News

|

Eye Witness Report Concerning Removals of Objects from the Japanese Garden

Byuclafaculty

In a previous blog entry, we published photos by astronomer R. Michael Rich showing the removal of art objects from the UCLA Japanese garden which is proposed for sale.  I invited Dr. Rich to write up his version of what occurred when he visited the Garden area where the removals are taking place.  It might be noted that the UCLA Faculty Association has taken no position on this action by UCLA.  But blog readers will have an interest in recent events.  Below is Dr. Rich’s report: ================= R. Michael Rich I am writing concerning my encounter with Brad Erickson and reporters…

| | | |

Not Worth a Mention?

Byuclafaculty

Gov. Brown delivered his “State of the State” speech yesterday.  Click below for the speech.  Lots of topics are discussed.  Higher ed, however, is not one of them.  An earlier post noted that UC is like a flea on the back of an elephant when it comes to state budgeting and such.  That message was reinforced yesterday.  But perhaps our absence will make the governor’s heart grow fonder.  Valentine’s Day is coming up after all.  The governor did mention his public pension plan in the speech – which would sweep UC into a larger state change.  With regard to that…

|

Hotel Rumors

Byuclafaculty

Rumors are floating around about a change in the possible bond funding arrangements for the proposed campus hotel/conference center. Possibly, alternative bonds – presumably not tax-favored muni bonds – would be used, thus allowing commercial use of the hotel.  That step would put the hotel in direct competition with Westside commercial hotels, of course, raising the level of opposition from them.  Since the hotel would still be subsidized – free land, no property tax, donor gift – such competition would be controversial.  Would local hotel taxes be paid?  Parking for a full service operation?  Traffic flowing into campus for a…

Cough, Cough

Byuclafaculty

LA Times editors think that if Santa Claus can smoke, folks at UC should be able to smoke, too. There’s nothing to say in defense of cigarettes. Smoking is a detestable, dangerous habit — but it’s also a legal one, and there is plenty to say in defense of allowing adults to make bad decisions if they’re not breaking the law or harming others. The University of California should have taken that into account before UC President Mark G. Yudof announced that all 10 campuses would become smoke- and tobacco-free within two years. As long as smokers aren’t filling others’…

| | |

UC History: Connerly

Byuclafaculty

Former UC Regent Ward Connerly who led the move to abolish affirmative action at UC in 1995 is back in the news, albeit not in a positive way.  http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2012/01/18/allegations-against-prominent-foe-affirmative-action  (There is a link within that link to a NY Times article with more detail.)  A related news item appeared in the Sacramento Bee this morning: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/18/4195636/connerly-financial-misdeeds-alleged.html The news clip below describes the Regents’ action but focuses on then-Governor Pete Wilson.  (Connerly is briefly shown.)  The Regents’ resolution was made redundant by the later Prop 209 and the resolution was subsequently repealed.  However, since UC is covered by Prop 209, the…

|

Removals of Objects from Japanese Garden Began Today

Byuclafaculty

UCLA Research Astronomer R. Michael Rich took these two photos of an object being removed from the Japanese Garden today.  He reports that non-expert personnel are involved in the removals.  He identifies the object as follows: Japanese Square Stone Water Basin, a Buddhist carving dating from the 15th or 16th Century, Object #19 in the catalog you can find an earlier post on the Garden issue.  See the catalog at http://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2012/01/info-on-plans-for-japanese-garden.html UPDATE: The Daily Bruin picked up the story http://www.dailybruin.com/index.php/article/2012/01/ucla_moving_toward_sale_of_hannah_carter_japanese_garden_in_bel_air

|

UC-Riverside Students Propose Tuition Alternative Based on Future Pay

Byuclafaculty

From the Riverside Press-Enterprise, 1/16/12.  As the excerpt below notes, the idea described has been around for awhile in various forms.  There would need to be a legally-binding mechanism for verification of income and payback including for grads who left California.  And there could be variations in the formula used.   It will be interesting to see what UCOP and the Regents have to say: It took nine months of late-night meetings, data crunching, calculations and consultations by a small group of UC Riverside students to hammer out what they say is an antidote to state cutbacks for higher education and…

LA Times Discloses ID of Tenured UC Tenured Faculty Member Regents May Fire

Byuclafaculty

Perhaps firing a tenured faculty member is not quite as explosive as the atomic test the Regents in the photo on the left are shown getting ready to attend (1956).  Nonetheless, such firings are unusual.  One suspects that there are other such cases that lead to resignation settlements that are not widely reported. From the LA Times today: The University of California Board of Regents is scheduled this week to discuss a highly unusual proposal to fire a veteran tenured professor and deny him the perks of emeritus retirement.  The case involves a UC Riverside international finance professor who has…