The president of Sonoma State University was placed on leave this week after he seemingly agreed to concessions requested by a pro-Palestinian group that had set up an encampment on campus.
“On Tuesday evening, Sonoma State University President Mike Lee sent a campuswide message concerning an agreement with campus protesters,” wrote California State University Chancellor Mildred Garcia in a statement Wednesday. “That message was sent without the appropriate approvals.”
Garcia said she and the board were “actively reviewing the matter,” but that due to Lee’s “insubordination,” Lee had been placed on administrative leave.
Nathan Evans, deputy vice chancellor for academic and student affairs for the CSU system, has been made acting president of the school, Garcia said.
Lee sent a message Tuesday to faculty and students addressing the demands of the pro-Palestinian protesters on campus that had been in an encampment since late April in protest of the Hamas-Israel war. The group — Students for Justice in Palestine — had demanded that school divest and disclose any ties to Israel, carry out an academic boycott of Israel, recognize Palestinian identity and introduce historic curriculum, and officially support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
In Lee’s message, he addressed all four demands. He also said the school would establish an Advisory Council of Students for Justice in Palestine comprised of the encampment protesters, Palestinian alumni, and faculty, staff and school administrators to monitor “accountability for agreements” made between the protesters and the school.
Lee then said that the school was in the process of reviewing its investments and would work with the Advisory Council on “determining a course of action leading to divestment strategies,” though he did not mention Israel by name.
Lee did bring up an “academic boycott” of Israel, however, stating that “SSU will not pursue or engage in any study abroad programs, faculty exchanges, or other formal collaborations that are sponsored by, or represent, the Israeli state academic and research institutions.”
He also agreed to bolster academic curriculum concerning Palestinian identity and history.
‘Totally unacceptable’
The backlash was swift, with both state Sens. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, and Scott Wiener, D- San Francisco issuing statements Wednesday evening in opposition to Lee’s memo.
“I appreciate Chancellor Garcia’s quick response to this situation,” said Dodd in a statement released by his office. “We need stability and thoughtful leadership at Sonoma State.”
Wiener, who is co-chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus, issued a statement with co-chair Sen. Jesse Gabriel, D-Encino.
“We thank and applaud Chancellor Garcia and the California State University Board of Trustees for taking immediate action rejecting the decision by former President Lee to boycott Israel. His endorsement for an academic boycott was totally unacceptable and evidence that former President Lee is unfit to lead one of our great state institutions.”
“My goal when meeting with students at the encampment was to explore opportunities to make meaningful change, identify common ground, and create a safe and inclusive campus for all. … I realize the harm that this has caused, and I take full ownership of it.” SSU President Mike Lee
Lee himself issued a statement on Wednesday responding to the situation and apologizing.
“My goal when meeting with students at the encampment was to explore opportunities to make meaningful change, identify common ground, and create a safe and inclusive campus for all,” he wrote. “I now realize that many of the statements I made in my campuswide message did just the opposite.”
Lee said he had marginalized other members of the student population and community.
“I realize the harm that this has caused, and I take full ownership of it,” he wrote, adding that his message had been sent without the approval of the chancellor and did not represent the views of anyone but himself.
