Posted on 05/09/2006 9:31:14 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Robert Dynes says he has "quite a unique opportunity" to redefine the office of the president of the University of California in the wake of the executive compensation scandal. He's correct. The office of the president needs to change -- beginning with its occupant.
Within the past month, a UC Regents task force and two outside audits of the university reached the same conclusion: UC violated its own policies when giving employees millions of dollars in bonuses and perks.
Dynes "either knew about all of these secret compensation deals and looked the other way, or he was completely unaware of what his key staff members were doing," said Sen. Jeff Denham, R-Merced, on Wednesday. Denham echoed Sens. Gloria Molina, D-Los Angeles, and Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria, in calling for Dynes' resignation or ouster.
Dynes and his staff routinely waived university policy that capped special perks and failed to disclose to the Regents the size of several executive compensation packages. The state auditor looked at a sample of the UC's 100 highest-paid employees and found that 17 -- including a UC Riverside vice chancellor -- received special compensation exceptions from the president. Another UC Riverside dean received a $187,500 housing allowance, when policy limited such allowances to $53,300.
Dynes is scheduled to report on the compensation scandal at the Regents' May 17 meeting. That would be the ideal setting to tender his resignation. He has compromised his credibility too much to be effective. The sooner he realizes that, the better for the University of California.
How about firing half of the 24 regents that pull in 250K a year plus benefits..and then fire 1 or every 3 middle manglers that earn 165K plus benefits...Start there.
The RPE editorial board is correct. If the house is cleaned, they can start anew and bring some measure of honesty and openness back to UC.
This scandal is just starting. Where it will go no body knows. Heads are going to roll before it is all over.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.