William Bagley, a UC alumnus, has held a seat on the UC Board of
Regents for the last 13 years and served as a California Assembly
member. After leaving the Board, he will continue to practice
law.
What stands out most about William Bagley is his sharpness. He
has the confidence, thoughtfulness and educated tone of someone who
has experienced much and learned great lessons.
His demeanor is no act. The UC regent of thirteen years also
served in the California Assembly for fourteen years, has practiced
law for almost half a century, and has argued before the U.S.
Supreme Court. Not bad for a lowly UC Berkeley valedictorian and
Boalt Law School graduate.
Bagley is not a man to linger on sentiments, and when asked
about leaving his position on the Board of Regents this March, he
says he will use the extra time to focus on practicing law. Despite
his unwillingness to savor a long farewell, Bagley is willing to
leave a piece of advice to his colleagues and the students he has
served for over a decade.
He speaks here with the Daily Bruin about his greatest
accomplishments with the board and the future of the UC.
DB: What message would you leave for your colleagues and
successor?
WB: The board must protect the reputation of the university. If
the board does nothing, the university takes care of itself. If the
board acts inordinately, then the reputation of the university is
at risk. The board members must not use their position ““ and
my university ““ to promote their little private cause.
That’s obviously a reference to affirmative action. I
don’t care what you think about affirmative action ““ or
for that matter evolution or abortion ““ don’t use my
university to promote your cause. Don’t put the university in
the forefront of a raw political issue. All that does is hurt the
university and sometimes, it hurts it worldwide. Also, don’t
try to manage day-to-day operations. Don’t try to
micromanage. We hire the absolute best people to do that.
DB: What was your greatest memory?
WB: I am most impressed by the quality of our officers and
chancellors. It is a pleasure to deal with people who are
wonderfully educated ““ who are also wonderful human beings.
I’m talking about (UC President) Dick Atkinson and all of our
chancellors. During my 13 years, we basically picked a whole new
crew.
DB: What is your greatest accomplishment in office?
WB: You know damn well what it was. It was reversing SP-1 and
SP-2. We tried ““ and I know we did ““ to repair the
reputation of the university. I remember in post-209,
cream-of-the-crop black applicants were admitted but weren’t
coming. They didn’t want to. That’s the impact a bad
reputation has.
DB: What is in the future for the UC?
WB: The future has to do with money. When I was in the
legislature in 1960, 60 percent of the budget was provided by the
state general fund. Today we’re lucky if we get 30
percent.
I kid people and say we’re not really a state university;
we’re a state-subsidized university. I remember when I was a
student at Berkeley, I paid $27.50 in tuition. It included a
student body card and I think health care. Today we pay about
$4,000. Do some arithmetic. However you do it, even considering
inflation, it’s hundreds of percentages in increases.
Having said that, the future depends on money. We will always be
quality. We will always be recognized as the premiere public
research university in the world. But can we continue, not just to
be quality, but also to educate the growing population in the state
of California in the same quality mode without significant state
funds? We need to make for damn sure that the university is funded
““ which is not the case today.
DB: What would you say to the students you’ve
represented?
WB: Fall in love with your university. Your university is the
best acquaintance in life. Fall in love with it.
Interview conducted by Maegan Carberry, Daily Bruin Senior
Staff.