SAN FRANCISCO “”mdash; The UC Board of Regents met last week,
discussing topics including Proposition 209 and increased financial
support for graduate students.
The meeting opened with a public comment session, which quickly
turned into a protest that resulted in university police escorting
the entire audience out of the building and threatening to arrest
anyone who resisted.
The regents have decided to reinstate employee and university
contributions to the UC pension plan. During years of successful
investment, the plan earned enough money to cover the
contributions.
About 50 university staff members stood up and began to chant
“hands off our pensions” after LaKesha Harrison,
president of the local American Federation of State, County and
Municipal Employees union, asked the board not to reinstate
employee contributions to the university pension plan.
“We just want our message to be heard. (The regents) were
there and they heard us,” Harrison said. “They heard
the message, and we will be back bigger and stronger.”
The regents also discussed making the position of staff adviser
to the regents permanent. The position was started as a pilot
program in 2005 to increase communication between university staff
members and the regents. Several staff members showed their support
for the program during the public comments section.
Later that day, Student Regent Maria Ledesma asked the board for
feedback on a study she is commissioning on the impact Proposition
209 has had on university admissions.
Proposition 209 was passed in 1996 by California voters and
banned the use of race as a factor in admissions and hiring in all
public institutions in the state.
“We have an invaluable opportunity to think to the future
with this study,” Ledesma said.
But not all on the board agreed with how the study should be
conducted ““ Regent John Moores thought the study should be
commissioned, but not by the UC.
“I’m all for an increase in transparency for the
data … but the study should not be done by (the
university),” Moores said, explaining that he does not
believe the public would trust a study commissioned by the UC.
Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante anticipated the study as a
way for the university to find a way to admit more minority
students.
“209 is the law, and this study will not attempt to change
the law, but every talented child that is eligible should come to
the UC,” Bustamante said. “Is there a way to implement
209 in the university that will allow us to admit minorities along
with the voters’ intents?”
Faculty representative Michael Brown asked that the study be as
comprehensive as possible, covering all potential influences of
Proposition 209 on the university.
“There are issues broader than (undergraduate)
admissions,” he said.
The regents also discussed increased financial support for
graduate students.
The board agreed financial support for graduates throughout the
university is too low, and as a result research and innovation at
the university may suffer.
“This is an urgent issue, (with) the double hit of 9/11
and visa problems, as well as an increase in fees caused a drop in
enrollment,” said UC President Robert Dynes. “We need
to drop fees (for graduate students).”