Excerpts From Letters
to the Chancellor
Dear Colleagues:
These excerpts
from a sampling of "Letters to the Chancellor" to my Website
will give you a flavor of the feedback I receive. I thank everyone who
has written. I read and learn from each letter, and I'm glad to share
some of our colleagues' ideas with all of you.
Sincerely,
Bob Dynes
Spring Quarter Start Date
March 27, 2002
Dear Chancellor Dynes,
I am writing to bring to your
attention what has become for our family and others a disruptive consequence
of UCSD selecting Friday, March 29 rather than Monday, April 1 as the
date to observe the Cesar Chavez Holiday.
For a large cohort of students
and their families Easter Sunday is a very special and sacred time. The
campus decision to start classes Monday means that the move back to the
dorms for students after Spring Break occurs Easter Sunday and therefore
disrupts family worship for everyone that must travel any distance to
return to campus.
In order to avoid this situation,
other public college campuses have selected April 1 as the date this year
for the academic holiday in honor of Cesar Chavez and Tuesday, April 2
as the start of instruction.
I urge UCSD to make a similarly
sensitive adjustment in the future.
Sincerely,
Richard Zweifel,
Parent of UCSD student
Associate Dean
College of Architecture & Environmental Design
Cal Poly State University
SRSSC/Staff Morale
April 4, 2002
Chancellor Dynes,
In all the talk and meeting
and retreating regarding faculty-staff retention and morale, the issue
of decent salary and benefits has, to all appearances, been conveniently
glossed over. I see that some of the members of the committee who authored
the SRSSC report have expressed concern about this very crucial problem,
but it's patently a concern that administration and human resources at
UCSD are very uncomfortable confronting and discussing.
You seem to feel that people
who live in one of the costliest cities and counties in the world and
who only make $30,000/yr will be appeased with non-monetary recognition
and further training in their jobs. Certainly these are part of effective
job performance, but if you're honestly interested in attracting and then
retaining the best employees at every job position, UC is going to have
to seriously address the reality of providing its loyal and hardworking
staff with a better salary and benefits package. UC has continued to insist
for most of the past year that it only has enough money to offer clericals
a 1% increase, and that it also intends to do away with merit increases;
perhaps you weren't aware of this.
I personally struggle at the
end of each month to meet expenses, and I could not afford to live near
UCSD if I didn't share a home with another family. If you really are sincere
about retaining the best workers, why have you neglected and, in some
cases, refused to meet with staff union representatives to listen to staff
concerns and to work out ways in which you could show your support for
struggling staff and use your influence to bring about a satisfactory
solution to this impasse? If you are truly interested in improved communication
between staff and administration, why have you not sought out staff feedback
concerning how low wages are affecting our morale (and, among the people
I work with, this is the most serious cause of low morale at UCSD)? You
are fond of issuing challenges to the UCSD campus and community; I'd like
to challenge you to meet with staff representatives to address the issues
I've mentioned and to show your solidarity by writing or calling President
Atkinson and supporting a competitive wage and benefits package for clericals
and other staff.
Thank you in advance for your
interest and support.
Sincerely,
Allen Allison
Clerical
UCSD Libraries
April 17, 2002
In the April UCSD Times, there
was an article on the SRSSC's findings and also a remark of yours which
stated "throwing money at problems is rarely a solution."
Let me strongly urge you that
if staff morale is TRULY a concern of the University, please, please,
please throw money at us. Speaking for this department's staff, the major
concern is our static pay. How can the University expect staff to contribute
in a significant way to "this golden chapter in our history"
when staff is worried about the astronomical cost of living in San Diego
and how to make ends meet? If our salaries are not growing, they are shrinking,
and our ability to live decently is threatened. Some of us have been in
the University for well over 20 years, and our salaries have not come
close to keeping pace with the cost of living in San Diego.
If the only way the University
can attract top faculty and administrators to San Diego is to offer top
salaries, then I suggest the same should be offered to staff. Given the
exigencies of living in San Diego, money comes first, all other considerations
are second.
Fortunately, for the University,
a great many staff whom I know have incredible work ethics - we take pride
in our work and do it well. However, the University needs to begin compensating
us in the same fashion - there's got to be a way to do so!
Gail Hydoski
Residency Coordinator
Department of Reproductive Medicine
Website Feedback
April 4, 2002
Dear Dr. Dynes,
In response to your request,
yes, I read them!
I have enjoyed the messages
about UCSD's future and the unique focus of each division to prepare for
the future, compared to that of my division. Also, reading the letters
to the Chancellor makes me feel more in touch with my colleagues and know
whether or not we share some of the same opinions.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Bonner
April 10, 2002
Dear Chancellor Dynes:
I think you're doing a great
job. I appreciate your efforts to bring staff at all levels into the information
loop. I like the web site very much and hope that all staff have the technology
to access it.
By the way, although I am a
recent hire, I was on campus for five years in an unofficial capacity
as managing editor of International Organization. I have greatly appreciated
your visibility in the San Diego community and your efforts to make the
campus more diverse in every way. Your actions speak volumes. Keep up
the good work!
Lynne Bush
Senior Editor
Institute for Global Conflict and Cooperation (IGCC)
Saludos (Greetings)
April 4, 2002
Senor:
Nadamas le quiero felicitar
y dar las gracias por su trabajo, que es una grande responsibilidad que
usted tiene con todos los estudiantes y todos los trabajadores. Y felicitarle
por ser como es, y quisiera que en algun futuro nos pueda ayudar a nosotros
los 'custodians' que pagemos el estacionamiento de acuerdo a nuestro salario.
Attentamente,
Elva O. Colgan
(I want to congratulate and
thank you for your work. It's a big responsibility you have for all the
students and all the workers, and I congratulate you for who you are,
and I would like to ask that, at some future time, you help us custodians
by setting our parking fees so they are in line with our salaries.)
Letters to the Chancellor
April 10, 2002
Dear Chancellor Dynes,
It would be very nice to see
your responses to the letters that are posted on your website. Do you
plan to start posting your replies? Thank you for your time. I look forward
to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Erik Matwijkow
United Way Campaign
April 10, 2002
Chancellor Dynes,
I have been an employee of
UCSD for over 18 years and have filled out the United Way campaign contribution
cards all these years, giving to my favorite cause, the University day
care center. Each year I have noticed the number of papers and flyers
have increased. Later when the little pin is sent to me, for being a contributor,
I think, "Wow, this is way too excessive for United Way to be using
contribution dollars to support all this marketing."
When I wrote United Way earlier
this month, I was informed by Trisha De Weese that you give a budget to
the United Way campaign each year.
Simply stated, I would much
rather see you spend far less on marketing United Way/CHAD and use the
money perhaps at our little daycare, to help employees' children in some
way. Yet it is likely you are restricted in how the University can donate
to United Way so I believe it would be better to rethink your strategy
of how to help United Way/CHAD.
My suggestion is to begin to
think of different ways to use all the money you have previously spent
on duplication and mailing. Perhaps by designing a marketing tool to measure
the effectiveness of your annual mailings at UCSD would be a sound strategy
for future mailings. For example I often see fellow employees simply tossing
out the entire 8X11" white envelope, unopened. When you consider
there are over 13, 000 employees, all of whom receive these envelopes,
well, you get my message.
For your information, here
is the original letter I wrote to United Way/CHAD:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
February 13, 2002
UCSD United Way/CHAD campaign
I want to withdraw any contribution
to United Way/CHAD from this date on. I no longer want to contribute to
you due to the excessive costs I see you using in duplication of materials,
such as this very mailing you have done here at UCSD.
As the president of a local
501 (3) (c) we recently did a mailing to our residents and the printing
cost, the turn around envelope and set up charges were astounding and
when I compare what you have just mailed to me, I know it costs a bunch
for United Way to send to our entire UCSD community.
I believe we already know United
Way/CHAD and the simple card, with options might be a consideration for
next year. I will reconsider re-joining an automatic deduction to United
Way/CHAD when I see you demonstrated a more physically conservative approach
to fund raising.
Sherryl Parks
UCSD
Preventing Roof Damage
May 2, 2002
Hi Dr. Dynes,
My name is Richard Kimball,
and I have just begun the MS part of the BS-MS program here in biology.
I am not your typical undergrad-grad student. I am 49 years old and have
spent the majority of my life in the construction trades doing roofing
work. When people joke about this fact of how I came to molecular biology
from construction, I just tell them it was easy and now I just build things
on a much smaller scale..chuckle!..
I know that this is not your
department, but I really didn't know who to write to concerning my suggestions
that will save millions of dollars for UCSD as time goes on.
As you know, UCSD is in the midst of a major construction boom, and there
are many buildings, in time, that need to be refitted. Having roofs replaced
costs the school millions of dollars, BUT I HAVE NEVER EVER SEEN ANYONE
TAKING PREVENTATIVE MEASURES WITH ROOFS!!!...Believe me, I have looked
and looked for preventative damage roofers on all the buildings that I
can survey. There are none there. Why do we wait until these roofs have
to be replaced?...ALL THAT IS NEEDED IS FOR A JOB TO BE CREATED LIKE A
SWEEPER THAT CAN UNCLOG OVERFLOW DRAINS AND SWEEP OFF DIRT AND LEAVES
THAT CAN EVENTUALLY (AND BIOLOGICALLY AND CHEMICALLY) EAT THROUGH THESE
ROOFS!!...
I wonder and wonder and wonder:
Why not? We NEED someone with a job like this to save us much money that
can then be put into academics, especially in a place like UCSD where
there are chemical hood vents sometimes depositing corrosive chemical
fumes on our roofs. I write this letter out of concern that we waste sooo
much money that could be used elsewhere. By taking care of our roofs,
we can add on 20+ years of life to them. Dr. Dynes, please take this letter
and forward it to the appropriate department or write back with a suggestion
on where the proper place is for this letter to be sent to. Maybe, just
maybe, common sense will prevail instead of bureaucracy. Thank you for
taking the time to read this letter and for any consideration you might
give it!
Sincerely,
Richard Kimball
Saier Lab
Muir Biology
Staff Salaries
May 8, 2002
Dear Chancellor Dynes,
While I don't support unions
and especially not CUE, I feel I must comment on UC's most recent wage
offer to clerical employees. I do think it is unfair, and I had to contact
you to be sure you were aware of what is being (or not being) offered.
When I first came to work at UCSD in 1985, I chose UCSD because it was
one of the highest paying employers in the Healthcare industry. It has
been discouraging to see UCSD gradually become one of the lowest paying
employers, especially for clericals. Our wages have not even begun to
keep up with inflation. With rent, utilities, and health care premiums
increasing at unprecedented rates, an offer of a 1% cost-of-living increase
over two years is actually a pay cut. And for those clerical employees
who are topped out, the COLA is the only increase they see each year.
Please support fair wages for the clericals. Please speak up on our behalf.
I have been a dedicated employee of UCSD, and I will continue to be one
as long as I am employed at here, however I think that if something isn't
done, many employees including myself may look for another employer just
like I did 16 years ago who will pay better wages that keep up with the
cost of living. Please, do what you can to convey this message to the
appropriate authorities -- that clerical employees need a reasonable wage
increase to support ourselves and our families so that we can remain at
UCSD.
Thank you in advance for your
assistance on this matter.
Sincerely,
Sylvia Rodriguez
Administrative Assistant III
Surgery/Trauma-Burn
16 Years at UCSD
Shortened Workweek
May 15, 2002
Dear Chancellor Dynes:
In view of the current budget
situation, I have a suggestion that would be great for staff morale, and
could be a trend-setting innovation.
Since time is money, why not
reduce the standard UC workweek by some amount of time, say 5 hours? That's
probably not a simple thing to do, but having spent many of my years at
UC in part-time positions (I've been at UCSD since 1979 and worked at
UCLA for a couple years before that), I know that productivity doesn't
go down because of a shortened workday. In fact, I'd say it's just the
opposite.
Employees would choose to start
later or leave earlier; maybe there could be other options as well. Overtime
compensation, according to Federal law, would still be based on a 40-hour
week (we're probably getting into a weird area here). But you get the
idea.
Including a shortened workweek
on the list of benefits offered to UC employees would be good PR and a
real morale booster. It seems like a practical solution to our budget
woes. Do you see any possibility of this kind of approach?
Thanks for offering a non-threatening
opportunity to share ideas with you.
Sincerely,
Lynn Williams
Student Housing
Dear Chancellor Dynes,
It was a pleasure meeting you
at the Chancellor's Associates / Alumni reception in Westwood. My husband
and I came away feeling great about UCSD and its exciting future, especially
the Management School and the integration of disciplines in the new technology
facility. In particular, our daughter, now a sophomore, plans to become
a teacher and she has expressed great interest in the University's relationship
to the Preuss School.
As members of UCLA's Chancellor's
Associates over the last 6 years, we have been updated regularly as to
the university's growth and progress. In addition, their group sponsors
a variety of events during the year, both on and off campus, some of which
feature faculty members or notable alumni. This provides a great opportunity
for members and parents to become acquainted with one another while familiarizing
themselves with the university. I am happy to see that UCSD recognizes
the benefits of fostering a close relationship with not only alumni but
also with parents and contributors.
When I mentioned to you my
concern about the elimination of all-campus housing this year at UCSD,
you asked me to email you with some comments.
I wholeheartedly agree with
the requirement that a freshman student live in his/her college. This
was in fact a very positive experience for my daughter and she made some
friendships that I know will be long lasting. However, she is also a very
social young lady, and one of the things that attracted her to UCSD (as
opposed to UCLA and USC) was that fraternities and sororities exist at
UCSD but in a low profile manner. As she anticipated, one aspect of joining
a sorority has been an expanded social life leading to many friendships
with students in all 5 colleges. However, when it came time to plan for
second year housing, she found that living on campus essentially required
living with ONLY Muir College students.
This is a function of the selective
lottery system currently in place, where priority for second year on-campus
housing is given to roommate groups that are homogenous according to the
college of enrollment, so much so that students wishing to live with a
friend or friends enrolled in another college have virtually no chance
of obtaining an on campus housing assignment.
I think we all value the many
benefits of the small college concept, not the least of which is an enhanced
support system to the students. This unique feature draws many students
to UCSD because it offers the best of both worlds - the feeling of a small
school as part of a large university environment. However, though advising
and some student services at UCSD take place within the college of enrollment,
the fact remains that the combined student population is attending classes
and accessing the services and facilities of the whole campus. When it
comes to housing, the reality is that kids want to live with their friends,
and this is something that cannot be legislated. And when you ask a college
student to give up living with his or her friends in order to stay on
campus, the choice is pretty clear. It's always about the friends.
So this year my daughter is
sharing a house with her friends, which is good, but it's off campus,
which is bad. It's bad because she cannot access UCSD on a 24/7 basis
the way an on-campus student can, and as a second year student she really
isn't ready to do that (though she doesn't believe that). And her nucleus
has become this house of girls, and the bonding that takes place has more
to do with her sorority than it does with UCSD.
From a parent's point of view,
this is sad and frustrating to me. Sad because she is missing so much
of what the university has to offer, not just academically, but in terms
of the energy and ambience that comes from living on campus. Sad because
at 19 she had to make an important decision - ultimately she wouldn't
even consider living on campus if it meant separating from her support
group of friends. Frustration comes from her academic struggles this year
that certainly were not helped by living off campus ("mom, it's such
a hassle to drive over there and find parking," - and me, saying
to myself "I was afraid of this"). And my husband and I find
ourselves wondering how it can be that we are paying the same tuition
as everyone else, yet our daughter is missing part of an experience we
want so much for her to have.
I feel that the university
should direct more attention to providing adequate housing space for second
year resident students. Until that can be accomplished, any housing criteria
that is based upon the distribution of particular roommate groups is merely
a device to force students off campus, and gives the false impression
that such students preferred not to live on campus in the first place.
This hurts students and compromises their opportunity for success.
As long as a housing shortage
exists, I think that all second year students should be able to form roommate
groups regardless of colleges of enrollment, and have equal priority in
a lottery for the available space. I ask you, is it more important to
be housed solely with students whose connection with each other lies in
the general education requirements, than it is to live on campus at all,
period?
As a side note, I am aware
that some Muir students (as well as students from other colleges) are
actually living at Warren because of the uneven distribution of apartment
space among the 5 campuses. Does this not, at least in part, defeat the
purpose of the residential college concept?
I know that a sixth college
will be completed soon, and that enrollment is consistently increasing.
If UCSD is to maintain its fine reputation, keeping students connected
to the university will be a key element. Campus housing in the first two
years, as a minimum requirement, is essential and will continue to be
a critical issue until fully addressed.
Your comments will be appreciated.
Very sincerely yours,
Bonnie Adamick
UCSD K-12 Funding
June 2, 2002
Dear Chancellor Dynes:
It is with sincere pride I
read the reader 'City Lights' (5/30, p.4) about your writing Mr. Bersin
about his threat to cut off funding for the Preuss Charter School.
The gap between the have and
have-nots is increasing at an alarming rate.
Your singular effort with keeping
this charter school transportation funded is commendable. By the way,
I've no connections with the program, in any way.
Bart Ziegler, citizen
UCSD grad '74
June 7, 2002
TO: UCSD Chancellor Robert
Dynes
It is my understanding that
Governor Davis's current budget proposal calls for substantial cuts in
UCSD's K-12 educational outreach programs. These cuts represent an incalculable
loss to San Diego's educational community and have come about so quickly
that I'm afraid few San Diegans understand their implications and consequences.
I urge you to do everything in your power to sustain funding for CREATE,
the Preuss School and UCSD's other outreach programs. These programs are
absolutely essential to the University's mission of research and the advancement
of knowledge.
As a classroom teacher and,
now, a community education coordinator for a sparsely-populated, backcountry
school district that serves two of San Diego's Indian reservations, my
most meaningful, productive professional development experiences have
been provided by UCSD. CREATE's Barbara Edwards and Gary Kroesch have
consistently designed inspiring, empowering professional development that
offers teachers a high level of academic content and demonstrates effective
teaching practice.
This summer I am excited to
be co-directing a project, Science, Culture, History and English Language
Development (SCHELD), which Barbara and Gary have developed in collaboration
with staff members at UC Santa Cruz. The idea behind this program is to
use the academic disciplines of science and history to teach reading,
writing, speaking, and listening skills to elementary school students.
Several prominent UCSD historians and scientists have agreed to present
at our SCHELD institute on campus this July. The cross-disciplinary nature
of the institute provides ground for innovative work; I am looking forward
to a week of intense intellectual explorations of connections between
science and the humanities. We have a small cadre of teacher-leaders who
will apply what they learn from these scholars in a graduate-style seminar
to design a curriculum for elementary school students. The teacher-leaders
will pilot and modify the lessons in their own classrooms over the next
school year, and then use this curriculum as the basis for a summer academy
in 2003, possibly to be located at the Preuss School.
Primary support for SCHELD
comes from federal sources, but to be effective, it must also receive
ongoing in-kind support from the University. The loss to teachers who
participate in this program and others that would be eliminated entirely
should CREATE be de-funded, would truly be staggering. Academic disciplines
constitute communities. When a third-grade student studies changes over
time in a local ecosystem, he or she participates in a great community
that includes historians and scientists at UCSD. Chancellor Dynes, please
ensure that the University remains fully engaged in that great community
by sustaining its K-12 outreach efforts.
Sincerely,
Jared Aldern
Community Education Coordinator
Warner Unified School District
Sports and Finals
June 7, 2002
In the spirit of students complaining
about finals, I've written a little resolution that will hopefully allow
you to understand the horrible torment I'm going through right now.
Bryce Warwick
Revelle College, 1st year
Whereas, it is important that
students at UCSD gain an understanding of culture outside of the classroom,
and
Whereas, sports are an important
part of our culture, and
Whereas, the World Cup is currently
underway, and
Whereas, Major League Baseball
is currently in the midst of inter-league play, and
Whereas, the third leg of horse
racing's Triple Crown will be contested this weekend, and
Whereas, the French Open finals
are this weekend, and
Whereas, the Tyson vs. Lewis
fight is also this weekend, and
Whereas, the National Hockey
League finals are currently underway, and
Whereas, the National Basketball
Association finals are also happening, and
Whereas, all of this quality
sports programming leaves little to no time for studying,
Be it resolved that the students
of UCSD disapprove of the scheduling of finals in such a crucial time
of the year and do petition the administration of this institution to
schedule final exams at a time more forgiving to sports fans in the future.
The Koala
June 18, 2002
Dear Sir,
I would like to take the opportunity to express my grave concern regarding
the actions taken against the student publication, The Koala. Your defense
of free speech with regards Voz Fronteriza should be extended to cover
all free speech no matter the source. It is not ingenuous of you to give
your imprimatur to one group that meets some standard of Political Correctness
and to withold same from another group which does not. I make my living
writing words, and I do not take lightly this censorious action, especially
at a public university. I teach at one and I would be extremely concerned
if such were to occur in my school. I am no less concerned that it is
happening at UCSD.
Respectfully,
Edmond Keenan Wynn
Member, Writers' Guild of America
Lecturer, Cinema Department, San Francisco State University
June 20, 2002
Dear Mr. Dynes,
I am writing regarding the
current controversy at your university regarding the trial of the Koala.
By allowing Movimiento Estudiantil de Chicanos deAztlan to freely express
its views (including vile hate speeches) but condemning the Koala for
its satires (which include some that your university finds distasteful),
you are sending a message that you do not value free speech at all but
are using a double standard by trying to appear politically correct. Please
be advised that this reflects very negatively on your university's reputation.
I urge you to do the right thing and be fair.
Sincerely,
Owen A. Granke
Examiner
Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE)
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