Check out why California State University Channel Islands received a D- grade in our Report Card below.
California State University Channel Islands is a public institution located in Camarillo, California. It has more than 80 recognized student organizations with events held throughout the academic year. Students at California State University Channel Islands can vacation at nearby Santa Rosa Island, tour the Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing Museum, or hike in Wildwood Regional Park.
California State University Channel Islands offers over 25 major fields of study for students to explore. The university is best known for its Business, Psychology, and Family Studies and Consumer Sciences programs.

California State University Channel Islands receives a “C” grade by <a href="https://www.whatwilltheylearn.com/schools/2923" target="_blank" rel="noopener">What Will They Learn?</a> which takes into account the university’s educational prowess. Factors include composition, literature, foreign language, U.S. government or history, economics, mathematics, and natural science.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-79" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06151308/c-e1671667169543.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

What Will They Learn? Academic Score

California State University Channel Islands receives a &#8220;C-&#8221; grade for the Average Salary of Recent Graduates. As of 2021, alumni with 0-5 years of experience after graduating from California State University Channel Islands with a bachelor’s degree make $54,700 on average according to <a href="https://www.payscale.com/college-salary-report/bachelors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Payscale</a>.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-88" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/08172316/c-minus-e1671666985818.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Average Salary of Recent Graduates

California State University Channel Islands receives a &#8220;C&#8221; grade for the Average Salary of Graduates Mid-Career. As of 2021, alumni with 10+ years of experience after graduating from California State University Channel Islands with a bachelor’s degree make $97,900 on average according to <a href="https://www.payscale.com/college-salary-report/bachelors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Payscale</a>.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-79" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06151308/c-e1671667169543.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Average Salary of Graduates Mid-Career

California State University Channel Islands receives a &#8220;B&#8221; grade for Mandated Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Training for Staff. The <a href="https://www.csuci.edu/hr/training/required-training.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">university</a> does not appear to require any equity-based trainings for employees. However, the <a class="waffle-rich-text-link" href="https://www.csuci.edu/cme/multicultural-resources/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">university</a> does offer &#8220;Diversity Training and Multicultural Resources.&#8221; Optional diversity training courses <a href="https://www.csuci.edu/cme/multicultural-resources/diversity-training.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">include</a>:
<ul>
<li>&#8220;Undocumented Student Ally Training Program&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;SAFE (Students, Administrators, and Faculty for Equality) Training Workshops&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;Insight Diversity Conference&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-82" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06154915/b-e1671667012553.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Mandated Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Training for Staff

California State University Channel Islands receives an “A” grade for not having a Bias Reporting System or a Bias Response Team. Bias Reporting Systems and Response Teams are systems or teams of faculty, staff, and sometimes law enforcement.
According to <a href="https://speechfirst.org/bias-reporting-systems/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SpeechFirst</a>, students are “encouraged to report ‘bias incidents’ to these boards (or teams) in the name of inclusion and tolerance, but it’s often unclear what the school considers ‘bias’ in the first place. Overly broad or vague definitions of bias put all kinds of speech at risk of being reported – even unpopular speech which is protected by the First Amendment.”
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-84" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06164434/a-e1671667004869.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Bias Reporting System or Bias Response Team

California State University Channel Islands receives an &#8220;F&#8221; grade for the Ratio of Right-Leaning Clubs to Left-Leaning Clubs. Out of a list of 20 clubs (10 from each side), the <a href="https://www.csuci.edu/student-life/student-activities/student-organizations/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">university</a> has zero right-leaning clubs compared to one left-leaning club. Queer Student Alliance is the left-leaning club.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-83" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06163659/f-e1671666890828.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Ratio of Right-Leaning Clubs to Left-Leaning Clubs

California State University Channel Islands receives a &#8220;C&#8221; grade because they do not have a Turning Point USA chapter. The university has not denied a Turning Point USA chapter on campus. Unfortunately, universities and Student Governments around the country often use their power to prevent certain clubs from operating on campus.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-79" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06151308/c-e1671667169543.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Denied Turning Point USA Chapter

California State University Channel Islands receives a &#8220;D&#8221; grade for In-State Tuition for Illegal Immigrants. The <a href="https://www.calstate.edu/attend/student-services/resources-for-undocumented-students/financial-aid/Documents/csu-nonresident-tuition-exemption-request-form-ab-540.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">university&#8217;s</a> nonresident tuition exemption policy states:
&#8220;The CSU Nonresident Tuition Exemption is open to CSU students enrolled as undergraduate or graduate students who are:
<ul>
<li>U.S. Citizens</li>
<li>Permanent Residents</li>
<li>Undocumented Students (including TPS, DACA, asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile, VAWA, Humanitarian Parole [certain countries])</li>
<li>T and U Visa Holders Only.&#8221;</li>
</ul>
Additionally, &#8220;The <a class="waffle-rich-text-link" href="https://www.csuci.edu/financialaid/california-dream-act.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">California</a> Dream Act of 2011 allows students who meet AB540 criteria to apply for and receive funds from certain state and institutional financial aid programs. Students must submit the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) to be considered for these financial aid programs.&#8221;
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-85" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06165831/d-e1671666996995.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

In-State Tuition for Illegal Immigrants

California State University Channel Islands receives an &#8220;F&#8221; grade for Required Equity, Diversity, or Inclusion Courses for Students. The <a href="https://catalog.csuci.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=57&amp;poid=13479" target="_blank" rel="noopener">university</a> requires all students to complete at least 3 credit hours of &#8220;Ethnic Studies&#8221; courses. Course options include:
<ul>
<li>&#8220;Introduction to Africana Studies&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;African American Representation in Media&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;Chicana/o Cultural Experience&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;Diversity in Latina/o Communities&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-83" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06163659/f-e1671666890828.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Required Equity, Diversity, or Inclusion Courses for Students

California State University Channel Islands receives a &#8220;B&#8221; grade for Segregated Dormitories, Graduations, and Classes. The university has multiple segregated commencement <a href="https://www.csuci.edu/commencement/cultural-affinity-celebrations.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ceremonies</a> known as &#8220;Cultural Affinity Celebrations.&#8221; These celebrations are:
<ul>
<li>Black Student Stoling Ceremony</li>
<li>Dolphins of Turtle Island</li>
<li>Lavender Stolling Ceremony</li>
<li>Si Se Pudo</li>
<li>Undocumented Students Stoling Ceremony</li>
<li>Veterans Medallion Ceremony</li>
</ul>
The university does not appear to have any segregated living-learning communities or classes.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-82" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06154915/b-e1671667012553.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Segregated Dormitories, Graduations, and Classes

California State University Channel Islands receives an “A” grade for Protests and Canceling Speakers. Since 2021, no instances of protests, speech cancelations, or violence/attempted violence against speakers have occurred.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-84" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06164434/a-e1671667004869.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Protests and Canceling Speakers

California State University Channel Islands receives a &#8220;C&#8221; grade for Mask and Vaccine Mandates. The <a href="https://www.csuci.edu/news/campus-updates/covid-19/faqs.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">university&#8217;s</a> vaccine policy states:
&#8220;Per the updated CSU Vaccination Policy, the COVID-19 vaccine is strongly recommended for all individuals who will access any in-person program or activity (on- or off-campus) operated or controlled by the University.&#8221;
Their mask policy says, &#8220;Indoor masks are recommended but not required on campus or at affiliated locations&#8230;&#8221;
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-79" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06151308/c-e1671667169543.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Mask and Vaccine Mandates

California State University Channel Islands receives a “C-” grade for the Percent of Students Graduating with STEM Degrees. According to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data Center (<a href="https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/use-the-data" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IPEDS</a>), as of 2020, 5.14% of the current undergraduate student population graduate with a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) degree. Across the United States, students who graduate with STEM degrees tend to earn more on average than their other student counterparts.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-88" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/08172316/c-minus-e1671666985818.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Percent of Students Graduating with STEM Degrees

California State University Channel Islands receives a &#8220;B-&#8221; grade for Crime Rates in University City or Town. According to the <a href="https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2018/crime-in-the-u.s.-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Federal Bureau of Investigation</a>, the Camarillo, California violent crime rate was 399.92 per 100,000 people in 2018, higher than the 2018 national average of 380.56 per 100,000 people. While campus safety is of utmost importance, it is also pertinent to consider the crime rates of the surrounding town or city as students often tend to venture off campus, especially after their freshman year.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-81" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06154457/b-minus-e1671667020486.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Crime Rates in University City or Town

California State University Channel Islands receives an &#8220;A&#8221; grade for Required Western Civilization Courses for Students. Students are <a href="https://catalog.csuci.edu/content.php?catoid=57&amp;navoid=4511" target="_blank" rel="noopener">required</a> to complete one course from an American Institutions Requirement. The university says, &#8220;Students are required to demonstrate competencies in U.S. History, U.S. Constitution, and California State and local government for graduation.&#8221; Course options include:
<ul>
<li>&#8220;The United States to 1877&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;The United States Since 1877&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;Constitutional History of the U.S.&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;The United States to 1900&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-84" src="https://cdn.deanslist.org/be/2022/12/06164434/a-e1671667004869.png" alt="" width="80" height="80" />

Required Western Civilization Courses for Students

1 University Dr

Check out why California State University Channel Islands received a D- grade in our Report Card below.

California State University Channel Islands is a public institution located in Camarillo, California. It has more than 80 recognized student organizations with events held throughout the academic year. Students at California State University Channel Islands can vacation at nearby Santa Rosa Island, tour the Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing Museum, or hike in Wildwood Regional Park.

California State University Channel Islands offers over 25 major fields of study for students to explore. The university is best known for its Business, Psychology, and Family Studies and Consumer Sciences programs.

California State University Channel Islands

california-state-university-channel-islands-2

California State University - Channel Islands

frank-barajas

Frank Barajas

<a href="http://ciapps.csuci.edu/FacultyBiographies/frank.barajas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr. Frank Barajas</a> is a Professor of History at California State University, Channel Islands. Interestingly enough, Dr. Barajas offered extra credit to students who wrote to a state assembly member saying that high fees and tuition psychologically impact them. 
According to <a href="https://www.campusreform.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Campus Reform</a>, the professor advised his class to do the following:
“In a 1 to 2-page business letter, write your assembly member and/or state senator as to how the high fees and tuition of the California State University impacts you, and your family, not only financially but also psychologically and in other ways. Also include why you believe free tuition would better impact your education.”
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3732" src="https://backend.professorwatchlist.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-25-at-11.21.08 AM-1024x506.png" alt="" width="640" height="316" srcset="https://backend.professorwatchlist.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-25-at-11.21.08 AM-1024x506.png 1024w, https://backend.professorwatchlist.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-25-at-11.21.08 AM-300x148.png 300w, https://backend.professorwatchlist.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-25-at-11.21.08 AM-768x379.png 768w, https://backend.professorwatchlist.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-25-at-11.21.08 AM-1200x593.png 1200w, https://backend.professorwatchlist.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-25-at-11.21.08 AM.png 1316w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" />
Barajas allegedly offered the assignment to students in his History of the United States since 1877 course, a requirement for all history majors at CSU. When asked to comment on the assignment, he said it “does not direct the contents of their letter” and was solely used for extra credit. Further: 
“When asked whether he offers additional extra credit assignments, he described two, one entailing attendance at ‘certain events’ throughout the semester and ‘the review of films of historical import,’ but did not respond to follow-up questions seeking additional details about the alternative assignments.”
Campus Reform provided an update on this assignment after publishing an article on it:
 “Barajas has since disputed the claim that he asked students to ‘include why you believe free tuition would better impact your education.’ He then provided an alternative description of the assignment, which excludes the disputed portion. There are several other differences between the two, which Campus Reform is investigating. We will continue to update this story upon learning more.”

<a href="http://ciapps.csuci.edu/FacultyBiographies/frank.barajas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr. Frank Barajas</a> is a Professor of History at California State University, Channel Islands. Interestingly enough, Dr. Barajas offered extra credit to students who wrote to a state assembly member saying that high fees and tuition psychologically impact them. 

According to <a href="https://www.campusreform.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Campus Reform</a>, the professor advised his class to do the following:

“In a 1 to 2-page business letter, write your assembly member and/or state senator as to how the high fees and tuition of the California State University impacts you, and your family, not only financially but also psychologically and in other ways. Also include why you believe free tuition would better impact your education.”

<img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3732" src="https://backend.professorwatchlist.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-25-at-11.21.08 AM-1024x506.png" alt="" width="640" height="316" />

Barajas allegedly offered the assignment to students in his History of the United States since 1877 course, a requirement for all history majors at CSU. When asked to comment on the assignment, he said it “does not direct the contents of their letter” and was solely used for extra credit. Further: 

“When asked whether he offers additional extra credit assignments, he described two, one entailing attendance at ‘certain events’ throughout the semester and ‘the review of films of historical import,’ but did not respond to follow-up questions seeking additional details about the alternative assignments.”

Campus Reform provided an update on this assignment after publishing an article on it:

 “Barajas has since disputed the claim that he asked students to ‘include why you believe free tuition would better impact your education.’ He then provided an alternative description of the assignment, which excludes the disputed portion. There are several other differences between the two, which Campus Reform is investigating. We will continue to update this story upon learning more.”

screen-shot-2021-11-30-at-4-43-53-pm

Screen Shot 2021-11-30 at 4.43.53 PM

Dr. <a href="https://www.csuci.edu/news/releases/2020-richard-yao-appointed-interim-president-csuci.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Richard Yao</a> is the interim president of <a href="https://www.csuci.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">California State University &#8211; Channel Islands (CSUCI)</a> as of November 2021. Prior to his role, he served as the Vice President of Student Affairs for CSUCI, the Dean of Students, the Chief Student Affairs Officer, and a Senior Lecturer in Psychology for Nevada State College.
In a campus-wide email, Dr. Yao implied that Kyle Rittenhouse would benefit from his trial because he is white.
The letter was sent to all CSUCI students as the jury was deliberating following closing arguments. Rittenhouse was on trial for the shooting deaths of Joseph Rosenbaum, Anthony Huber, and injuries to Gaige Grosskreutz.
Dr. Yao begins by addressing the events that occurred in Kenosha the previous year:
“There is a long and profound weariness that many members of our campus community may be acutely experiencing as we start this week, as the nation awaits the outcome of the Kyle Rittenhouse trial in Kenosha, Wisconsin. We have been in this place before &#8211; too many times and too recently &#8211; but here we are again, awaiting the fate of Mr. Rittenhouse, whose response to the Black Lives Matter protest that broke out in Kenosha following the police shooting of Jacob Blake just over a year ago resulted in the death of Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and injuries to Gaige Grosskreutz, 27.” 
The incident with Jacob Blake that Dr. Yao is referring to occurred the previous year. <a href="https://nypost.com/2020/08/28/this-is-why-jacob-blake-had-a-warrant-out-for-his-arrest/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blake was already wanted for the sexual assault of his ex-girlfriend</a>. On August 23, police were called to his girlfriend’s residence for a disturbance involving Blake. <a href="https://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/kenosha-kyle-rittenhouse-the-rest-of-the-jacob-blake-story/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">As police attempted to detain Blake, he became uncooperative and the officers attempted to place him under arrest. </a>
Police were then forced to tase Blake, who began walking towards his car, which contained his two children. Blake failed to obey their orders to drop <a href="https://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/kenosha-kyle-rittenhouse-the-rest-of-the-jacob-blake-story/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the knife he was carrying</a> and was shot as he reached into the door of his car.
Due to the misinformation spread after the shooting, riots soon broke out in Kenosha. The looting, arson, and vandalism that followed resulted in <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/damage-rioting-kenosha-50-million" target="_blank" rel="noopener">50 million dollars in damages to local businesses.</a>
<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/kyle-rittenhouse-days-leading-up-to-shooting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Having spent the day cleaning up graffiti in a nearby neighborhood</a>, Kyle Rittenhouse joined several other residents to guard community business against the rioters with AR-15’s.
Several of the rioters—Rosenbaum, Huber, and Grosskreutz—attacked Rittenhouse as he walked down the street with his rifle. The incident began when Rosenbaum chased Rittenhouse into a parking lot. At this point, Joshua Ziminski—another rioter present—fired upon Rittenhouse with his gun. <a href="https://nypost.com/2021/11/10/kyle-rittenhouse-shooting-a-clear-case-of-self-defense-devine/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rosenbaum immediately proceeded to grab the barrel of Kyle’s rifle resulting in Rittenhouse shooting and killing him</a>.
Rittenhouse was then chased down the street by other rioters, including Huber and Grosskreutz. He tripped and was assaulted while on the ground. Huber proceeded to repeatedly hit Rittenhouse in the head with a skateboard and attempted to steal his rifle, forcing Rittenhouse to shoot and kill him.
Grosskreutz proceeded to approach Rittenhouse with a loaded Glock, aiming the weapon at his head in an apparent attempt to kill him. Grosskreutz—<a href="https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/victoria-taft/2021/11/08/antifa-medic-wounded-by-kyle-rittenhouse-makes-never-before-heard-accusation-from-witness-stand-it-may-backfire-on-him-n1530795" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a member of the ANTIFA affiliated “People’s Revolution”</a>—was then shot by Rittenhouse.
Rittenhouse faced charges of homicide, a <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/annakaplan/2021/11/15/here-are-the-charges-kyle-rittenhouse-faces-after-judge-tossed-dangerous-weapon-misdemeanor/?sh=7d99d8b91cee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">conviction that would carry a life sentence</a>, but was <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/rittenhouse-trial-jury" target="_blank" rel="noopener">later found innocent by the jury.</a>
Further in his letter, Dr. Yao strongly implies that Rittenhouse is receiving special treatment because of the color of his skin. He proceeds to pose a hypothetical situation, in which instead of a white teenager, a “black 18-year-old” had participated in the “armed response” to the BLM protests in Kenosha. Continuing, he expresses sympathy for “Black, Indigenous, and other people of color” who find it “difficult” to keep from imagining this scenario.
“While Mr. Rittenhouse’s emotional testimony on the stand told a story of self-defense, for Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color, it may be difficult to keep from imagining how the Rittenhouse story may have unfolded had it happened to be the fate of a Black 18-year-old who answered the call of an unauthorized militia for an armed response to the protests and destruction of property that was occurring in downtown Kenosha.” 
Several of the rioters who attacked Rittenhouse have numerous arrests and convictions: <a href="https://www.wisconsinrightnow.com/2021/03/12/kenosha-shooting/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Huber was previously convicted for domestic abuse</a>, Grosskreutz had been arrested for <a href="https://nypost.com/2021/11/15/sole-survivor-of-rittenhouse-shootings-has-criminal-past-report/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">burglary and assaulting his grandmother</a>. Rosenbaum was a <a href="https://townhall.com/columnists/katiepavlich/2021/11/12/the-left-always-defends-the-real-criminals-n2599027" target="_blank" rel="noopener">convicted pedophile who was on lifetime probation for the anal rape and sexual assault of young boys</a>. A video later emerged of Rosenbaum<a href="https://nypost.com/2020/08/28/kenosha-shooting-victim-seen-in-video-confronting-armed-men/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> aggressively confronting Kyle and calling him the “n-word” throughout the evening</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Turns out the man Kyle Rittenhouse shot and killed last night in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kenosha?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kenosha</a> was Joseph D Rosenbaum, a convicted sex offender of sexual conduct with a minor
Here is video I shot of him begging to be “shot” in front of a gas station minutes before his death <a href="https://t.co/tUfUGWX3io" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pic.twitter.com/tUfUGWX3io</a>
— Drew Hernandez (@DrewHLive) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrewHLive/status/1298857620652974081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 27, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&nbsp;
Despite their criminal records, Dr. Yao proceeds to express sympathy for Rosenbaum, Huber, and Grosskreutz, lamenting the “trauma” Rittenhouse has caused their families.
“While the jury may begin deliberations in the Rittenhouse trial as soon as today, we do not need to wait until the final verdict to recognize the lives that were lost and the hurt and trauma that families have and will continue to experience in the days, months, and years ahead.” 
Despite the fact that Rosenbaum, Huber, and Grosskreutz, are not black or persons of color, and no evidence has indicated that Rittenhouse’s actions were driven by racial animus, Dr. Yao still characterizes the trial in racial terms. Stating that, “we do not need to wait for the final verdict,” he reaffirms the university will continue to pursue “racial and social justice.”
“In addition, we do not need to wait until the final verdict to reinforce and strengthen our institutional values and mission of realizing racial and social justice. This process can be exhausting and angering, and there are legitimate reasons embedded in our nation’s history for feeling weary, angry, hopeless, and even cynical. But I call explicitly on each individual member of our campus community to resist hopelessness and cynicism. Weariness can be overcome, but hopelessness and cynicism are signals of defeat.“  
The full letter may be viewed below:
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-1916" src="https://backend.professorwatchlist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Screen-Shot-2021-11-30-at-5.07.12-PM-e1638317458938.png" alt="" width="500" height="197" srcset="https://backend.professorwatchlist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Screen-Shot-2021-11-30-at-5.07.12-PM-e1638317458938.png 1697w, https://backend.professorwatchlist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Screen-Shot-2021-11-30-at-5.07.12-PM-e1638317458938-300x118.png 300w, https://backend.professorwatchlist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Screen-Shot-2021-11-30-at-5.07.12-PM-e1638317458938-1024x404.png 1024w, https://backend.professorwatchlist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Screen-Shot-2021-11-30-at-5.07.12-PM-e1638317458938-768x303.png 768w, https://backend.professorwatchlist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Screen-Shot-2021-11-30-at-5.07.12-PM-e1638317458938-1536x606.png 1536w, https://backend.professorwatchlist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Screen-Shot-2021-11-30-at-5.07.12-PM-e1638317458938-1200x474.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" />
&nbsp;
Dr. Yao has promoted or developed other racial justice-themed materials under his leadership at the University. In February of 2021, he approved the <a href="https://policy.csuci.edu/sp/20/sp20-02-committee-equity-and-anti-racism.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Policy on Academic Senate Committee on Equity and Anti-Racism</a>, whose explicit goal is the promotion of “equity, anti-racism, and diversity.” The committee exerts enormous influence over the campus; members hold the power to review faculty hiring, retention, tenure, and department bylaws to ensure adherence to the committee&#8217;s stated goals.
Just two months later, Dr. Yao released another message to the student body, titled, “<a href="https://www.csuci.edu/president/2021-04-19-student-message.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In Solidarity with the Black Lives Matter Movement and Racial Justice.</a>”  The letter credits the BLM movement for the “momentum” created during the previous year for “racial and social justice.”
According to a <a href="https://thefederalist.com/2020/09/16/study-up-to-95-percent-of-2020-u-s-riots-are-linked-to-black-lives-matter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study conducted by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED)</a>, BLM can be linked to 95% of the riots around the country in the Summer months of 2020 following the death of George Floyd. In an analysis of the study, <a href="https://thefederalist.com/2020/09/16/study-up-to-95-percent-of-2020-u-s-riots-are-linked-to-black-lives-matter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Federalist</a> found, “of the 633 incidents coded as riots, 88 percent are recorded as involving Black Lives Matter Activists.” The resulting riots were the largest in American history, <a href="https://fee.org/articles/george-floyd-riots-caused-record-setting-2-billion-in-damage-new-report-says-here-s-why-the-true-cost-is-even-higher/#:~:text=Only%20now%20are%20we%20beginning,%241%20billion%20to%20%242%20billion." target="_blank" rel="noopener">causing an estimated $2 billion in damages and 47 deaths.</a>
The Professor Watchlist Team reached out to Dr. Yao for comment but has not received a reply by the time of publication.
&nbsp;
Parents and Students may contact California State University-Channel Islands at (805) 437-8400
&nbsp;
Updated &#8211; November 30th, 2021

Dr. <a href="https://www.csuci.edu/news/releases/2020-richard-yao-appointed-interim-president-csuci.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Richard Yao</a> is the interim president of <a href="https://www.csuci.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">California State University - Channel Islands (CSUCI)</a> as of November 2021. Prior to his role, he served as the Vice President of Student Affairs for CSUCI, the Dean of Students, the Chief Student Affairs Officer, and a Senior Lecturer in Psychology for Nevada State College.

In a campus-wide email, Dr. Yao implied that Kyle Rittenhouse would benefit from his trial because he is white.

The letter was sent to all CSUCI students as the jury was deliberating following closing arguments. Rittenhouse was on trial for the shooting deaths of Joseph Rosenbaum, Anthony Huber, and injuries to Gaige Grosskreutz.

Dr. Yao begins by addressing the events that occurred in Kenosha the previous year:

“There is a long and profound weariness that many members of our campus community may be acutely experiencing as we start this week, as the nation awaits the outcome of the Kyle Rittenhouse trial in Kenosha, Wisconsin. We have been in this place before - too many times and too recently - but here we are again, awaiting the fate of Mr. Rittenhouse, whose response to the Black Lives Matter protest that broke out in Kenosha following the police shooting of Jacob Blake just over a year ago resulted in the death of Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and injuries to Gaige Grosskreutz, 27.” 

The incident with Jacob Blake that Dr. Yao is referring to occurred the previous year. <a href="https://nypost.com/2020/08/28/this-is-why-jacob-blake-had-a-warrant-out-for-his-arrest/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blake was already wanted for the sexual assault of his ex-girlfriend</a>. On August 23, police were called to his girlfriend’s residence for a disturbance involving Blake. <a href="https://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/kenosha-kyle-rittenhouse-the-rest-of-the-jacob-blake-story/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">As police attempted to detain Blake, he became uncooperative and the officers attempted to place him under arrest. </a>

Police were then forced to tase Blake, who began walking towards his car, which contained his two children. Blake failed to obey their orders to drop <a href="https://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/kenosha-kyle-rittenhouse-the-rest-of-the-jacob-blake-story/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the knife he was carrying</a> and was shot as he reached into the door of his car.

Due to the misinformation spread after the shooting, riots soon broke out in Kenosha. The looting, arson, and vandalism that followed resulted in <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/damage-rioting-kenosha-50-million" target="_blank" rel="noopener">50 million dollars in damages to local businesses.</a>

<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/kyle-rittenhouse-days-leading-up-to-shooting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Having spent the day cleaning up graffiti in a nearby neighborhood</a>, Kyle Rittenhouse joined several other residents to guard community business against the rioters with AR-15’s.

Several of the rioters—Rosenbaum, Huber, and Grosskreutz—attacked Rittenhouse as he walked down the street with his rifle. The incident began when Rosenbaum chased Rittenhouse into a parking lot. At this point, Joshua Ziminski—another rioter present—fired upon Rittenhouse with his gun. <a href="https://nypost.com/2021/11/10/kyle-rittenhouse-shooting-a-clear-case-of-self-defense-devine/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rosenbaum immediately proceeded to grab the barrel of Kyle’s rifle resulting in Rittenhouse shooting and killing him</a>.

Rittenhouse was then chased down the street by other rioters, including Huber and Grosskreutz. He tripped and was assaulted while on the ground. Huber proceeded to repeatedly hit Rittenhouse in the head with a skateboard and attempted to steal his rifle, forcing Rittenhouse to shoot and kill him.

Grosskreutz proceeded to approach Rittenhouse with a loaded Glock, aiming the weapon at his head in an apparent attempt to kill him. Grosskreutz—<a href="https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/victoria-taft/2021/11/08/antifa-medic-wounded-by-kyle-rittenhouse-makes-never-before-heard-accusation-from-witness-stand-it-may-backfire-on-him-n1530795" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a member of the ANTIFA affiliated “People’s Revolution”</a>—was then shot by Rittenhouse.

Rittenhouse faced charges of homicide, a <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/annakaplan/2021/11/15/here-are-the-charges-kyle-rittenhouse-faces-after-judge-tossed-dangerous-weapon-misdemeanor/?sh=7d99d8b91cee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">conviction that would carry a life sentence</a>, but was <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/rittenhouse-trial-jury" target="_blank" rel="noopener">later found innocent by the jury.</a>

Further in his letter, Dr. Yao strongly implies that Rittenhouse is receiving special treatment because of the color of his skin. He proceeds to pose a hypothetical situation, in which instead of a white teenager, a “black 18-year-old” had participated in the “armed response” to the BLM protests in Kenosha. Continuing, he expresses sympathy for “Black, Indigenous, and other people of color” who find it “difficult” to keep from imagining this scenario.

“While Mr. Rittenhouse’s emotional testimony on the stand told a story of self-defense, for Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color, it may be difficult to keep from imagining how the Rittenhouse story may have unfolded had it happened to be the fate of a Black 18-year-old who answered the call of an unauthorized militia for an armed response to the protests and destruction of property that was occurring in downtown Kenosha.” 

Several of the rioters who attacked Rittenhouse have numerous arrests and convictions: <a href="https://www.wisconsinrightnow.com/2021/03/12/kenosha-shooting/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Huber was previously convicted for domestic abuse</a>, Grosskreutz had been arrested for <a href="https://nypost.com/2021/11/15/sole-survivor-of-rittenhouse-shootings-has-criminal-past-report/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">burglary and assaulting his grandmother</a>. Rosenbaum was a <a href="https://townhall.com/columnists/katiepavlich/2021/11/12/the-left-always-defends-the-real-criminals-n2599027" target="_blank" rel="noopener">convicted pedophile who was on lifetime probation for the anal rape and sexual assault of young boys</a>. A video later emerged of Rosenbaum<a href="https://nypost.com/2020/08/28/kenosha-shooting-victim-seen-in-video-confronting-armed-men/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> aggressively confronting Kyle and calling him the “n-word” throughout the evening</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Turns out the man Kyle Rittenhouse shot and killed last night in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kenosha?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kenosha</a> was Joseph D Rosenbaum, a convicted sex offender of sexual conduct with a minor
Here is video I shot of him begging to be “shot” in front of a gas station minutes before his death <a href="https://t.co/tUfUGWX3io" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pic.twitter.com/tUfUGWX3io</a>

— Drew Hernandez (@DrewHLive) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrewHLive/status/1298857620652974081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 27, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;

Despite their criminal records, Dr. Yao proceeds to express sympathy for Rosenbaum, Huber, and Grosskreutz, lamenting the “trauma” Rittenhouse has caused their families.

“While the jury may begin deliberations in the Rittenhouse trial as soon as today, we do not need to wait until the final verdict to recognize the lives that were lost and the hurt and trauma that families have and will continue to experience in the days, months, and years ahead.” 

Despite the fact that Rosenbaum, Huber, and Grosskreutz, are not black or persons of color, and no evidence has indicated that Rittenhouse’s actions were driven by racial animus, Dr. Yao still characterizes the trial in racial terms. Stating that, “we do not need to wait for the final verdict,” he reaffirms the university will continue to pursue “racial and social justice.”

“In addition, we do not need to wait until the final verdict to reinforce and strengthen our institutional values and mission of realizing racial and social justice. This process can be exhausting and angering, and there are legitimate reasons embedded in our nation’s history for feeling weary, angry, hopeless, and even cynical. But I call explicitly on each individual member of our campus community to resist hopelessness and cynicism. Weariness can be overcome, but hopelessness and cynicism are signals of defeat.“  

The full letter may be viewed below:

<img class="aligncenter wp-image-1916" src="https://backend.professorwatchlist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Screen-Shot-2021-11-30-at-5.07.12-PM-e1638317458938.png" alt="" width="500" height="197" />

&nbsp;

Dr. Yao has promoted or developed other racial justice-themed materials under his leadership at the University. In February of 2021, he approved the <a href="https://policy.csuci.edu/sp/20/sp20-02-committee-equity-and-anti-racism.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Policy on Academic Senate Committee on Equity and Anti-Racism</a>, whose explicit goal is the promotion of “equity, anti-racism, and diversity.” The committee exerts enormous influence over the campus; members hold the power to review faculty hiring, retention, tenure, and department bylaws to ensure adherence to the committee's stated goals.

Just two months later, Dr. Yao released another message to the student body, titled, “<a href="https://www.csuci.edu/president/2021-04-19-student-message.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In Solidarity with the Black Lives Matter Movement and Racial Justice.</a>”  The letter credits the BLM movement for the “momentum” created during the previous year for “racial and social justice.”

According to a <a href="https://thefederalist.com/2020/09/16/study-up-to-95-percent-of-2020-u-s-riots-are-linked-to-black-lives-matter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study conducted by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED)</a>, BLM can be linked to 95% of the riots around the country in the Summer months of 2020 following the death of George Floyd. In an analysis of the study, <a href="https://thefederalist.com/2020/09/16/study-up-to-95-percent-of-2020-u-s-riots-are-linked-to-black-lives-matter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Federalist</a> found, “of the 633 incidents coded as riots, 88 percent are recorded as involving Black Lives Matter Activists.” The resulting riots were the largest in American history, <a href="https://fee.org/articles/george-floyd-riots-caused-record-setting-2-billion-in-damage-new-report-says-here-s-why-the-true-cost-is-even-higher/#:~:text=Only%20now%20are%20we%20beginning,%241%20billion%20to%20%242%20billion." target="_blank" rel="noopener">causing an estimated $2 billion in damages and 47 deaths.</a>

The Professor Watchlist Team reached out to Dr. Yao for comment but has not received a reply by the time of publication.

&nbsp;
Parents and Students may contact California State University-Channel Islands at (805) 437-8400
&nbsp;
Updated - November 30th, 2021

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