UC Berkeley to review police tactics

BERKELEY, Calif., Nov. 24 (UPI) -- The University of California, Berkeley, says it will investigate police tactics used against protesters in a massive demonstration on campus.

An independent panel sought by the university is to determine whether police used excessive force Friday in handling protesters who took over Wheeler Hall, university Chancellor Robert Birgeneau said.

"We truly regret the incidents that brought physical and emotional injury to members of our community," Birgeneau said in a statement Monday.

Protest organizers said police hit demonstrators with batons and fired rubber bullets into a crowd of more than 200 university students and employees during the takeover of Wheeler Hall.

The protesters sought the firing of university president Mark Yudof, the repeal of a 32-percent increase in student fees and the reinstatement of 38 laid-off custodians.

More than 3,000 students stayed away from classes Friday in support of the protesters, The Oakland Tribune reported Tuesday.