University spends $ 175, 000 to remove search results of pepper-spraying incident

University of California, Davis administration and chancellor has come under fire after it is revealed that the institution paid vast sums of money to a firm to remove references to the incident in which police brutally sprayed protesters in 2011.

UC, Davis came under worldwide attention in 2011 when it used heavy police force against a peaceful students protest. A police officer used pepper spray on the protesters, the pictures of whom went viral online. 

The students unrest as part of the Occupy movement started when the admin of University of California approved significant pay increase for administrators at the same time it raised student tuition fee.

A local newspaper broke the news of universities attempt to remove references of the pepper-spraying incident after it launch a broader investigation into Katehi’s affiliation with private corporate boards.

Sacramento Bee, reported that UC Davis hired a communications firm on a $15,000-a-month contract with a goal of eradicating “references to the pepper spray incident on Google”, including “negative search results” for Katehi.

“It’s not surprising,” said Ian Lee, who was an 18-year-old freshman when he was pepper-sprayed during the peaceful protest. “It’s consistent with what [Katehi] has done and she should resign.”

“It bothers me because it’s personal,” he added. “It’s a personal thing that changed my life. They’re trying to erase the history of resistance at UC Davis.”