Summary: After a series of closed meetings, the Regents –
including Gov. Jerry Brown – had a public comment session. A rep from a union of residents complained
that UC-irvine was not recognizing their organization. A student suggested that the Regents should
have a Facebook page. Concerns were
expressed about tuition increases. There
were complaints about high out-of-state tuition. The students who complained the day before
that they could not get an appointment with incoming UC president Napolitano
reported that they now had an appointment.
There were requests for the Regents to meet in southern California. A group of students pushed divestment of
fossil fuels. Union reps complained
about the two-tier pension system and made a statement that they had a proposal
that would put more money into the pension fund without second tier. It sounded as if they were proposing higher
employee contributions but exactly what the proposal was remained unclear. One speaker refused to give up the mike and
there was a pause while that matter was handled. There was a complaint that access to the
pension fund was being arranged for Children’s Hospital-Oakland employees ahead
of a potential merger with UC-SF.
When Bill Jacobs representing the faculty and the Academic
Senate began to give his report, there were two interruptions due to a union
demonstration. The room may have been
cleared after the second interruption.
There was a segment on a new “Promise for Education”
fundraising campaign involving major firms including in entertainment. The idea is based on “crowdsourcing.” In this version individuals make promises to
do something and solicit money on social media such as Facebook. Several Regents pledged large amounts. Gov. Brown was said to be “participating.” Not clear what form that participation would
take. A website,
promiseforeducation.org, was created for this program. There was also a segment on a fundraising
effort by UC-Santa Cruz.
Proposals for large incentive bonuses for two UC executives
elicited lengthy comments from Gov. Brown.
You can hear what he had to say at the YouTube link below. In essence, he questioned whether people
needed or should need incentives to do their jobs. In the end, however, he did not vote against
the proposal. There was also approval of
executive pay practices. The Regents then broke for lunch.
You can hear the morning session at the link below:
Gov. Brown's views on incentive pay can be heard below:
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