Why I told the University of California system to fuck off
Like most every college graduate, I've been receiving donation solicitations from various organizations at or connected to Berkeley since, well, I graduated. For a few years after graduation, I did donate --- never a lot, but I was in my 20s and I figured that big donations weren't my job.
The University of California system has, like many public schools, had to make budget cuts as a result of the current economic mess. Classes have been cut, tuition is going up, and employees are being laid off. Whereas taking 5 years to graduate was rare in my day (late 1990s), it apparently is either the norm now or will be soon. Do I think that's right? No -- as a public system, the UC campuses are premised upon availability, but that's the real world.
In early August 2009, I read the above-referenced article in the San Francisco Chronicle explaining how sacrifices at UC are being borne by everyone -- everyone, that is, except UC executives who conveniently are getting raises. How much? The Orange County Register has a searchable database here. Then I read in today's (September 11, 2009) San Francisco Chronicle that UC President Mark Yudof is recommending not only one 15% increase in in-state undergrad tuition, but two of them. If both increases go through, tuition at a UC school will top $10,000 per semester for the first time. Ever. Coincidence?
To give you a frame of reference, when I was at Cal in the mid and late-1990s, tuition was about $4,500 per semester.
But wait, there's more incompetence to behold:
On October 12, 2009, the Los Angeles Times ran this article about how UC schools may soon start charging students tuition based on their actual cost of instruction. Being a free market believer, I would ordinarily think this a great idea, except -- among others -- it would result in engineering and science students having to pay about $900 more each year. If pundits are to be believed, the United States already graduates WAAYY fewer engineers and scientists that other industrialized countries. Adding another financial obstacle is surely not the way to reverse this trend. Thankfully, the UC Regents voted the plan down, but unfortunately, they did also reserve the right to revisit it.
I learned many things at Cal which made me successful personally and professionally. Rewarding mediocrity and self-serving behavior was not one of them. To UC's regents and executives, eat shit and die. Say hi to Hitler and bin Laden when you get to hell. To current and future UC students, I am truly sorry. If I ever encounter any of you personally or professionally, I will do whatever I can to help.
Saturday, November 07, 2009 12:39:52 AM