FILE - In this Nov. 18, 2011 file photo, University of California, Davis Police Lt. John Pike uses pepper spray to move Occupy UC Davis protesters while blocking their exit from the school's quad in Davis, Calif. Some California lawmakers want the head of the University of California, Davis to quit over the school's public relations spending after students were pepper-sprayed. As of Thursday, April 15, 2016, at least seven state lawmakers are calling for the resignation of school Chancellor Linda Katehi. The demands follow reports by the newspaper that the school paid image consultants at least $175,000 to try to clean up the online image of the university and Katehi after the 2011 incident. (Wayne Tilcock/The Enterprise via AP, File) (The Associated Press)
DAVIS, Calif. – University of California, Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi (kuh-TAY'-hee) says her office hired online image consultants to ensure searches showed the university's achievement and not to erase online content.
In a statement released late Monday, Katehi apologizes for "a series of highly publicized missteps" and says the university should have carefully reviewed the "ridiculous" claims made by public relations firms.
Documents obtained by the Sacramento Bee show that UC Davis spent at least $175,000 on image consultants who promised "to create and execute an online branding campaign designed to clean up the negative attention the University of California, Davis, and Chancellor Katehi."
Katehi says the firms were hired to make sure a complete picture of UC Davis turned up for those doing online searches, especially philanthropists.
She says she will hold a series of public forums and media events to answer questions.
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