‘Activist’ UCSD professor facing unusual scrutiny

by E Wayne Ross on April 13, 2010

San Diego Union-Tribune: ‘Activist’ UCSD professor facing unusual scrutiny

UCSD Professor Ricardo Dominguez works in the field of electronic civil disobedience, and has become the target of two investigations related to his work, including scrutiny from three conservative congressmen from San Diego County who question his work helping illegal border crossers find water stations in the desert.

UCSD professor Ricardo Dominguez is facing unusual scrutiny from campus police and auditors for his involvement in two divisive projects — one that helps migrants find water stored along the border and another that disrupted the UC president’s Web site through a virtual sit-in.

Dominguez, 50, is a self-described activist and new media artist who is accustomed to stirring up controversy. But he said he’s troubled that his tenured status may be revoked for work that promotes his academic specialty of electronic civil disobedience.