Translate


Friday, August 10, 2012

UC President Mark Yudof Responds (Sort of)




Today, I got an email from UC President Mark Yudof since I signed my name to a letter protesting the decision of the UCLA Academic Senate to defend Professor David Shorter Delgado's use of UCLA resources (web page and class page) to promote the boycott of Israel in accordance with his personal political opinions).



President Add to Addresses Block Sender
Date: Friday, August 10, 2012 12:04 PM
To:
Cc: (deleted)
Subject: UCLA Academic Senate's Academic Freedom Decision
Size: 10 KB

Thank you for your email to the University of California’s Board of Regents regarding the UCLA Academic Senate Committee on Academic Freedom’s decision regarding Professor David Shorter’s website. The Regents have asked me to respond on their behalf and I am pleased to do so. As I hope you will understand, since we have received a number of messages about this, I am sending this same response to all.

It should go without saying that The Regents and I do not sanction anti-Semitism at the University of California or anywhere else. I have been working with my Advisory Council on Campus Climate, Culture, and Inclusion to address concerns about anti-Semitism on University campuses, as well as issues of discrimination and hostile environments for other groups. We must do all we can to be sure that UC campuses are safe and welcoming places for all members of our University community.

All the same, I am a strong adherent of academic freedom. The University’s policy on academic freedom (Academic Personnel Manual section 010) vests in the Academic Senate primary authority for applying academic standards to teaching and research. The Regents and I have confidence that the Senate, and the UCLA administration, will handle the current dispute appropriately, consistent with principles of academic freedom and University policy more broadly. Accordingly, this has been, and remains, a matter best handled at the campus level, not in my or The Regents' offices.

With best wishes, I am,
Sincerely yours,

Mark G. Yudof
President
cc: Chancellor Block
Provost Dorr
Academic Senate Chair Anderson
Academic Senate Vice Chair Powell
Secretary and Chief of Staff Kelman
Interim Diversity Coordinator Bernal
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here is the text of a letter he sent to the AMCHA Initiative on July 31.

http://amchainitiative.org/president-yudofs-response-to-the-amcha-co-founders-letter-to-uc-regents/

Dear Ms. Rossman-Benjamin and Professor Beckwith:

Thank you for your letter of July 23 to the Board of Regents. The Regents have asked me to respond on their behalf and I am pleased to do so.

It should go without saying that The Regents and I do not sanction anti-Semitism at the University of California or anywhere else. I have been working with my Advisory Council on Campus Climate, Culture, and Inclusion to address concerns about anti-Semitism on University campuses, as well as issues of discrimination and hostile environments for other groups. We must do all we can to be sure that UC campuses are safe and welcoming places for all members of our University community.

All the same, I am a strong adherent of academic freedom. The University’s policy on academic freedom (Academic Personnel Manual section 010) vests in the Academic Senate primary authority for applying academic standards to teaching and research. The Regents and I have confidence that the Senate, and the UCLA administration, will handle the current dispute appropriately, consistent with principles of academic freedom and University policy more broadly. Accordingly, this has been, and remains, a matter best handled at the campus level, not in my or The Regents’ offices.

With best wishes, I am,
Sincerely yours,


Mark G. Yudof
President
cc:
Chancellor Block
Provost Dorr
Academic Senate Chair Anderson
Academic Senate Vice Chair Powell
General Counsel Robinson
Secretary and Chief of Staff Kelman
Interim Diversity Coordinator Bernal

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I assume the University of California is trying to save paper.

6 comments:

Findalis said...

Not only do they sanction anti-Semitism, but they do so openly and in full daylight.

Who does he think he is fooling? This is legal bs to cover his ass. I smell a couple of lawsuits soon.

Unknown said...

Cal ranked # 2 in faculty earning potential. UC Berkeley tuition is rising faster than costs at other universities. Believe it: Harvard College cheaper than Cal. Breslauer’s Birgeneau, decision to ‘charge Californians higher tuition’ means Cal. nationally ranked #1 public university total academic cost - resident.

University of California negates the promise of equality of opportunity: access, affordability is farther and farther out of reach. Self-absorbed Birgeneau, Breslauer are outspoken for public UC Berkeley ‘charging Californians much higher’ tuition. Cal. Chancellor Birgeneau, Provost Breslauer leave an indelible legacy on access, affordability.

Birgeneau ($450,000) Breslauer ($306,000) like to blame the politicians, since they stopped giving them every dollar demanded. The ‘charge Californians higher’ tuition skyrocketed fees by an average 14% per year from 2006 to 2011-12 academic years. If Chancellor Provost had allowed fees to rise at the same rate of inflation over the past 10 years they would still be in reach of most middle income students. Breslauer Berheneau increase disparities in higher education and defeat the promise of equality of opportunity. An unacceptable legacy for all Californians.

Additional funding should sunset. The sluggish economy and 10% unemployment devistate family education savings. Simply asking for more taxes to fund self-absorbed Cal.senior leadership, old inefficient higher education models and fund excessive faculty staff compensation, burdensome bonuses, is not the answer.

UC Berkeley is to maximize access to the widest number of Californians at a reasonable cost: mission of diversity, equality of opportunity. Birgeneau’s Breslauer’s ‘charge Californians higher’ tuition denies middle income families the transformative value of Cal.

The California dream: keep it alive at Cal. fire (honorably retire) Provost George W Breslauer. Birgeneau resigned.

Opinions? UC Board of Regents marsha.kelman@ucop.edu Calif. State Senators, Assembly mem

Gary Fouse said...

UC is also increasing the number of out-of-state and international students because they pay three times the tuition. It's called revenue enhancement. The result is that Calif families who pay taxes to support UC have a harder time getting their own kids into UC; thus have to send their kids out of state and pay higher out of state tuitions.

Siarlys Jenkins said...

Let's close all colleges and universities for two years. Those currently working or studying will be offered a two-year stipend for a period of national or community service.

A small number from each campus, to be selected by me, Gary, and Lance, subject to veto by Findalis, will be assigned to draw up a new curriculum. Those with expertise in the subjects within that curriculum will be rehired. The rest get a five year extension of their service, with the last six months to find a job.

Findalis said...

Sounds good to me Siarlys. I am sure we could entertain a balanced curriculum that would educate the next generation without indoctrinating them.

You would find a better student and graduate from such an outcome.

Siarlys Jenkins said...

I knew we could agree on something.