News

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LA Councilman Koretz Opposes Sale of Japanese Garden

Byuclafaculty

LA City Councilman Paul Koretz, whose district includes UCLA and the surrounding area, has written a letter to Chancellor Block opposing the sale of the Japanese Garden. The letter is reproduced below. By way of further historical background, the photo at the right appears in the new history book on UCLA, “UCLA: The First Century,” in a section entitled “Artful Transformation” dealing with Chancellor Franklin Murphy’s interest in campus beautification during his regime.  The caption to the photo reads in part: Murphy had long wanted to acquire a Japanese garden in neighboring Bel-Air, and in 1965, it was donated to…

UC-Davis in the Post-Pepper Era

Byuclafaculty

After the pepper spray incident at UC-Davis, the administration is apparently taking a hands-off attitude toward Occupy demonstrators.  From the student paper at Davis: Blockades by Occupy UC Davis protesters have led to speculation that U.S. Bank may leave the Memorial Union (MU) if protests persist.  In the past week, protesters have blockaded the door to the bank eight times, according to a protester. These blockades have resulted in the early closure of the bank and involvement of campus police.  The closure of the bank could also mean the departure of funds for student activities. “The occupiers claim they are…

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More on the Obama/Tuition Issue

Byuclafaculty

As a prior blog post noted, President Obama’s State of the Nation address earlier this week contained a threat to cut federal support to universities whose tuitions were rising. But it was not clear what exactly was involved. Insider Higher Ed has a brief story – with a link to a NY Times iece and a link to a White House fact sheet about the proposal.  In fact, to the extent that the proposal is implemented – always a question given Congressional gridlock – UC and UCLA are likely to benefit.  Our tuition is rising but it is still low…

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Shooting Arrows

Byuclafaculty

The Daily Bruin carries a story today about possible construction of an archery range on campus as a component of a large donation which is raising some ecology concerns.  Apparently, the area currently contains California native plants and is used in some coursework and has raised some faculty objections.  As pressures for fundraising ramp up – reflective of the larger university/state budget situation – these kinds of conflicts over university property and land use seem to keep cropping up.  Earlier – and still-current – examples involve the hotel/conference center project and the proposed sale of the Japanese Garden. Excerpt: Just…

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Regent Carter Background & the Japanese Garden Issue

Byuclafaculty

Because of the Japanese Garden issue, blog readers might be interested in Regent Carter (at left in the 1966 photo above with UC President Clark Kerr at right giving presentation to Prince Philip).  Ultimately, the Japanese Garden was a gift of the Carter family. Here are some excerpts and links: From the Harvard Business School: Carter developed the first suburban shopping center in 1947 in Los Angeles and popularized regional chain stores. Carter started with three regional stores in Los Angeles in 1946, and by 1980, had grown that number to 47. Carter expanded the company nationally through acquisitions, such…

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OMG! Whoops. Oh My Whatever-You-Are!

Byuclafaculty

Inside Higher Ed pointed to this story: “It’s no wonder President Obama wants every kid to go to college,” said… former Pennsylvania senator (Santorum.) “The indoctrination that occurs in American universities is one of the keys to the left holding and maintaining power in America. And it is indoctrination. If it was the other way around, the ACLU would be out there making sure that there wasn’t one penny of government dollars going to colleges and universities, right?” He continued: “If they taught Judeo-Christian principles in those colleges and universities, they would be stripped of every dollar. If they teach…

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CSU establishes salary cap for campus presidents

Byuclafaculty

CSU has adopted a salary cap for its campus presidents, equivalent of UC chancellors.  Will the Regents take similar action? The California State University board of trustees on Wednesday capped salaries of newly hired campus presidents at $325,000 after an outcry over a $400,000 pay package approved for a new president last year when tuition shot up 12 percent.  The new policy will establish a salary ceiling of $325,000 or raise the salary by no more than 10 percent of the pay received by the outgoing president… Full story at http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/25/4214329/csu-trustees-consider-capping.html Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/25/4214329/csu-trustees-consider-capping.html#storylink=cpy

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

Byuclafaculty

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

Byuclafaculty

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

Byuclafaculty

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…