$700K Iron Fence Constructed Around UC Berkeley Chancellor's Residence
BERKELEY (CBS SF) -- On a small hill on the UC Berkeley campus is the University House, the official residence of the school's Chancellor. But it's what surrounds the house that has people talking, a brand new, iron fence that cost a whopping $700,000.
"I'm like, what quality of metal is this? Is it laced with gold?!" said UC Berkeley student Dana King.
The original fence was approved at a price of about $270,000 but that figure ballooned as the design changed to make it taller and stronger with new additional security cameras. But King said besides the price, there is another question here.
"Um…first response was: why? Like, who was he trying to keep out because that's typically why you're trying to build a fence," King said.
University police recommended the fence after several recent protests on campus led demonstrators to Chancellor Nicholas Dirks front door, demanding an audience with the Chancellor and causing some vandalism of the property.
UC Berkeley student Kelly Mabaglo said, "Traditionally, the Chancellor's house is there and if it's not safe for him to live there then that's a problem. So you should put a fence."
But the house has been here-unfenced for more than 100 years, often through times of great turmoil.
Some here see the new addition as a troubling symbol.
Deion Oliver, also a UC Berkeley student, said, "This is the first time a fence is being made it's kind of separating us and them. Just goes to show that as students we need to take care of ourselves be there for each other, because we're not going to have the Chancellor or anybody else really looking out for us like that."
That may not be what was intended…but it is the message that is being received. Which means the fence may carry a much higher cost than just what it took to build.
A campus spokesperson had no comment Tuesday but has told others that the fence may actually save money by requiring less police manpower to protect the property.
