Students deserve greater transparency from their campus leaders

The Editorial Board comments on conversations between administration and student journalists 

By THE EDITORIAL BOARD — opinion@theaggie.org

Once a quarter, the Editorial Board of The California Aggie has the unique opportunity to sit down with UC Davis Chancellor Gary May, along with select members of university leadership. The purpose of these meetings is to allow The Aggie to fulfill its duties as the campus’ primary student news source and to gather information from campus administration to help inform the student body. The administrators request that questions are sent in advance, and they allow the interview to be recorded and for a transcription to be published. 

The most recent interview with May occurred on Friday, May 15, in which the Editorial Board inquired about bike safety infrastructure, the demotion of UC Davis’ equestrian team and May’s position on Leidos’ Board of Directors, among other topics. Following the transcription’s publication, several groups in the community addressed both the Editorial Board and campus administration on social media, many expressing frustrations with the responses given. 

Local advocacy group Justice4Lincoln, which was formed following UC Davis student Lincoln Sabini’s death in April, took to its social media platform to express their reaction to the transcription. 

“We have not had any official meetings with [UC Davis] leadership,” their Instagram post reads. “They expect us to chase them down then take the credit for setting up ‘discussions.’” 

Similarly, Students for Environmental Liberation at UC Davis commented on the administration’s answer regarding May’s position with Leidos.

“Their promises of inclusivity are and sustainability ring hollow as these administrators repeatedly admit that the university is no more than a pipeline funneling students into careers built on war-profiteering, ecocide, and more recently companies ties to ‘immigration enforcement,’” their Instagram post reads. 

Save Davis Equestrian, a coalition founded in support of equestrian athletes following the team’s demotion, also shared their disappointment with one of May’s responses. 

“His answer? Vague corporate spin [and] bundled questions … Zero straight answers. Zero accountability," their Instagram post reads. "Just more spin.”

The Editorial Board strongly values the paper’s role as a linkage institution, structurally connecting students to university leaders. Beyond views the Editorial Board may have of the responses given during these meetings, it’s important to emphasize that The Aggie is one of very few groups who has the opportunity to sit down with May and other administrators. The questions asked are written based on direct feedback from the student population — our primary role as UC Davis’ only student-led news publication is to provide information and seek clarity based on issues that matter to them.

If students have questions about the administration that directs, leads and controls the university they attend, they deserve sincere answers. Campus leadership needs to be accountable to students and for their actions. During the meeting, May described himself as “the most available chancellor in the system” — if he wants to live up to that claim, students have the right to an open line of communication from his office. To be available means to connect with students, whether it’s through providing more opportunities for them to ask questions or by giving the limited meetings the full attention, respect and consideration that they deserve.

People come to The California Aggie because we have opportunities, like this, to speak with campus administrators in ways that are not accessible to most. However, when asked where students should seek further information on topics introduced in the meeting, May emphasized himself as the preferred source. 

“Me. Yeah, to me. Instead of you [The California Aggie],” May said. 

May’s hesitation to provide clear and open answers to this publication’s questions, while simultaneously committing to remaining an available chancellor, contradicts administrators’ prioritization of transparency. While this issue is not isolated to the Editorial Board’s interviews, these responses specifically demonstrate the broader problem of a lack of accountability and accessibility between campus leadership and the student body — not just at UC Davis, but the University of California system and higher education as a whole. 

Campus administrators are preventing student journalists from fulfilling the ethical and structural responsibilities of being a primary news source of college campuses, and they are restricting crucial information that students have the right to access. Student papers deserve to be taken seriously as legitimate news organizations, and our commitment to maintaining a connection between campus leadership and the student body relies on transparency and accountability — from both sides. 

Written by: The Editorial Board — opinion@theaggie.org