Story highlights The UC Board of Regents chair says she supports the right to protest peacefully

The UC Davis chancellor apologizes and says she feels "horrible" about the incident

Video of police pepper-spraying demonstrators sparks widespread criticism

The school has placed the police chief and two officers on administrative leave

Another University of California official expressed dismay about the recent use of pepper spray by police on Occupy Davis protesters.

UC Board of Regents chair Sherry Lansing said she was "shocked and appalled" by images of police actions during the protest last week on the campus of University of California Davis.

"We regents share your passion and your conviction for the University of California," Lansing said in a video statement released Monday. "And we want all of you to know we fully and unequivocally support your right to protest peacefully."

Lansing's statement came the same day that the chancellor of UC Davis made a public apology for the incident.

"I am here to apologize," were the first words Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi said through a microphone after climbing onto a small stage erected on the university's "quad" for Occupy supporters. "I really feel horrible for what happened on Friday."

Video of police pepper-spraying nonviolent demonstrators at a sitting protest Friday on the UC Davis campus has sparked widespread criticism, including calls for Katehi's resignation.

"If you think you don't want to be students in a university like we had on Friday," Katehi said, "I'm just telling you I don't want to be the chancellor of the university we had on Friday."

The statement triggered cries of "Resign!" from the crowd.

The university said it has placed two police officers and the police chief on administrative leave in the wake of the incident, while officials investigate officers' use of pepper spray against protesters.

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Photos: Photos: Occupy 'day of action' Photos: Photos: Occupy 'day of action' Occupy 'day of action' – Police officers clash with Occupy Wall Street protesters in New York's Zuccotti Park on Thursday, November 17. Hide Caption 1 of 11 Photos: Photos: Occupy 'day of action' Occupy 'day of action' – Thousands of demonstrators deluged the city, marking two months since the activist effort began in Lower Manhattan. Hide Caption 2 of 11 Photos: Photos: Occupy 'day of action' Occupy 'day of action' – Protesters remove metal barricades Thursday in Zuccotti Park, where they had been evicted two days earlier. Hide Caption 3 of 11 Photos: Photos: Occupy 'day of action' Occupy 'day of action' – Police oficers arrest a protester in the Financial District. Scores were arrested Thursday in New York. Hide Caption 4 of 11 Photos: Photos: Occupy 'day of action' Occupy 'day of action' – A young man is seen with blood on his face after a confrontation with police in Zuccotti Park. It's unclear how many demonstrators have been injured during the clashes. Hide Caption 5 of 11 Photos: Photos: Occupy 'day of action' Occupy 'day of action' – Occupy Wall Street protesters lock arms at an intersection in New York's Financial District. Hide Caption 6 of 11 Photos: Photos: Occupy 'day of action' Occupy 'day of action' – A woman talks with police as demonstrators block roads and tie up traffic in Lower Manhattan. Hide Caption 7 of 11 Photos: Photos: Occupy 'day of action' Occupy 'day of action' – Protesters attend a rally in Union Square on Thursday. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the day's protests had "caused minimal disruptions to our city." Hide Caption 8 of 11 Photos: Photos: Occupy 'day of action' Occupy 'day of action' – Members of Our DC and Occupy DC take part in the nationwide "day of action." Hide Caption 9 of 11 Photos: Photos: Occupy 'day of action' Occupy 'day of action' – Police tackle a protester near the park where Occupy demonstrations were taking place in Los Angeles on Thursday. Hide Caption 10 of 11 Photos: Photos: Occupy 'day of action' Occupy 'day of action' – Demonstrators march across the Steel Bridge in Portland on Thursday. Hide Caption 11 of 11

A group of about a dozen protesters sat on a path with their arms interlocked as police moved in to clear out a protest encampment affiliated with the Occupy Wall Street movement Friday. Most of the protesters had their heads down as a campus police officer walked down the line, spraying them in their faces in a sweeping motion.

"I was shocked," Sophia Kamran, one of the protesters subjected to the spray, said Saturday. "When students are sitting on the ground and no way of moving to be violent, being totally peaceful, I don't understand the use of pepper spray against them."

The school said 10 protesters arrested were given misdemeanor citations for unlawful assembly and failure to disperse. Eleven were treated for the effects of pepper spray, which burns the eyes and nose, causing coughing, gagging and shortness of breath.

The Davis Faculty Association, citing incidents at other campuses, demanded "that the chancellors of the University of California cease using police violence to repress nonviolent political protests."

It called for greater attention to cuts in state funding to education and rising tuition. Its board demanded Katehi resign, saying she exhibited "gross failure of leadership."

On Saturday, Katehi called the officers' actions "chilling" and said the video "raises many questions about how best to handle situations like this." But she refused calls from faculty members and others for her to step down, saying she did not violate campus policies.