Author: admin

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    New Payroll System Coming: Maybe You Should Save Some Cash Just in Case

    Byadmin

    The Daily Bruin today carries an article about a new systemwide payroll system that is supposed to be installed in stages through 2013.  However, an initial phase is starting soon at UCLA: Although details for the program are still being sorted out, the UCPath Project will essentially create a more simplified process for paying university employees than in the past.Proposed changes to the current system include standardized pay cycles among all 10 campuses. For example, all academic employees and postdoctoral scholars within the UC will be paid bimonthly. Temporary employees and health systems staff will be paid biweekly. Right now,…

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    Meeting on UCLA Japanese Garden Announced

    Byadmin

    The photo on the left shows UCLA students in the Japanese Garden in 1965. It has been reported to yours truly that there will be a meeting about the proposed sale of the garden next week, possibly including UCLA officials.  Below in italics is the announcement I received: Tuesday, January 31 5-7 p.m. Auditorium Community Magnet School  11301 Bellagio Road Los Angeles, CA 90049 Garden lovers, neighbors, and the interested public are invited to a meeting in Bel-Air on Tuesday evening, January 31, to discuss the future of the Hannah Carter Japanese Garden. UCLA has announced plans to sell the…

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    Obama on Higher Ed Tuition and State Support

    Byadmin

    In the State of the Union address last night, President Obama called on states to enhance their higher ed budgets and universities to hold down tuition.  Whether the California state legislature is going to heed that request is another matter, of course. The President talked about less federal aid if tuition goes up, although in what form that would come about was not clear.Video clip below. “When kids do graduate, the most daunting challenge can be the cost of college.  At a time when Americans owe more in tuition debt than credit card debt, this Congress needs to stop the…

  • PPIC Poll on Taxes

    Byadmin

    Above is the latest PPIC poll dealing with taxes and Gov. Brown’s proposed initiative to raise them temporarily.  Keep in mind that polls tend to be full of contradictory attitudes. And this is January but the actual initiative won’t be on the ballot until November.  There will be lots of events between now and then. The full poll is at http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/survey/S_112MBS.pdf. Note: If you click on the image above, you will see a clearer picture.

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    On the Japanese Garden: Let’s Hear It from the Top

    Byadmin

    OK. It appears – after the embarrassing LA Timesarticle yesterday on the Japanese Garden proposed sale by UCLA – that the ship has run aground.*  We have angry heirs of a donor, a major Regent of his time.  We may discourage future donors because of this episode.  We have a statement that it was not the intent to destroy the garden, but – in contrast to that statement – the removal of objects from it in an amateur way.  And it is unclear that folks at the Fowler Museum want those objects.  There are angry neighborhood groups and concerned preservation…

  • Deal to End UC-Berkeley Library Hours Dispute

    Byadmin

    From the Contra Costa Times: Protesters occupying the UC Berkeley’s anthropology library on campus claimed victory Saturday night when university administrators signed an agreement meeting the protesters’ demands for a fully restored library schedule.  …Under the agreement, the library will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 1 to 6 p.m. on weekends, the same hours that were kept in the Fall 2011 semester. As part of the agreement, administrators also will hire a full-time librarian… Full story at http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_19793290 Music and poetry at:

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    LA Times Picks Up Japanese Garden Story: Not the Best PR for UCLA

    Byadmin

    Excerpts from the LA Times article below and link to the full article: For nearly half a century, the UCLA Hannah Carter Japanese Garden in Bel-Air has served as a serene stopover for visitors from locations as varied as Newhall, Nashville and the Netherlands.  But the decision by UCLA to sell the steep hillside property and an adjoining house to raise money for endowments and professorships has the garden world in an un-Zen-like uproar.  The Garden Conservancy, an organization based in New York and San Francisco, has lambasted the university’s transfer to the Fowler Museum of a five-tiered stone pagoda…

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    Bit of a Departure from UC Regents History

    Byadmin

    Once upon a time, the Regents were a relatively placid group, even when there was controversy.  The photo on the left shows them in 1950 dealing with the loyalty oath issue.  But nowadays, we learn that “the University of California Board of Regents will rally on the steps of the state Capitol in May alongside students, faculty, staff, alumni and other UC supporters, chair Sherry Lansing announced Wednesday (Jan. 18).  In remarks opening the regents’ two-day meeting at UC Riverside, Lansing said the regents will meet in Sacramento May 16 and 17. She said the rally at the state Capitol…

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    Plenty of Nothing

    Byadmin

    Here is a quote from the governor’s recent budget proposal: “The University of California (UC) will receive an increase of $90 million General Fund for base operating costs, which can be used to address costs related to retirement program contributions.” Question: What does it mean?  Answer: Nothing.  UC has always been free to take its general revenue and put it into the pension fund.  Indeed, since the state has so far refused to resume paying the employer contribution for state-funded employees into the pension fund, that is what UC has been doing. Question: If it means nothing, why are you…