Author: admin

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    Many Faculty Send Open Letter to Chancellor Block Concerning “Occupy” Demonstration/Related Developments

    Byadmin

    The letter below appears on the blog https://uclafacultyunited.wordpress.com/ in an entry dated Nov. 20. Open Letter to Chancellor Block November 20, 2011 Dear Chancellor Block: In the predawn darkness this past Friday, a large contingent of police arrived on campus to remove a group of students who were peacefully protesting tuition increases, student loan debt, and the collapse of public funding for the University of California. In an act of civil disobedience, 14 students chose to ignore an order to disperse and were arrested. Their crime, formally, was to violate a campus policy against camping. But in reality they were…

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    Another Pepper Apology? Let’s Focus Instead on the UC Budget

    Byadmin

    The UC-Davis chancellor has now apologized for the pepper spray incident last Friday. Meanwhile, the Washington Post reports that the incident has gone viral with creative images such as the one above on the web. See http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/arts-post/post/pepper-spray-cop-works-his-way-through-art-history/2011/11/21/gIQA4XBmhN_blog.html Below is video of the chancellor’s apology. A story about it is at: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/22/MNK71M2548.DTL As noted in last night’s blog post, instead of trying to regain “control” via crisis management techniques, it would be nice if the Regents and the powers-that-be at UC focused instead on the ongoing UC budget emergency. Please see last night’s blog posting for a link to the UCLA…

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    Pepper Spray: Regent Chair Reacts

    Byadmin

    Regent chair Lansing with a message to UC community 2011-11-21 UC Board of Regents chair Sherry Lansing says in a video statement that she is “shocked and appalled” by the images of police actions during recent student protests at UC Berkeley and UC Davis. Lansing supports UC President Mark Yudof’s effort to review systemwide procedures so that students can engage in peaceful protests. “We regents share your passion and your conviction for the University of California,” Lansing says. “We want all of you to know that we fully and unequivocally support your right to protest peacefully.” Lansing also invites the…

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    Tax Leak

    Byadmin

    Over the weekend, a group going by the name “Think Long” started leaking plans to put something on the ballot in 2012 that would revamp the California tax system and raise more funding. It is funded by billionaires so getting the signatures (typically at a cost of $1-$2 million) won’t be a problem. Even a big campaign for the votes – tens of millions can be involved especially for TV advertising – can be handled. Example of the leak/preview from the LA Times: Joining the battle over California taxes, a group of billionaires and political insiders say they will place…

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    Yudof on Berkeley and Davis Incidents

    Byadmin

    Note: See prior blog entries on the “Occupy” incidents at Davis and Berkeley. Links at bottom of this posting. President Yudof responds to campus protest issues Contact: UC Office of the PresidentPhone: (510) 987-9157 University of California President Mark G. Yudof today (Nov. 20) announced the actions he is taking in response to recent campus protest issues: I am appalled by images of University of California students being doused with pepper spray and jabbed with police batons on our campuses. I intend to do everything in my power as president of this university to protect the rights of our students,…

  • UC-Davis Pepper Spray Controversy

    Byadmin

    A major controversy has erupted over a pepper spray incident at UC-Davis when campus police attempted to move a group of “Occupy” demonstrators. From today’s Sacramento Bee: UC Davis officials found themselves under a barrage of Internet-driven outrage Saturday, after campus police officers pepper-sprayed protesters at an Occupy UC Davis encampment Friday. Saturday evening, after holding a news conference to address intense nationwide media interest, UC Davis Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi walked through a blocks-long gantlet of students, who stood silently as she passed to a waiting SUV… Full story at: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/20/4067841/ucd-peppered-by-net-outrage.html {Note: The Bee webpage was having a heart…

  • CPEC Officially Closed Yesterday

    Byadmin

    The California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC) officially closed yesterday after being line-item vetoed from this year’s budget by the governor. Below is the final press release and the “About Us” segment of the CPEC website for some historical background. California Postsecondary Education Commission to close doors on November 18 SACRAMENTO — November 14, 2011 — The California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC), the state’s independent agency for higher education policy planning, research and analysis, will close its doors on Friday, November 18, 2011. The Commission’s funding for 2011-12 was eliminated by Governor Brown in a line item budget veto on June…

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    Regent Crane Leaves an Unhelpful Message

    Byadmin

    Departing Regent David Crane, a last-minute appointment to the Board of Regents by Governor Schwarzenegger, would have had his last Regents meeting in November, since he could not get legislative confirmation. But the Regents’ meeting was canceled due to a fear of Occupy-type demonstrations. However, Crane has left behind a missive of sorts – a press release on state budget and pension matters in which he a) endorses the pension proposals by Governor Brown and b) wants to take those proposals further. No reference to the changes already adopted by the Regents for UC is made in the release. No…

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    UC-Davis Hotel Expansion Proposal: Cautionary Lessons for UCLA

    Byadmin

    Yours truly has obtained some documents related to the proposed expansion of a campus hotel at UC-Davis. The documents are more complete than what we currently have for the revised UCLA proposal and include a consultant’s market competition study. You can access these documents by scrolling down in this blog entry. The consultant hired by UC-Davis, as might be expected, indicated that Davis-area commercial hotels would not be adversely affected by competition from the campus project. However, the City of Davis seems to disagree and worries about the loss of room tax revenue diverted from the commercial hotels and about…

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    Yudof Issues Statement on Events at UC-Berkeley

    Byadmin

    Statement on student protests (11-16-11) I am proud of UC students who are speaking out with passion and conviction in support of public higher education across the state. I was moved last night by the sight of thousands of students who peacefully demonstrated in UC Berkeley’s Sproul Plaza, and by those who traveled to Sacramento to protest state disinvestment in our colleges and universities. Free speech is in the DNA of the University of California, and public protest is an important part of our history. Free speech is often contentious, as is democracy. I want all of our students to…