Speaking at today's meeting of the UC Board of Regents, Chancellor George Blumenthal described the impact that two years of budget cuts are having on the UCSC campus. All 10 UC chancellors were asked by UC President Yudof to detail the effects that drastic reductions in state support are having on the system's campuses.
"The impacts of the cuts will have repercussions for years to come," the chancellor told Regents. "I may be stating the obvious, but it bears repeating: These are not mere budget cuts. California is fundamentally disinvesting in higher education."
Also speaking at today's meeting in San Francisco was Sandra Faber, University Professor and chair of astronomy and astrophysics at UCSC. Faber represented the more than 300 UC scientists from all 10 campuses who sent a letter to the governor warning that the proposed cuts to UC's budget will harm the future of science and technology in California and hurt the state's economy. In addition to addressing the board today, Faber presented Regents with a "white paper" summarizing the scientists' concerns.
Mark Krumholz, assistant professor of astronomy and astrophysics at UCSC, authored the first draft of the letter to the governor. He and other UC faculty joined Professor Faber at a press briefing during today's meeting.
Chancellor Blumenthal's complete remarks and the white paper presented by Faber have both been posted to UCSC's Budget Update web site at: www.ucsc.edu/budget_update/
