No need to fix what isn't broken

I grew up in Lodi, and when I graduated from Lodi High (Class of '60), I enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley. Eleven years later, I left California with three degrees from UC and am now a geologist at a museum in Milwaukee.

My four children and my grandchildren live in California, and I hope they continue to have the incredible options available to them that I had when I graduated from high school.

I am worried by news that the California Legislature is considering constitutional amendments (SCA 21 and ACA 24) that eliminate the autonomy of the UC Board of Regents and put the UC system under direct legislative control. The University of California system is by far the finest public university system in the U.S., and in fact the world. From my personal experience, I can say confidently that the UC system is the envy of every other state. Legislative control would put this wonderful university in the midst of political infighting at every turn. California has been rewarded at every level by the well-educated people who have moved through this university.

At this is critical time, with immense changes affecting our lives, a well-educated public is the key to our future. This is no time to experiment with the world's most successful university system.

Peter Sheehan
Shorewood, Wis.

Reader Feedback

smokeater8 wrote on Sep 4, 2009 9:03 PM:

" Ironic that the writer of the letter believes the UC system is the envy of the world. I just came back from a college in Massachusetts and they were laughing at how bad the UC system had become. Sad state of affairs that needs to be corrected, but I don't think putting it in the hands of the legislature is the answer. "

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anthropis wrote on Sep 3, 2009 10:46 PM:

" The system is only beyond repair if we the people do nothing! When good people do nothing evil always triumphs. "

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t jefferson wrote on Sep 3, 2009 10:37 PM:

" Pete,

The system is nowhere near the one which you graduated from. It is currently beyond repair. "

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VERITAS wrote on Sep 3, 2009 11:06 AM:

" In spite of the rollbacks of "affirmative admission" policies at the UC system, the Regents have repeatedly tried to circumvent, modify and slither around them to give preferential treatment to those races they deem "worthy". This completely "pxssxd" off many people including the legislature. You can't keep biting the hand that feeds you and expect more food. "

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max stanfield wrote on Sep 3, 2009 9:23 AM:

" The legislature screws up everything it touches. They would screw up the UC system too. HOWEVER, UC regents have brought this on themselves thru their administrative pay scales based on standards of "royalty", with "Diversity Provosts" earning $ 500,000 a year and Presidents cracking a $ 1,000,000 [counting perks, out of control benefits etc]. Much research has been published about their out of control administrative salaries which I will not repeat here. People are sick of this additional tier of fraud and waste. Focus your anger where it belongs. "

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