Tag Archives: UC Chancellor Robert Birgeneau
Lab choice may prove beneficial to Berkeley in long term
By Lance Knobel and Frances Dinkelspiel
In late September and early October, Dr. Jeff Ritterman, a member of the Richmond City Council, went down to Berkeley West Biocenter on Potter Street, one of the divisions of Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. Both times, Dr. Ritterman arrived before 8 am and staked out a spot in front of the entrance. As scientists came to work, Dr. Ritterman handed them a 4×6 postcard with a picture of the Richmond shoreline, signed by a resident of that city. It was a pitch for placing LBNL’s second campus in Richmond.
“I knew the decision would be important to (lab) employees,” said Dr. Ritterman, who served as head of cardiology at Kaiser Richmond for 30 years and became a city councilman in 2009. “I knew people had some concerns about Richmond and I wanted to reassure them and make an extra effort.” … Continue reading »
Shaken Cal Chancellor recalls Kent State, Virginia Tech
[See update at foot of story.]
“Now we’re there along with Kent State and Virginia Tech,” said a visibly upset Chancellor Robert Birgeneau at the end of a press conference today about the shooting at the Haas School of Business. No students, faculty or staff were injured in the incident — the only injury was to the unidentified suspect.
The chancellor received news of the incident at his home, following a lunchtime meeting there. He had thought the main focus of the day would be the Occupy Cal protests. “We’re very pleased with the way the students have conducted themselves today,” Birgeneau told the press conference. “I have confidence in our students that they’ll stay focused on the important issues, which are disinvestment in higher education by our state and higher tuitions.”
But the first shooting on the Cal campus for over 20 years changed the tenor of the day.
According to UC Police Chief Mitch Celaya, there is no evidence that the suspect had any connection to the protests. Throughout his description of the events leading to the shooting, he cautioned that his department was at a “very preliminary stage” of the investigation. The press conference was held at 4:00pm, less than two hours after the incident. … Continue reading »
Biting the bullet: behind the Cal sports decision
In a sombre press conference this afternoon, UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert Birgeneau, Athletic Director Sandy Barbour and Vice-Chancellor Frank Yeary explained their decision to cut five varsity sports: baseball, men’s and women’s gymnastics, men’s rugby and women’s lacrosse.
“This is a difficult and painful day for our intercollegiate athletic programs,” Barbour said. “Cal Athletics is not immune to the effects of the recession and the financial realities facing this campus.”
Both Barbour and Birgeneau stressed the university’s commitment to … Continue reading »
Chancellor Birgeneau to implement cost-cutting measures in line with report’s recommendations
UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert J. Birgeneau (left) has said he will implement recommendations made in a consultants’ report in order to reduce costs at the campus by a minimum of $75 million annually over the next three years.
Cost cutting will focus on five areas: procurement, organizational simplification, information technology, energy and student services. Initiative teams will be appointed to design specific solutions in each of these five areas and the university will establish a Program Office to … Continue reading »
UC Berkeley launches diversity initiative
The university today launched the UC Berkeley Initiative for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, backed by a $16 million grant from the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund. The initiative includes research projects, five faculty research chairs, student scholarships, campus programs and “several dozen” new courses in American Cultures.
“We are in one of the most diverse states in the nation from every aspect — socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity, religion, abilities and disabilities, sexual orientation. Our campus … Continue reading »
No charges in UC Chancellor’s home case
No charges will be filed for now against any of the people arrested in Friday night’s attack on the UC Chancellor’s Berkeley home pending further investigation.
At the Chancellor Robert Birgeneau’s campus home, repair work continued where police said late Friday a crowd of about 75 protesters marched to protest upcoming increases in student fees and tuition. Authorities said several in the group smashed windows and threw objects including lit … Continue reading »
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