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UC NEWS

• Disciplining Administrators
  
• LANL Safety Violations
  
• Title IX Suits
  
• Threatened Trees
  
  Disciplining Administrators
  After a San Francisco Chronicle series on the compensation of senior management at UC (see Spring-Fall 2006 Newsletter), an internal audit, and an independent audit, the UC Regents have issued guidelines for disciplining administrators who violate policy.
  
   UC President Dynes described the culture in his office as "trying to get away with as much as possible and disclose as little as possible." The internal audit found 143 exceptions to compensation policies that gave extra pay or benefits to 113 senior managers. Another 91 exceptions given to a different group of executives were found by the independent audit. According to auditors, Dynes had approved 13 of these 234 exceptions, such as extra vacation and temporary housing in excess policy guidelines.
  
   In November of 2006, the Chronicle stated, "The [Regents]'s review of those involved in improper conduct could begin as soon as January." As yet, there is no indication of this review.
  Source: San Francisco Chronicle 11/17/06
  
  
  LANL Safety Violations
  The Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration cited UC for multiple nuclear safety violations at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. The violations occurred in 2005 when UC was managing lanl. Because of UC's statutory exemption from civil penalties, none were issued. Had UC not been exempt, the fine would have been $1.1 million and the largest in the history of the enforcement program.
  Source: NNSA News 2/26/06
  
  
  Title IX Suits
  UC will pay $725,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by a former wrestling coach at UCD. Michael Burch alleged that he was fired in retaliation for his support of four female wrestlers who complained of gender bias and lodged a complaint with the u.s. Education Department's Office of Civil Rights. Mansourian, et al. v. Regents, brought by the female wrestlers, is still pending. This suit is on behalf of a class that includes current and future female UCD students denied equal athletic participation opportunities and scholarships.
  Sources: AAUW Press Release 1/19/07, Chronicle of Higher Education 1/23/07.
  
  
  Threatened Trees
  UC planned to build a new gym near its football stadium, but objections have been mounted. The site is home to Coast Live Oak trees. Most range in age between 70 to 110 years old and one is over 200 years old. This species has recently become subject to sudden oak death syndrome, which increases the importance of preserving healthy trees. Moreover, the site is close to the earthquake fault that runs through the stadium. A preliminary injunction has delayed the project.
  Sources: Berkeley Daily Planet 2/16/07; saveoaks.com.
  
  
  
  -wage@wage.org-