Robert Birgeneau
Encyclopedia
Robert Joseph Birgeneau (born March 25, 1942) is a Canadian physicist, educator, and university administrator. He is the ninth chancellor
of the University of California, Berkeley
, and was the fourteenth president of the University of Toronto
from 2000 to 2004.
in Toronto. He received a B.Sc
in mathematics in 1963 from St. Michael's College in the University of Toronto, where he also met his wife Mary Catherine; they have four children. Birgeneau received his Ph.D
in physics from Yale University
in 1966.
He spent a year each on the faculties of Yale
and the University of Oxford
. From 1968 to 1975, he worked at AT&T Bell Laboratories. He then joined the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
as a professor of physics. During his 25 years at MIT, he served as chair of the physics department and then as dean of science.
He left the University of Toronto
before the end of his seven-year term, causing a flurry of controversy with his abrupt departure. He was recommended to the Regents by Robert Dynes.
On June 14, 2007, Birgeneau joined the Chancellor of Columbia University
in condemning Britain
's University and College Union for boycotting Israel
i academics and academic institutions and insisting that any boycott include their universities.
Citing the "likely" threat to California's academic competitiveness if Proposition 8
were passed, Birgeneau urged the UC Berkeley community to vote against a 2008 state ballot measure which would eliminate the right of gays and lesbians to marry.
In November 2008, former President Robert Dynes' close aide and his UC Associate President Linda Morris Williams, was awarded a controversial pay out and re-hired as an Associate Chancellor at University of California, Berkeley by Chancellor Robert Birgeneau. Birgeneau is a fellow Canadian and old friend of Dynes at Bell Labs
. This event led President Mark Yudof
to make changes to the buy out program.
and bean-bag guns. Six UC Berkeley students and one faculty member were arrested for resisting and delaying police officers.
Later in the day, Chancellor Birgeneau issued a statement saying "it is unfortunate that some protesters chose to obstruct the police by linking arms and forming a human chain to prevent the police from gaining access to the tents. This is not non-violent
civil disobedience
." UC Berkeley faculty and students later condemned the actions of Birgeneau and his administration: "We are deeply disturbed by the images of violence
against members of the campus community, as well as the justification and defense of these acts that followed" A further 2,363 faculty and staff stated "We express no confidence in the willingness of the Chancellor, and other leaders of the UC Berkeley administration, to respond appropriately to student protests, to secure student welfare, and to respect freedom of speech
and assembly
on the Berkeley campus." .
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
of the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, and was the fourteenth president of the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
from 2000 to 2004.
Biography
The first from his family to finish high school, Birgeneau graduated from St. Michael's College SchoolSt. Michael's College School
St. Michael's College School is a private, all-boys Roman Catholic day school in Toronto, Canada. Currently administered by the Basilian Fathers, it is the largest school of its kind in Canada, with an enrollment of approximately 1,080 students from grades 7 to 12. St...
in Toronto. He received a B.Sc
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in mathematics in 1963 from St. Michael's College in the University of Toronto, where he also met his wife Mary Catherine; they have four children. Birgeneau received his Ph.D
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in physics from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1966.
He spent a year each on the faculties of Yale
YALE
RapidMiner, formerly YALE , is an environment for machine learning, data mining, text mining, predictive analytics, and business analytics. It is used for research, education, training, rapid prototyping, application development, and industrial applications...
and the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. From 1968 to 1975, he worked at AT&T Bell Laboratories. He then joined the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
as a professor of physics. During his 25 years at MIT, he served as chair of the physics department and then as dean of science.
He left the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
before the end of his seven-year term, causing a flurry of controversy with his abrupt departure. He was recommended to the Regents by Robert Dynes.
On June 14, 2007, Birgeneau joined the Chancellor of Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in condemning Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's University and College Union for boycotting Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i academics and academic institutions and insisting that any boycott include their universities.
Citing the "likely" threat to California's academic competitiveness if Proposition 8
California Proposition 8 (2008)
Proposition 8 was a ballot proposition and constitutional amendment passed in the November 2008 state elections...
were passed, Birgeneau urged the UC Berkeley community to vote against a 2008 state ballot measure which would eliminate the right of gays and lesbians to marry.
In November 2008, former President Robert Dynes' close aide and his UC Associate President Linda Morris Williams, was awarded a controversial pay out and re-hired as an Associate Chancellor at University of California, Berkeley by Chancellor Robert Birgeneau. Birgeneau is a fellow Canadian and old friend of Dynes at Bell Labs
Bell Labs
Bell Laboratories is the research and development subsidiary of the French-owned Alcatel-Lucent and previously of the American Telephone & Telegraph Company , half-owned through its Western Electric manufacturing subsidiary.Bell Laboratories operates its...
. This event led President Mark Yudof
Mark Yudof
Mark G. Yudof is an American law professor and academic administrator. He is president of the University of California , former chancellor of the University of Texas System , and former president of the University of Minnesota .In addition to his position as Chancellor at The University of Texas,...
to make changes to the buy out program.
2011 Occupy Cal protest incident
With calls by students to occupy the UC Berkeley campus, Chancellor Birgeneau sent a letter, dated November 7th 2011, to the campus community stating "Any activities such as pulling fire alarms, occupying buildings, setting up encampments, graffiti, or other destructive actions that disrupt with anyone's ability to conduct regular activities -- go to class, study, carry out their research, etc. -- will not be tolerated." On November 9th, 2011, UC Berkeley students attempted to build an Occupy encampment at Sproul Plaza to protest the financial handling of the state's higher education system. The students were met by UC Berkeley Police and Alameda County sheriff's deputies in riot gear. The students tried to set up tents but were stopped by the police, and 7 students were arrested. A second altercation occurred in the evening when students joined arms and chanted "hold the line" and "the whole world is watching" while police approached with riot batonsBaton (law enforcement)
A truncheon or baton is essentially a club of less than arm's length made of wood, plastic, or metal...
and bean-bag guns. Six UC Berkeley students and one faculty member were arrested for resisting and delaying police officers.
Later in the day, Chancellor Birgeneau issued a statement saying "it is unfortunate that some protesters chose to obstruct the police by linking arms and forming a human chain to prevent the police from gaining access to the tents. This is not non-violent
Nonviolence
Nonviolence has two meanings. It can refer, first, to a general philosophy of abstention from violence because of moral or religious principle It can refer to the behaviour of people using nonviolent action Nonviolence has two (closely related) meanings. (1) It can refer, first, to a general...
civil disobedience
Civil disobedience
Civil disobedience is the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of a government, or of an occupying international power. Civil disobedience is commonly, though not always, defined as being nonviolent resistance. It is one form of civil resistance...
." UC Berkeley faculty and students later condemned the actions of Birgeneau and his administration: "We are deeply disturbed by the images of violence
Violence
Violence is the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes. violence, while often a stand-alone issue, is often the culmination of other kinds of conflict, e.g...
against members of the campus community, as well as the justification and defense of these acts that followed" A further 2,363 faculty and staff stated "We express no confidence in the willingness of the Chancellor, and other leaders of the UC Berkeley administration, to respond appropriately to student protests, to secure student welfare, and to respect freedom of speech
Freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used...
and assembly
Freedom of assembly
Freedom of assembly, sometimes used interchangeably with the freedom of association, is the individual right to come together and collectively express, promote, pursue and defend common interests...
on the Berkeley campus." .