The Year in Review

An Active Year for the Berkeley Faculty Association Prompted by the furloughs announced in summer 2009, a small group of faculty met to reactivate the BFA to protect faculty interests, broadly construed, amidst the current crisis. An October 2009 election brought in a new BFA Board of Directors and officers, after which the BFA swung into action. In the fall, we set up a new website, ran a membership drive, and connected with other groups of faculty, students, and staff concerned with current and future threats to the integrity of the University of California. In the spring, BFA began to work on the state political front. BFA officers met with several California legislators to discuss the endangered future of UC. [...]

Education & Debt – D. Henwood

Excellent analysis of how far things have fallen across the country. It’s not just California — though we are leading the way down. Henwood on debt & education

Samuels on Financial Tricks

Samuels-How Universities Became Hedge Funds Bob Samuels of the AFT has written a provocative analysis of how universities, including UC, joined the game of finance in the go-go years of rising markets and deepening debt — in place of secure funding.  And have increased the risk of losses and lessened public control of state institutions.

Board Minutes – 1/22/10

Minutes of BFA Board meeting, January 22, 2010. BFA Board minutes 1-22-2010

Money Not UC’s Only Problem

Excellent opinion piece by two UCD Med School profs, published in the San Jose Mercury. Jue&Thesis-Money Not the Only Threat

Common Ground

Excellent statement on the crisis of the university by Peter Glazer and Greg Levine of SAVE — from the Townsend Center newsletter. Glazer_Levine_article