn't want the punishment to continue after the one-month suspension. She hopes that discourages the university from using the incident against Martinez when considering their tenure promotion in the fall. 'My hope is that they'll do the right thing and honor what the faculty panel had said in their language, and not use this as further amplifying punishment against Dr. Martinez,' Sang said. In February, the Office of the Provost sent Martinez a letter of pending disciplinary action, which recommended that they be suspended for two quarters without pay for their conduct during Pro-Palestine protests on Jan. 23, 2024, and May 23, 2024. The office said Martinez's behavior violated the California Education Code of Conduct, the Campus Civility Statement, Cal Poly's Statement on Commitment to Community and the Faculty Code of Ethics. The office, however, never shared precedent or policy that supported a two-quarter suspension. In Tuesday's letter, the committee called an unpaid two-quarter suspension 'excessive.' 'This one situation does not and should not define Dr. Martinez or detract from all the good work she has been and is doing,' the letter said. 'It is important to emphasize that we believe Dr. Martinez's actions were not antisemitic.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cal Poly building vandalized by pro-Palestinian activists; 2 suspects in custody
Cal Poly's Administration Building was vandalized by pro-Palestinian activists Wednesday afternoon. According to an email sent to the Cal Poly campus community from Cal Poly president Jeffrey Armstrong, a group of five individuals entered the university's Financial Aid and Student Accounts office in the Administration Building and spray-painted graffiti on walls, windows, furniture, computers, carpets and floors on Wednesday afternoon. 'Thankfully, no one was physically harmed in the incident, but it was traumatizing for numerous Cal Poly employees and students who were in the office at the time,' Armstrong's statement read. Cal Poly police arrived, causing the five individuals to flee the scene, though two suspects have been identified and are in custody for questioning, Armstrong said. In his statement, Armstrong said there is 'simply zero tolerance' for the individuals' behavior. 'Those participating in violence and criminal activity which endangers other s will be expelled (if they are students), arrested and held fully accountable,' Armstrong's statement read. 'Anyone who views this kind of shortsighted, disgusting and illegal activity as acceptable has no place at Cal Poly and will be rooted out.' Armstrong asked anyone with information related to the incident, including the identities of those responsible, photos, videos or otherwise, to contact the Cal Poly police at 805-756-2281.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cal Poly president avoids worst of House committee's grilling on antisemitism
Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong testified at a tense hearing before a congressional committee Wednesday morning, fielding questions about the university's response to antisemitism on campus while escaping the worst of panel members' ire. In fact, Armstrong emerged from the hearing rather unscathed — especially compared to the other two university presidents, who at times endured withering questioning from Republicans on the House Committee on Education and Workforce. The goal of the hearing was to hold Cal Poly, Haverford College and DePaul University accountable for 'perpetuating antisemitism,' Committee Chair Tim Walberg said in his opening remarks. Committee members directed most of their questions to Haverford College President Wendy Raymond and DePaul University President Robert Manuel. Raymond faced repeated, aggressive questioning that left her stammering and speechless at times. Both Haverford, a private university in Philadelphia, and DePaul, a Catholic university in Chicago, had far more substantial incidents, including encampments of Pro-Palestine protesters and a Jewish student who was attacked. Attorney and Georgetown University professor David Cole also testified, but not on behalf of the university. In his opening statement, Armstrong condemned the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack as 'horrific' and pledged the university's commitment to creating a safe environment for students regardless of their religious beliefs. 'The violence perpetrated that day must be condemned without equivocation,' he said. 'And the targeting of Jewish students on campuses across the U.S. that followed was terrible and unacceptable.' In defending Cal Poly's response, Armstrong pointed to multiple initiatives the university has made to improve the campus climate, from establishing an antisemitism task force to developing an Interfaith Center. 'Our efforts to support Jewish students and combat antisemitism have made progress,' Armstrong said. 'I want to emphasize that our goal is continuous improvement. We will work to give each student the safest possible environment, free from discrimination and religious intolerance, so they can learn, grow and succeed.' Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong, right, testified before the House Committee on Education and Workforce on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, about antisemitism on the San Luis Obispo campus. He was joined by three others, from left, Haverford College President Wendy Raymond, DePaul University President Robert Manuel and Georgetown University professor David Cole. How is Cal Poly combating antisemitism on campus? Armstrong said that Cal Poly has 'enjoyed a vibrant Jewish community for many years,' adding that the number of Jewish students enrolled at the university has doubled since 2011. Cal Poly is home to student organizations like SLO Hillel and Chabad, who support and advocate for Jewish students. Armstrong said he and his wife have attended many of these organizations' events. To combat antisemitism on campus, Cal Poly bolstered its student orientation program and employee training with more information about antisemitism. Meanwhile, university representatives have attended eight training sessions with the Hillel Campus Climate Initiative, Armstrong said. Cal Poly announced the creation of an antisemitism task force in April, and the university is fundraising to hire a chair of Jewish studies. When asked if Cal Poly was a 'hotbed of antisemitism,' Armstrong simply said, 'No.' Later, when asked if he believed anti-Zionism could constitute national origin discrimination, Armstrong said, 'Yes.' 'We work very hard to make sure all students have a safe learning environment,' Armstrong said. 'We want to make sure they're free from harassment and discrimination, but we also balance that with free speech.' Cal Poly is also working to establish an Interfaith Center, which would support students practicing all types of religions — including Judaism. 'We view that as an opportunity where students can come together, where they can have a dialog,' Armstrong said of the Interfaith Center. The university has been discussing such a center with Chabad, Hillel and other religious leaders for several years, but the COVID-19 pandemic slowed progress on the project, Armstrong said. Rep. Alma Adams, who represents the 12th District of North Carolina, said she felt 'encouraged' by Cal Poly's efforts to establish an Interfaith Center. Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong testifies before the House Committee on Education and Workforce on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, about antisemitism on the San Luis Obispo campus. 'When students gather across faiths and backgrounds to talk, to grieve, to organize together — that's how we build resilience, and that's how we push back against hate,' she said. To address antisemitism along with all forms of discrimination, Adams called for providing resources to the Office of Civil Rights, which investigates allegations of discrimination. The Trump administration, however, has cut seven of the 12 local offices of the Office of Civil Rights, Cole and Democrats on the panel noted. 'Every student, regardless of background, deserves to feel safe, protected and welcomed on campuses, and that includes Jewish students, that includes Muslim students,' Adams said. In a rare display of congeniality during the hearing, Rep. Mark DeSaulnier complimented Armstrong. 'You have one of the highest returns on investment for students,' DeSaulnier said. 'When your graduates get out, they go out to work and make a good return on investment. So thank you for that.' DeSaulnier submitted to the record letters from two Jewish students and SLO Hillel Executive Director Lauren Bandari, which shared that Armstrong's leadership facilitated a safe atmosphere for Jewish students on campus. He then asked Armstrong about the university's partnership with law enforcement. Armstrong said the Cal Poly Police Department collaborates with the San Luis Obispo Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies when necessary. 'We deploy campus police whenever there is potential for threatening activity or trouble, and they make arrests and file criminal charges when justified,' Armstrong said. A Pro-Palestine protest outside the Cal Poly Recreation Center in January 2024 was met with a heavy police presence. The demonstration ended in a violent clash between police and demonstrators and eight arrests. Then, in May 2024, another Pro-Palestine protest at the California Boulevard entrance to campus also ended with eight arrests — that time without incident. Armstrong said the university investigates all allegations of antisemitism or harassment on campus and imposes discipline when appropriate. Since Oct. 7, 2023, six students have been disciplined for antisemitic conduct — with sanctions ranging from a two-quarter suspension to probation, he said. 'At Cal Poly, when people do not live up to our commitment to prohibit prejudice and bias, we hold them accountable,' Armstrong said. 'We have dealt with antisemitism and other forms of discrimination by faculty, staff, visitors and students.' The question of discipline came up repeatedly during the hearing, with all three presidents fielding questions about their universities' processes. But it was the Haverford president who received the brunt of Republican members' anger when she refused to share details. Republican New York Rep. Elise Stefanik repeatedly asked Raymond what disciplinary action her university took against students 'who called for the complete dismantling of the apartheid settler colonial state of Israel by all means necessary.' When Raymond refused to share specifics, Stefanik clapped back. 'You were the one university president who failed to lay out if any disciplinary action has been taken,' Stefanik said. Later, Missouri Republican Rep. Bob Onder also called out Raymond for refusing to answer questions about the university's disciplinary process. 'I suppose it's your First Amendment right to be evasive, but it's also our right to decide that such institutions are not deserving of taxpayer money,' he said. Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong, right, testified before the House Committee on Education and Workforce on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, about antisemitism on the San Luis Obispo campus. He was joined by DePaul University President Robert Manuel, left, Georgetown University professor David Cole and, not pictured, Haverford College President Wendy Raymond. Cal Poly president grilled about DEI South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson used some of his time to grill Armstrong about diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, calling the Cal Poly president 'an outspoken DEI proponent.' 'I believe that DEI chills and actually restricts and restrains academic freedom. It's been my view that diversity means no ideological diversity,' Wilson said. Wilson asked Armstrong how he viewed diversity, equity and inclusion. 'Cal Poly, since I've been there, we've focused on student success — and all student success,' Armstrong said. Wilson then interrupted Armstrong and asked, 'Does that mean equity for everybody? They all get the same grades?' 'Oh no, sir,' Armstrong said. 'We have been admitting students under Prop. 209, (which) has been in existence for more than 25 years in California, so we've been operating under an affirmative action ban during that time, and we have had significant changes in the makeup of our population, because we've increased financial aid and made students more able to — ' Wilson then interrupted Armstrong again to ask what percentage of Cal Poly's professors were conservative, before answering his own question. 'I'm sadly concerned there are none, or very few,' Wilson said, without giving Armstrong the chance to respond. Democrats criticize the hearing The stated intent of the hearing was to hold universities accountable for antisemitic incidents on campus and enact 'policies that create a safe environment for Jewish students,' Wallberg said in his opening statement. Numerous Democrats on the committee, however, questioned the sincerity of this effort. Virginia Democrat Rep. Bobby Scott explained that Title VI of the Civil Rights Act promises all students the right to learn in a safe environment free of discrimination. The Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights investigates allegations of discrimination and enforces compliance with the law. If a student alleged that a campus didn't provide a safe learning environment, the Office of Civil Rights has a process for investigating and disciplining the university. If the university doesn't comply with the office's requirements, the Department of Education can withhold funds, Scott said. Scott said the Title VI process is more effective for addressing antisemitism than the committee's Wednesday hearing. However, the Trump administration closed seven of the Office of Civil Rights' 12 regional offices and laid off 'nearly half' of its staff — preventing the office from investigating and punishing antisemitic incidents the committee wished to protect students from, Scott said. 'That raises reasonable doubt about the plans for addressing antisemitism on campus, as well as racism, homophobia, sexism, Islamophobia or the needs of students with disabilities,' Scott said. 'We should be focused on trying to solve the problem rather than just complaining about it.' Instead of holding hearings about antisemitism, he called for the committee to empower the Office of Civil Rights to conduct fact-finding investigations into each incident and address them accordingly. Cole explained that only two types of antisemitic speech violate Title VI, the first being if the speech targets an individual because they are Jewish. 'Not because he supports Israel, but because of his Jewish identity specifically,' Cole said. If the speech isn't targeted at an individual, such as at a rally, it only violates Title VI if 'it is so severe, pervasive and objectively offensive that it denies equal access to an education,' Cole said. The Office of Civil Rights investigates such incidents to balance free speech with the safety of students and compliance with Title VI, Cole said. 'The line between protected antisemitic speech and prohibited antisemitic discrimination is necessarily fact-intensive. It requires a careful assessment of what was said to whom and why it was said,' Cole said. 'As a result, it is not sufficient to make general accusations of antisemitism, as members of this committee have repeatedly done in all of the prior hearings and already today.' Holding a hearing for each alleged antisemitic incident, with testimony from the perpetrator and the complainant, would be a more effective way to investigate and address antisemitism than this hearing, Cole said. 'You need to look at what happened, hear both sides of the encounter, and make a legal assessment, not a political harangue,' Cole said. Texas Democrat Rep. Greg Casar's comments were perhaps the most scathing of the day. He asked Republican committee members to raise their hand if they condemned President Donald Trump for saying there were 'fine people on both sides' after white supremacists and Neo-nazis marched through Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017. He then asked them to raise their hand if they condemned U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for spreading an antisemitic conspiracy theory 'that COVID was engineered to target white and black people, but spare Jewish people.' 'Not a single Republican today has been willing to condemn any of this antisemitism,' Casar said. 'If my Republican colleagues want to stop the spread of antisemitism, maybe they should stop apologizing for and promoting anti-Semites.' He also called for the strengthening of the Office of Civil Rights. 'This hearing called by the Republican majority is all about Trump Republicans distorting the definition of antisemitism to silence anyone, including Jewish students, who speak out, nonviolently, against what the Israeli government is doing,' he said. 'The Republican plan is not about keeping Jewish students safe. It's about keeping the Israeli government safe from any form of criticism. That is a disservice to the truth.' In their letter to the committee, Cal Poly students Avi Shapiro and Benjamin Broudy said they appreciated the hearing. 'The work that the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development and the House Committee on Education and Workforce is doing to publicize and help prevent future antisemitic incidents is incredibly important in keeping Jewish college students safe and comfortable,' the letter said. 'When university students are not doing well, universities are not doing well. It is necessary, and a huge step in the right direction, to put a spotlight on universities that have failed their Jewish students and who have made zero effort to combat antisemitism on their campuses.' Letter detailed allegations of antisemitism at Cal Poly Armstrong was called to testify in an April 21 letter that the committee sent a letter to the Cal Poly president and CSU Trustee Jack Clarke Jr. It detailed new allegations of antisemitism on the university's campus. The letter repeated claims outlined by the Anti-Defamation League, an organization known for its pro-Israel advocacy, in its Campus Antisemitism Report Card, which originally gave Cal Poly an 'F' rating. The rating was later raised to a 'D' after Cal Poly implemented new policies, according to the report card website — and the boost occurred just days after Cal Poly announced a new antisemitism task force. The Anti-Defamation League's analysis found that Cal Poly had high levels of 'hostile' and 'anti-Zionist' students and faculty, and the university's administration was marked down in the report for not publicly condemning antisemitic incidents on campus, according to the organization. The committee letter relied on these claims to justify Armstrong's appearance and cited 'alleged verbal harassment' of Jewish students by a Cal Poly professor in April 2024 outside a lecture on campus by a former Israeli Defense Force soldier. 'The alleged harassment included a Cal Poly professor, while holding a Palestinian flag, confronting Jewish students and attendees in the lobby and stating 'You are Zionists — you are part of the KKK,'' the letter reads. 'The same professor, while standing in the lobby near the entrance, allegedly held the Palestinian flag over the face of a woman as she entered the lobby and stated 'F--- Israel.'' Despite that list of grievances, committee members did not question Armstrong about any particular incident.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
In letters: Cal Poly president owes us an explanation
President Jeffrey Armstrong, why did you refuse to sign onto the public statement signed by 523 of your fellow presidents of universities and colleges across the country condemning 'unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education'? Opinion Worried about retribution? You have already had a taste of that, in the form of a $5 million dollar hit in federal grant funding and getting hauled in front of a congressional committee. Do you actually believe that your lack of participation in this effort will protect Cal Poly from future reprisals? Oh, come on. No institution or individual is safe from the wild child in the White House. You state that the university has no role in determining public policy. The jackboot attempting to squash academic freedom is not public policy. Public policy is set by lawmakers, not one aspiring dictator. At a time when many of us struggle to find ways to be heard, you could have strengthened a voice for freedom and you have chosen to be silent. I, for one, want an explanation. Ellen M. Morrison San Luis Obispo Jeffrey Armstrong, the president of Cal Poly, just lost my respect by refusing to sign the statement against Trump's 'overreach.' Giving in to this administration's pressure to give up independence is a huge mistake and Cal Poly deserves more. Is it time to find new president for Cal Poly? Ed Cox Nipomo As an astute observer on Nextdoor noted, how many on The Tribune Editorial Board drive through the Morro Bay Highway 41 and Main Street intersection daily? How many have a child attending Morro Bay High? The Tribune and Caltrans, which was originally was against this project, may want to maximize vehicular capacity at this intersection; I want to ensure the life of each high school student at this intersection. The City Council majority who voted for the roundabout two years ago did not have to use this intersection daily. The present City Council majority does. Kudos to our current leadership for putting lives over money. Betty Winholt Morro Bay I am so disappointed in the Morro Bay City Council majority (Mayor Carla Wixom, Jeff Eckles, Zara Landrum) for directing city staff to stop work on the Highway 41/Main Street project, for which all of the funding would come from CalTrans and SLOCOG. Every study over 20 years has concluded that a roundabout is the only way to fix this intersection, the most dangerous in Morro Bay (10 vehicle accidents and one pedestrian in the past year alone). Traffic signals have been rejected over and over. Every traffic engineer concluded that signals would back up the traffic onto Highways 1 and 41. The assertion that a roundabout is unsafe for pedestrians is debunked by experts who study intersection safety all day, every day. What do council members know that dozens of engineers do not? And, the council cut off the work before the design phase of the project, which is required by law to address pedestrian safety. There is one more step to formalize pulling out of the project, set for May 27, 2025. Contact the council (council@ and attend the meeting to show the council that the constituency they serve wants this project to proceed. Jane Heath Morro Bay In regard to the article about putting in a roundabout at the intersection of Main and Highway 41: The Morro Bay City Council decided not to build one because they had concerns about pedestrian safety. Due to the high school being right there and the number of students needing to cross, I totally agree with them. This may be too simplistic, but can't they just build a pedestrian bridge? Frances Smith San Luis Obispo A few years ago, I attended a Shen Yun performance at our Performing Arts Center and regretted it. What was marketed as traditional Chinese dance turned out to be a politically charged production. More troubling are recent revelations about Shen Yun performers' working conditions. The New York Times reported in August 2024 that dancers in their mid-20s were paid $12,000 or less per year despite performing hundreds of shows. When injured, performers were allegedly discouraged from seeking proper medical care and instead told their 'spiritual state' might be the problem. These young artists appear to face exploitation within the very organization claiming to champion their freedom. While Shen Yun representatives have denied these allegations, I believe our community should consider whether we want to support performances with such serious ethical concerns. I'm disappointed that our PAC, supported by Cal Poly, the city of San Luis Obispo and community donations, continues to host these performances without addressing these issues. Attending left me uncomfortable with the political messaging woven throughout and learning about the reported treatment of performers has only deepened my concerns. Debbie Appelbaum San Luis Obispo I just read an article that reported that Gov. Gavin Newsom and the liberal politicians in California are upset that Trump's administration hasn't released $40 billion dollars in funds for LA fire relief. Seriously? These are the leaders who thumb their noses at conservatives and vow to 'Trump proof' California, then expect money from the same people they denigrate. They vote to give free health care (among other handouts) to illegal immigrants, something us hardworking, law-abiding citizens have to pay through the nose for. They advocate not requiring students to pay back their loans. They spend billions on a train that will serve communities that can't afford to ride it. They have the state in a financial freefall, and then beg from the federal government! What is the money for? How about people insuring and paying for their own losses like rest of us would be required to? The federal government should help when the fires are active to prevent loss of property and life. In the aftermath, California should be on its own. In other words, these arrogant, irresponsible Democratic politicians enact and support policies that run counter to any form of common sense and when it doesn't work out they blame others. Very childish and embarrassing behavior. Jody Langford Templeton Water problems? Not surprised. At the March, 2025, town hall meeting organized by Supervisor Jimmy Paulding in Oceano, I expressed my concerns about water quality problems in South County after Peter Brown, general manager of the Oceano Community Services District, began the meeting by extolling the quality of our tap water. A few months earlier, a friend from Williamstown, Massachusetts, had alerted me to reports from the Environmental Working Group ( The comparison between my community, Oceano, and his in Massachusetts was disturbing. Comparing zip codes, our Oceano tap water (93445) had 11 contaminants in very serious quantities and his similar sized community, zip, 01267, had none. The most alarming was arsenic. I urge more attention to this serious issue. Bonnie Ernst Oceano Regarding the debate about Assemblymember Dawn Addis' ethnic studies bill, AB 1468: Since the 2023 start of the Israel - Palestine war, our country has been engulfed in an intense and divisive debate about antisemitism. Accusations are being flung around indiscriminately, from Congress, to universities, K-12 schools and elsewhere. Passions must not be allowed to interfere with rational debate. One fundamental issue missed in most reporting and discussion is an accurate definition of antisemitism. One, used in the House of Representatives' 'Antisemitism Awareness Act,' by the ADL (Anti-Defamation League) and others is the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition. It's been used to equate criticism of the Israeli government's policies and actions with antisemitism. Another definition is by the JDA (Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism). It states that antisemitism is prejudice against Jews because they're Jews or are directing a covert conspiracy to undermine society. Antisemitism is not: criticism of Zionism or Israeli government policies or actions, nonviolent protest against them, or treating them differently than those of other countries. The JDA makes clear that the misuse of accusations of antisemitism is a dangerous attack on free speech. Criticism of U.S. policy and action isn't un-American. Neither is that directed at Israel's antisemitism. David Broadwater Atascadero
