Vanguard at UC Davis

Guest Commentary: New UC Chancellor Unfit to Serve

Guest Commentary: New UC Chancellor Unfit to Serve

By David GreenwaldJune 25, 200911 comments

lakeesha_harrison-lBy Lakesha Harrison –

It would require the willing suspension of disbelief to buy the account offered by newly appointed University of California (UC) Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi that she was unaware of the admissions scandal that is now engulfing her current employer, the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champagne (UIUC).

For weeks now, the Chicago Tribune has detailed the well established and entrenched practice of circumventing the normal admissions process for the sons and daughters of the wealthy and powerful.

Commentary: Katehi Still Needs to Come Clean Before We Can Move On

Commentary: Katehi Still Needs to Come Clean Before We Can Move On

By David GreenwaldJune 20, 200923 comments

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This week, the Vanguard ran a story asking for the incoming UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi to come clean in terms of her involvement in a University of Illinois scandal.  Last week, the Sacramento Bee had run a story where Ms. Katehi had apparently refused to answer questions.  In response, UC Davis released a statement to the media that claimed she had no knowledge of the scandal.

She wrote in an email:

“I want to be clear to you and others at UC Davis that I was not involved in the admissions decisions that were the subject of the Tribune’s “Clout Goes to College” investigation.”

So Now UC Davis Facing Furloughs and Pay Cuts

So Now UC Davis Facing Furloughs and Pay Cuts

By David GreenwaldMay 31, 200948 comments

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In a week that featured a major press conference led by Senator Leland Yee and featuring Democrats and Republicans from both houses in the legislature introducing a constitutional amendment that would open up the University of California to oversight from the state legislature, now we have two letters, one from President Mark Yudof and the other from Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Enrique Lavernia.  The letters warn of the possibility of furloughs, pay cuts, and a loss of 20 percent of the state general fund support for the UC Davis campus.

Vice Chacellor Lavernia writes:

Legislators Seek Constitutional Amendment to Rein in University of California

Legislators Seek Constitutional Amendment to Rein in University of California

By David GreenwaldMay 28, 200948 comments

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Yesterday a bipartisan group of State legislators introduced a Constitutional Amendment to allow greater public oversight and accountability of the University of California in response to a number of egregious actions by the UC Board of Regents, including recent exorbitant executive pay hikes.

SCA 21, authored by Senators Leland Yee (D-San Francisco), Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield) and Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles) and ACA 24, authored by Assemblymembers Brian Nestande (R-Palm Desert) and Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge), would remove the Regents autonomy and allow the Legislature to enact statutes affecting UC policy, similar to authority granted over the California State University.  If approved by two-thirds of the Legislature, the measure would be put before the voters for final approval.

Commentary: New Chancellor’s Tenure Already Stained with the Fee Hikes of Students

Commentary: New Chancellor’s Tenure Already Stained with the Fee Hikes of Students

By David GreenwaldMay 16, 200921 comments

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Last July across the state, UC service workers went on strike because these workers were being paid what they described as poverty wages.  The worker’s union went as far to produce an internet video that showed the life of one of their workers and the conditions that they lived in as a result of the wages and benefits that the richest and finest higher education system in the world offered to its lowest tiered workers.

We were also facing just the beginning of an economic downturn and students were facing decreasing numbers and a double-digit student fee increase.

UC Davis Uses Anti-SLAPP Provisions To Kill Discrimination Lawsuit

UC Davis Uses Anti-SLAPP Provisions To Kill Discrimination Lawsuit

By David GreenwaldApril 8, 200912 comments
A UC Davis professor is suing the University for racial discrimination, harassment and retaliation in relation to charges surrounding the handling of a grade dispute.  The University is taking the extraordinary measure of using anti-SLAPP legislation as a means to quash a legitimate discrimination complaint.  If successful, this could set a new precedent as a legal tool used by alleged offenders to effectively gut current anti-discrimination protections in the workplace.

Professor Branner in August of 2008 filed a lawsuit at the UC Regents and Vice Provost Horwitz alleging that their actions violated his rights and protections under California law.

UC Rearchers and Technical Employees Urge Good Faith Bargaining by UC

UC Rearchers and Technical Employees Urge Good Faith Bargaining by UC

By David GreenwaldMarch 19, 200910 comments

Wednesday at all ten University of California campuses, researchers and technical employees making up the UPTE Union conducted pickets and other informational actions at the UC Campuses.

According to a release from UPTE, UC is prioritizing huge salaries and salary increases for top executives rather than the basic funding to keep the university providing high quality research and education.

 

Second UC Davis Police Officer Files Suit Against University and Police Chief Spicuzza

Second UC Davis Police Officer Files Suit Against University and Police Chief Spicuzza

By David GreenwaldMarch 5, 200914 comments
Last month we reported that Former UC Davis Police Officer Calvin Chang had filed suit against the university claiming breach of the settlement agreement and a variety of harassment and discrimination charges.

We also reported that this would likely be the first in a string of complaints against the departments. The Vanguard has now learned that on February 26, 2009, a second UC Davis Police officer, Officer Chithien Le has filed suited against the UC Davis Police Officer.

Guest Commentary: Vote No to Green Initiative Slush Fund

Guest Commentary: Vote No to Green Initiative Slush Fund

By David GreenwaldFebruary 18, 20096 comments

By Derick Lennox:

Don’t be duped into raising your own student fees.

The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) is a campus ballot measure that attempts to mislead students into funding a $269,000 special interest slush fund. A history of unfulfilled promises at other UC campuses has proven that for TGIF, “greed” has become the new “green.”

Former UC Davis Officer Claims Violation of Settlement Agreement

Former UC Davis Officer Claims Violation of Settlement Agreement

By David GreenwaldFebruary 4, 200919 comments

Documentary Evidence Suggests University Failed to Adhere to Their Terms of Agreement

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On Monday the Vanguard ran a story on the lawsuit filed by former UC Davis police Officer Calvin Chang. The story has since been covered in detail in the California Aggie and mentioned briefly on the Davis Enterprise website. At this point, one of the hang ups has been that the university has not been served and thus not officially notified with the complaint. So at this point they cannot respond.

Former Officer Files Suit Against UC Davis Charging Racial and Sexual Orientation Discrimination

Former Officer Files Suit Against UC Davis Charging Racial and Sexual Orientation Discrimination

By David GreenwaldFebruary 2, 200933 comments
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Former UC Davis Police Officer Calvin Chang has filed a lawsuit against the UC Regents and UC Davis Police Chief Annette Spicuzza alleging complaints of racial and sexual orientation discrimination, housing discrimination, and retaliation.

In the lawsuit, Officer Chang, who is openly gay, alleges that he was subject to harassment including homophobic slurs and a death threat while serving as a police officer for the UC Davis Police Department. Officer Chang was at the time of his hire the only Asian-American officer on the campus and the first openly gay officer.

UC Service Workers Come To Contract Agreement

UC Service Workers Come To Contract Agreement

By David GreenwaldJanuary 29, 200913 comments

Take First Step Out of Poverty with Historic Contract

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After more than seven months since a week of strikes press for new negotiations, over 8500 UC Services workers reached agreement with the University of California that union officials lauded as the first step to lift thousands of families out of poverty. The agreement includes significant wage increases, a pay system that rewards seniority and a first time ever statewide minimum wage for their job classifications.

Strong Corporate Influence in Energy-Efficiency Research at UC Davis

Strong Corporate Influence in Energy-Efficiency Research at UC Davis

By David GreenwaldJanuary 17, 200912 comments
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This week UC Davis announced that the Chevron Corporation has given UC Davis $2.5 million to create a permanent leadership position for the campus’s Energy Efficiency Center.

According to a January 13, 2009 release from the University:

“The person appointed to the Chevron Chair in Energy Efficiency will direct the center, which was established in 2006. The world’s first university center of excellence in energy efficiency, its primary objective is to speed the transfer of energy-saving products and services into the homes, businesses and lives of Californians.

Friday Strike Update

Friday Strike Update

By David GreenwaldJuly 18, 200828 comments
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Today is the final day of the UC service workers’ strike. After five days of picketing across the state at 10 UC campuses and five medical centers, the 8500 striking workers will begin returning to their jobs at the end of the day.

According to a statement from AFSCME 3299:

“Though the strike has produced an outpouring of public and political support, UC executives have given no indication that they are willing to lift workers from poverty.”

Wednesday Strike Update

Wednesday Strike Update

By David GreenwaldJuly 16, 200884 comments
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The strike will continue today for a third day. There were a number of interesting developments yesterday.

Community members from across the state donated groceries and provided food assistance to the strikers who are struggling to make ends meet to begin with and now face disciplinary action for the striking.