UCLA/UC Throws in the Towel - Part 3 (more reflections)

At the time UCLA/UC released a copy of the memo from the feds on what kind of a deal was being offered, UCOP made the following statement:

Statement on the release of proposed settlement agreement sent by the Department of Justice to the University of California

UC Office of the President - October 24, 2025

As required by the court, the University has released a copy of the proposed settlement agreement sent by the Department of Justice to the University on August 8, 2025. UC has been clear it must evaluate its response to the administration’s settlement proposal that, like all settlement communications, is confidential. As stated previously, the proposed $1.2 billion settlement payment alone would derail work that saves lives, grows our economy, and fortifies our national security. UC remains committed to protecting the mission, governance, and academic freedom of the University.

Source: https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/statement-release-proposed-settlement-agreement-sent-department-justice-university.

Some observations: 1) There is an assertion that the memo is "confidential," without any acknowledgment of the leak - which rendered it something less than confidential. 2) The only flat rejection in the statement is of the money involved. 3) Beyond the money, while there is a general reference to the "mission, governance, and academic freedom of the University," no other specific proposals/demands of the feds are listed as unacceptable. 4) There is no explicit rejection of some (modified) version of the deal. Number 4 is in contrast to the explicit rejections, e.g., by MIT, of a less elaborate deal offered to some universities.

It's hard to tell whether UC is saying it is still open to negotiation or whether we have arrived at a state of paralysis - particularly in view of the governor's seeming objection to any kind of deal.