To the President, Chancellors, and Regents of the University of California: We are writing as an international group of concerned students and faculty in regard to the series of investigations currently directed against Professor Ricardo Dominguez and his collaborators in the CALIT2 bang.lab. More specifically, we wish to address the following events: 1) On March 21, 2010, a bang.lab colleague at the University of California, Riverside, received notice that he is under investigation in relation to the establishment of the website http://MarkYudof.com, an art protest piece in which the artist expressed an alternate version of the future in which University of California President Mark Yudof publicly resigned his position by acknowledging that his "service as president is detrimental to the future of public education in the state of California." Despite its obviously unrealistic message on behalf of President Yudof and the multiple links on the site indicating its connection to various student protest groups, both of which clearly identify the site's political intent and its desire not to defraud its visitors, this artist action has directly resulted in the ensuing investigation. 2) On March 4th, the bang.lab website hosted a virtual sit-in against the website of the University of California Office of the President as part of the system-wide student and faculty protests against the policies of the University of California administration. The virtual sit-in action provided a means for anyone sympathetic to the cause to remotely join the protesters in solidarity. As a direct result of the sit-in action, the University of California, San Diego's Office of Information Technology Security shut down the bang.lab server's access to the Internet for eight consecutive days. 3) Following the virtual sit-in, the bang.lab was informed that they were under investigation by the University of California at San Diego Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Paul Drake, who was also attempting to determine the legal grounds necessary to file criminal charges against Professor Dominguez. If successful, these university and criminal charges would directly threaten the revocation of Professor Dominguez's tenure at UCSD. Despite already established international legal precedents that virtual sit-ins are considered electronic civil disobedience (ECD) and are therefore not denial-of-service (DoS) or distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks (most recently in the First Penal Senate of the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt ruling 1 Ss 319/05 in 2005), these publicly unjustified investigations and charges continue. As academic colleagues of both Professor Dominguez and his collaborators at the bang.lab, we ask that you cease these seemingly politically motivated investigations. Since initiating his digital protests over ten years ago, Professor Dominguez's activities with the Electronic Disturbance Theater and the bang.lab have served as unflinchingly courageous examples of intellectual integrity and academic engagement within their wider sociopolitical communities. Professor Dominguez's tireless efforts to bring awareness to underserved and underrepresented causes through the artful mastery of technologies that so often seek to marginalize such groups has inspired multiple generations of artists, activists, and critical thinkers. His recent bang.lab projects have received numerous international humanitarian awards and funding support in both the U.S. and Mexico. We believe these recent actions against him and the bang.lab threaten the academic freedoms and rights to free speech of all artists and academics everywhere. We recommend that rather than criminalizing legitimate protest activity by members of its own community the University of California would be better served by opening up substantive public dialogues with protesters regarding their concerns. For these reasons, we firmly but respectfully call for increased accountability of this process and an end to the bureaucratic and legal harassment of Professor Dominguez and his colleagues. Sincerely, Zach Blas, PhD Student, Literature, Duke University, Graduate of Design|Media Arts, UCLA '08 Casey Alt, Visiting Professor of the Practice, Department of Art, Art History & Visual Studies, Duke University, Graduate of Design|Media Arts, UCLA '08 Sean Dockray, Artist, graduate of Design|Media Arts, UCLA '05 Patrick LeMieux, MFA Candidate, Digital Media Art, School of Art and Art History, University of Florida Stephanie Boluk, PhD Candidate, Department of English, University of Florida Jussi Parikka, Director of CoDE: The Cultures of the Digital Economy-institute, Reader in Media Theory & History, Co-Director of Anglia Research Centre in Digital Culture (ArcDigital), Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge (UK) Josh On, Artist & Web Designer, San Francisco, CA Whitney Anne Trettien, PhD student, English, Duke University, Researcher, HyperStudio Digital Humanities Lab, MIT Kency Cornejo, PhD Student, Latin American, Latino and Chicano Art, Department of Art, Art History & Visual Studies, Duke University, Graduate of UCLA, BA Michael Kontopoulos, Artist, Graduate of Design|Media Arts, UCLA '09 Robert Summers, Lecturer, Art History, Liberal Arts & Sciences Department, Otis College of Art, Graduate of Art History PhD, UCLA, Cota Robles Fellow, Dickson Fellow, and UCHRI-UCCSC Fellow, 2009-2010 Patrick Jagoda, PhD Candidate, Department of English, Duke University Amy Franceschini, Professor, Art + Architecture, University of San Francisco, Visiting Artist, California College of the Arts Fine Arts Graduate Program Tara McPherson, Professor, School of Cinematic Arts, University of Southern California Jessie Hock, Graduate Student, Department of Comparative Literature, UC Berkeley Laura-Anne Minkoff-Zern, PhD Candidate, Department of Geography, UC Berkeley Munira Lokhandwala, Graduate Student, Department of Rhetoric - Program in Film, UC Berkeley Paul Nadal, PhD Student, Department of Rhetoric, UC Berkeley Felipe Ziga, MFA, Visual Arts Department, UCSD, 2008 Minoo Moallem, Professor, Gender and Women's Studies Department, UC Berkeley Sharon Daniel, Professor, Film & Digital Media Studies, Chair, Digital Arts & New Media MFA Program, UC Santa Cruz Ashley Ferro-Murray, Graduate Student, Graduate Program in Performance Studies, UC Berkeley Judith Halberstam, Professor of English, Gender Studies and American Studies and Ethnicity, USC | Former Professor of Literature at UCSD, 1991-2004 Toby Miller, Professor and Chair, Department of Media & Cultural Studies, UC Riverside Berbank Green, MA, BSc. affiliated with Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge Marie-Pier Boucher, PhD student, Art, Art History & Visual Studies, Duke University Nasrin Himada, PhD Student, Interdisciplinary Studies in Society and Culture, Concordia University Caren Kaplan, Chair, Cultural Studies Graduate Group, Professor, Women & Gender Studies, Affiliated Faculty, Science and Technology Studies, UC Davis Caitlin Marshall, PhD Student in Performance Studies, Department of Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies, University of California Berkeley Curtis Marez, Associate Professor, Ethnic Studies Department, University of California San Diego, Graduate of UC Berkley BA (1985), UC Berkley PhD (1993) A. Joan Saab, Associate Professor of Art History, Director, Graduate Program in Visual and Cultural Studies, University of Rochester Marc Steinberg, PhD, Assistant Professor, Film Studies, Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema, Concordia University Magali Rabasa, PhD Candidate, Graduate Group in Cultural Studies, UC Davis Michelle Yates, PhD Candidate, Graduate Group in Cultural Studies, UC Davis Jacob Tonski, Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Art, Miami University, Ohio, Graduate of Design|Media Arts, UCLA '08 Roberto Alvarez, Director, Center for Global California Studies, Professor, Ethnic Studies, University of California, San Diego Nitin Govil, Assistant Professor, Department of Communication, University of California, San Diego Camilo Ontiveros, Artist, Graduate of UCLA Art MFA 2009, UCSD BFA 2006 Eric Smoodin, Director, Program in American Studies, Professor, Programs in American Studies and Film Studies, University of California, Davis Dr. Holly Unruh, Associate Director, UC Institute for Research in the Arts, University of California, Santa Barbara Benjamin H. Bratton, Associate Professor of Visual Arts, Director, Design Policy Program, University of California, San Diego Mara Teresa Cesea, PhD Candidate 2010, Department of Ethnic Studies, University of California, San Diego | M.A. Graduate of Ethnic Studies, UCSD 2004 Michelle Dizon, PhD Candidate, UC Berkeley, Graduate of Art MFA, UCLA '08 Kate Levitt, PhD student, Department of Communication, UCSD Alexandria Wright, Doctoral Student, Department of Rhetoric, University of California, Berkeley Brian Goldfarb, Associate Professor, Department of Communication, UCSD Adair Rounthwaite, PhD student, Department of Art History, University of Minnesota Igor Vamos, Associate Professor, Arts Department, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Heather Davis, Candidate in the Joint Ph.D. in Communication, Concordia University Rita Gonzalez, Assistant Curator, Contemporary Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art Selene Preciado, Visual Arts, UCSD, Earl Warren College alumna, 2005 Rama Hoetzlein, Ph.D Candidate (6th year), Department of Media Arts & Technology, UCSB Jennifer Donovan, Adjunct Instructor, Southwestern College, UCSD Graduate, MFA in Visual Arts 2006 Ginna Rodriguez, MFA Student, USD Jaime Romero Robledo, M.A. in Spanish (New Mexico State University), author of *Los cuentos de la mujer perdida *and *El mundo de ocho espacios, libro primero* Luz Mena, Assistant Professor, Women and Gender Studies, UC Davis Steve Fagin, Professor, Visual Arts Department, University of California, San Diego Megan Bayles, PhD Student, Cultural Studies Graduate Group, University of California, Davis Norma Rojas, Undergraduate Student, University of San Diego Leon Baham, B.A., Study of Religion, UCSD Claudia Salamanca, PhD Candidate, Rhetoric Department, UC Berkeley Heriberto Ypez, Mexican Writer and Professor, School of Arts (Escuela de Artes), Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, Tijuana, Mexico Gabriel Garcia, Undergraduate Student, Earl Warren College, UC San Diego Nicole Agusti, Doctoral Candidate, Environmental Psychology, University of Surrey K. Wayne Yang, Assistant Professor of Ethnic Studies, Affiliated faculty, Urban Studies & Planning Program, UCSD B. Ruby Rich, Professor and Chair, Department of Community Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz Xrene Eskandar, PhD student, Media Arts and Technology, UC Santa Barbara, Graduate of Design|Media Arts, UCLA '08 Elizabeth Ernst, Undergraduate Student, International Agricultural Development, UC Davis Lynn Hershman, Professor Emeritus, University of California, Davis Ross Frank, Associate Professor, Department of Ethnic Studies, UCSD Mark Hansen, Professor, Program in Literature, Art, Art History, and Visual Studies, Duke University; PhD, University of California, Irvine (1994) Benjamin D'Harlingue, PhD Candidate, Cultural Studies Graduate Group, UC Davis Agustin Palacios, Professor/Program Coordinator La Raza Studies, Contra Costa Community College, Doctoral Candidate, Department of Comparative Ethnic Studies, University of California, Berkeley Lilly Irani, PhD Candidate, Department of Informatics, UC Irvine Ingrid Lagos, PhD Student, Cultural Studies Graduate Group, UC Davis Kuan Hwa, Graduate of B.A. / B.A., UCLA (2007) Steve Anderson, Professor, School of Cinematic Arts; Director, Media Arts and Practice PhD Program, USC Tim Lenoir, University Professor & Kimberly Jenkins Chair for New Technologies in Society; Professor, Art, Art History & Visual Studies, the Program in Literature, and Department of Computer Science; Faculty Director, Program in Information Science + Information Studies, Duke University Kathleen Williams, PhD Candidate, Culture & Performance, Dept. of World Arts & Cultures, UCLA Angela Morrill, Ph.D. Candidate, Ethnic Studies, UC San Diego Kevin Escudero, Doctoral Student, Department of Comparative Ethnic Studies, University of California, Berkeley Dr Michael Goddard, Lecturer in Media Studies, University of Salford Clarissa Lee, PhD Student, Program in Literature, Duke University Natalia Molina, Associate Professor, Ethnic Studies Department; Director of Graduate Studies, Urban Studies Program, University of California, San Diego Charis Thompson, Associate Professor, Gender & Women's Studies, UC Berkeley, PhD UCSD Rihan Yeh, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies, University of California, San Diego Ethan A White, MA Visual and Critical Studies / MFA Performance, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago Christina Chia, PhD Duke 2004 Genevieve Mount, Undergrad Student, Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Biodiversity, UC Davis Brett Story, PhD student, Department of Geography and Program in Planning, University of Toronto Veronica Riglick, PhD Student, Program in Culture and Theory, UC Irvine Pinar Yoldas, Graduate of Design|Media Arts '08, UCLA Jung Eun Choi, PhD Student, Department of Art, Art History & Visual Studies; Editor, Aliceon.net Victoria Szabo, Assistant Research Professor, Department of Art, Art History, & Visual Studies; Program Director, Information Science + Information Studies, Duke University Yen Le Espiritu, Professor and Chair, Department of Ethnic Studies, University of California, San Diego Ellen Seiter, Professor of Critical Studies, Nenno Chair of Television Studies, School of Cinematic Arts, University of Southern California, BA UCLA '76 Sondra Hale, Professor, Anthropology and Women's Studies, UCLA Alanna Thain, Professor, Department of English, McGill University, Montreal, Canada Kristin Koster, Graduate of Ph.D. (2008), French Literature, University of California, Davis Andrew Weiner, Ph.D Candidate, Department of Rhetoric, University of California, Berkeley Carole H. Browner, Professor, Department of Anthropology, Department of Women's Studies, & Center for Culture and Health, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles Briselda Hernandez, Undergraduate Student, University of San Diego Cristel Cueto-Boutet , Undergraduate Student, University of San Diego Victoria Marks, Professor, World Arts & Cultures, UCLA Nicholas Knouf, PhD Student, Program in Information Science, Cornell University Scott Kepford, M. Arch I Student, Architecture and Urban Design, UCLA Tine Trujillo, Undergraduate, Women and Gender Studies, Education, & Sociology, UC Davis Suzanne Li Puma, Phd candidate, Rhetoric Department, University of California, Berkeley Jennifer Rhee, Graduate Student, Program in Literature, Duke University Margaret Rhee, Doctoral Student, Comparative Ethnic Studies, University of California, Berkeley Laura L. Powell, Doctoral Candidate, English Department, University of Nevada, Las Vegas Adam Trowbridge, Adjunct Professor, Photo + Media Art, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Steven Sewell, MFA Student, Department of Art, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Pedro Lasch, Board Member, N.C. Arts Council (2007-2010), Visual Artist & Assistant Research Professor, Department of Art, Art History & Visual Studies & Latino/a Studies in the Global South, Duke University Esther Gabara, Associate Professor of Romance Studies, and Art, Art History & Visual Studies, Duke University Jocelyn Olcott, Associate Professor, Department of History, Duke University Roberto Sifuentes, Founding member, La Pocha Nostra performance group, Assistant Professor, School of the Art Institute of Chicago Sherry Millner, Professor, Cinema Studies/Media Production, City University of New York, Staten Island, MFA, Visual Arts Department, UCSD (1983) Ashley Lucas, Assistant Professor of Dramatic Art, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; PhD in Ethnic Studies, UCSD (2006) Nicholas O'Brien, Adjunct Faculty, Interactive Arts and Media, Columbia College Chicago, Board Member Nightingale Cinema Jesal Kapadia, Artist, New School University and International Center of Photography, New York City Walter D. Mignolo, William H. Wannamaker Distinguished Professor and Director, Center for Global Studies and the Humanities, Duke University Beatriz Llenn-Figueroa, Graduate Student, Program in Literature, Duke University Cathy N. Davidson, Ruth F. DeVarney Professor of English and John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies, Duke University Cristina Molina, MFA Candidate 2012, School of Art + Art History, University of Florida Jessye McDowell, MA (2007), New School University, MFA (2011), UNC-Chapel Hill Rebeca Mndez, Professor, Department of Design | Media Arts, UCLA Adam Eeuwens, Designer and Writer, Los Angeles, CA Gregory Sholette, Assistant Professor of Art, Queens College, CUNY Paco Farias, Filmmaker, Los Angeles, CA, BA, Stanford University (1994) Megan Skanse, MA Student, CUNY Graduate Center Priscilla Wald, Professor of English, Duke University Allison M. Rittmayer, Ph.D. Student, Film and Media Studies Program, Department of English, University of Florida Damon Young, Graduate Student, Rhetoric - Film Program, UC Berkeley Nato Thompson, Chief Curator, Creative Time Judith Butler, Maxine Elliot Professor, Departments of Rhetoric and Comparative Literature, University of California, Berkeley Jonathan M Hall, Assistant Professor, Department of Media Studies, Pomona College Roshanank Kheshti, Assistant Professor, Ethnic Studies, UCSD Myriam Moscona, Mexican Poet and Translator, Guggenheim Award recipient (2006), Member, Mexican National System of Art Creators Gabriela Torres Olivares, Writer and Co-Director of the Derramadora Press, Tijuana, Mexico Patrick McHenry, Department of English, University of Florida Bishnupriya Ghosh, Professor of English, University of Santa Barbara Jorge Omar Ramrez Pimienta, Graduate of MFA, Visual Arts, UCSD (2009) David Theo Goldberg, Professor, Comparative Literature, School of Humanities, UC Irvine Rita Raley, English Department, Associate Professor, UC Santa Barbara Katharine Westaway Ph.D. Candidate, University of Florida Charles Roberts, Doctoral Student, UC Santa Barbara Kristin Reeves, MFA Candidate 2012, University of Florida David Lloyd, Professor, Department of English, University of Southern California, Former UCSD Faculty in Literature and in Ethnic Studies 1996 & UC Berkeley 1983-1998 Federica Timeto, Ph.D Candidate, University of Plymouth, UK Katherine Callen King, Professor, Comparative Literature and Classics, UCLA Lisa Rofel, Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Cruz Nicole Ramos, Student, University of San Diego, McNair Scholar, Research Assistant, Border Angels, Board Member Natalia Chousou-Polydouri, PhD Candidate, Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management, UC Berkeley Shaun Duke, MA Candidate, University of Florida Diana E. Velazquez, Student, University of San Diego Rebecca Garcia, Student, University of San Diego Jessica Capaldi, Student, University of San Diego Laura Nellen, Student, University of San Diego Terry Harpold, Assoc. Professor of English, Film & Media Studies, University of Florida Jessica Hoffman, BA Boston University, MSc University College London, UCLA M.Ed. 2012 Cristina Urista, Undergraduate Student, UC Berkeley Omnia El Shakry, Associate Professor, Department of History, University of California Michael P. Hardt, Professor of Literature and Italian, Duke University
2 comments
Glad to see this
This is great. There is more about Dominguez at this blog post: http://www.hastac.org/blogs/nknouf/ricardo-dominguez-and-criminalization...
Thanks! And Petition!