The Potential Costs of Hacking

When meat is hacked, the hacker might lose a finger. When a computer system is hacked, the costs are likely to fall on the hackee (if there is such a word) that owns, or is responsible for, the system.

Readers may recall the Sony Pictures hacking case of a few years ago in which a large volume of sensitive employee data was grabbed, reportedly by North Korean agents.

There is a news report of a substantial settlement OK'd by a court of payments to Sony employees by their employer.* Note that over the years, there have been hacks into UC computer systems that have expose employee info. And there was a major hack into the computer system of a past health insurer for UC which also potentially exposed sensitive employee data. Up to now, the costs to UC have been limited in terms of (voluntary) reimbursements for things such as credit monitoring. The Sony episode suggests the potential for greater voluntary and involuntary costs to UC in future episodes.
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*http://www.scpr.org/news/2016/04/06/59310/judge-approves-settlement-in-sony-pictures-hacking/

Not Required

From the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO):

A REQUIRED REPORT ON STUDENT FEE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Chapter 620 of 2012 (AB 970, Fong) requires the University of California (UC) and the California State University (CSU) to fulfill the following three requirements related to systemwide tuition and fee increases:

• Tuition and Fee Policies. The legislation requires UC and CSU to develop a list of factors to consider when recommending an increase in mandatory systemwide tuition and fees for resident students.

• Notification and Consultation Procedures. The legislation requires UC and CSU to follow prescribed public notice and student consultation procedures before adopting an increase.

• Reporting Provisions. 

The legislation requires UC and CSU to provide the Legislature with annual reports on tuition and fees, financial aid, and the total cost of attendance. In addition, the legislation requires our office to report on UC’s and CSU’s compliance with Chapter 620. As detailed below, our review found UC was not in compliance with several provisions of Chapter 620. 

Though the legislation deems its provisions to be required for UC, UC believes it is not legally obligated to comply because of its constitutional autonomy. 

We found CSU complied with all Chapter 620 provisions except for one reporting requirement…

Full report at http://www.lao.ca.gov/reports/2016/3416/student-fee-040616.pdf

ObamaJam around UCLA

Looks like the Prez will be hanging around the UCLA neighborhood Thursday and Friday:

According to City News Service, Los Angeles police recommended that motorists avoid the following areas on Thursday:

• The area around South Centinela Avenue between Ocean Park and Pico boulevards, from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m.
• Sunset Boulevard between Sepulveda and Beverly Glen boulevards, from 7:15 to 8:30 p.m.
• St. Pierre Road and St. Cloud Road between Bel Air Road and Beverly Glen Boulevard, from 7:30 to 9:45 p.m.
• Sunset between Beverly Glen and Royce Drive, from 9 to 10:30 p.m.
• Hilgard Avenue between Sunset and Weyburn Avenue, from 9 to 10:30 p.m.
• Tiverton Avenue between Le Conte and Weyburn avenues, from 9 to 10:30 p.m.

On Friday, police recommend avoiding the following areas:

• The area around Hilgard Avenue between Weyburn and Sunset, from 9:30 to 11 a.m.
• Sunset between Loring Avenue west to Burlingame Avenue, from 9:30 to 11 a.m.
• Bristol Avenue between Sunset and Westboro Street, from 9:30 to 11 a.m.
• North Cliffwood Avenue between Westboro and Highwood streets, from 10:30 a.m. to noon
• Sunset Boulevard between Bristol Avenue and Sepulveda Boulevard, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Centinela Avenue between Ocean Park and Pico boulevards, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Hilgard Avenue will be closed from 4 p.m. tomorrow until 1 p.m. Friday. Malcolm Avenue will be closed from 7 p.m. tomorrow until 1 p.m. Friday. Cliffwood Avenue will be closed from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday.

Source: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-obamajam-warning-president-is-back-in-l-a-for-fundraisers-20160406-story.html

Legislative Hearing on the State Audit of UC

“You’re giving us kind of a convenient thing to blame,” (Assembly rep Das Williams) told (State Auditor Elaine) Howle. We should “blame ourselves that we can’t come up with enough money.”*
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*From: http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article70378907.html. The full hearing is at:
http://calchannel.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=7&clip_id=3545

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article70378907.html#storylink=cpy

UC-Berkeley: 19 employees violated sexual harassment policy since 2011

From the Mercury News: A trove of investigative and disciplinary documents released by UC Berkeley in the midst of an unfolding sexual harassment scandal reveals 19 employees -- including six faculty members -- were found to be in violation of the university's sexual misconduct policies since 2011.

The records -- obtained Tuesday by this newspaper in response to a Public Records Act request filed in November -- bring to light 11 new cases that had not been disclosed during the recent high-profile revelations that tarnished a renowned astronomy professor, a vice chancellor, the dean of the law school and Cal's assistant basketball coach.

The newly released reports, dating back to January 2011, show the university's Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination upheld sexual harassment claims against an assistant diving coach, a counselor for disabled students, an adjunct statistics professor and an assistant professor in South and Southeast Asian studies.

The new documents reveal that all of the employees fired as a result of sexual harassment violations were staff members; none were tenured faculty.

Faculty: Three of the six remain on the faculty, including two who stepped down from administrative roles; three resigned from the university, including an adjunct employee under the threat of termination; and discipline in one case is pending.

Staff: Four staff members were fired from the university and two resigned under threat of dismissal; two were suspended; three received pay cuts or demotions; one got a warning and one has appealed his firing.

Seven of the victims were students and 10 were employees...

Full story at http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_29730002/uc-berkeley-19-employees-violated-sexual-harassment-policy

What the Puck?

Suppose you approach the UCLA Grand Hotel...

and continue around...

looking at the front...

until you get to the construction site entrance.

When you look at the construction entrance fence, it's easy to miss the small sign below:

Of course, you'll surely agree that what UCLA really needed was a Wolfgang Puck restaurant. What could possibly be a higher priority?

Follow Up

An earlier post noted there would be hearings on UC administrators' outside employment at the legislature. You can hear the testimony of UC-Davis Chancellor Katehi - another apology - and others at:
http://calchannel.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=7&clip_id=3524

And we will take the opportunity to ask why, if recordings of legislative hearings can be archived indefinitely, Regents meetings cannot be archived for more than one year.