"It has been an honor and a privilege to be your Chancellor. And, Sandy [Barbour], if it's not too much to ask, Mary Catherine and I would like to see Cal at the Rose Bowl." -Chancellor Birgeneau's Charter Gala remarks

ride525;729989 said:

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"It has been an honor and a privilege to be your Chancellor. And, Sandy [Barbour], if it's not too much to ask, Mary Catherine and I would like to see Cal at the Rose Bowl." -Chancellor Birgeneau's Charter Gala remarks

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Well, he must mean that metaphorically since we all know that Birg hates Cal Athletics
:sarc:

I'm sorry but that is about the most ridiculous comment I've seen on Insider or even going back to Cyberbears. What do you base this comment on? Considering the University's financial difficulities I think he has stepped up to support the entire athletic program as best he could. From his attendance at FB and BB games and the preseason baseball banquet he his been a consistent supporter of Cal athletics. If Cal ended up dropping five sports last year then perhaps your comment might have made sense but fortunately that was not the case.

63Gaucho;730038 said:

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I'm sorry but that is about the most ridiculous comment I've seen on Insider or even going back to Cyberbears. What do you base this comment on? Considering the University's financial difficulities I think he has stepped up to support the entire athletic program as best he could. From his attendance at FB and BB games and the preseason baseball banquet he his been a consistent supporter of Cal athletics. If Cal ended up dropping five sports last year then perhaps your comment might have made sense but fortunately that was not the case.

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Plus, I can't remember whether it had to do with hiring Sandy, the stadium project, or keeping Tedford; but it was some major aspect of the football program was his first order of business when he arrived on campus. I know that many were concerned that he would put Cal athletics on the back burner, but he showed his support by stepping up to the plate. These claims of non-support are just not accurate.

63Gaucho;730038 said:

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I'm sorry but that is about the most ridiculous comment I've seen on Insider or even going back to Cyberbears. What do you base this comment on?...

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Valleyblue;730059 said:

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... These claims of non-support are just not accurate.

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Did you guys miss the dripping "SARCASM" icon at the end of GivemTheAxe's post?

FingeroftheBear;730101 said:

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Birg and Barbout did an excellent job getting CMS and the SAHPC done under their watch, despite less than ideal conditions. Neither happen if Birg hates athletics.

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taking him at his word, is a huge fan of Cal athletics, and did what he could to protect I/A against the lunatic fringe. When you have the lead critic against I/A quoted in articles that Cal is engaging "sub-prime" financing on a bond issue at 3 to 4% interest rates without any challenge other faculty, you begin to understand what Birg is up against.

63Gaucho;730038 said:

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I'm sorry but that is about the most ridiculous comment I've seen on Insider or even going back to Cyberbears. What do you base this comment on? Considering the University's financial difficulities I think he has stepped up to support the entire athletic program as best he could. From his attendance at FB and BB games and the preseason baseball banquet he his been a consistent supporter of Cal athletics. If Cal ended up dropping five sports last year then perhaps your comment might have made sense but fortunately that was not the case.

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Funny, somehow I thought that I did not have to explain the meaning of the word "Sarcasm" in bold black letters with blood dripping off them.

If you have been visiting this site for even the past month you might have noticed that there has been some criticism of Birg for allegedly failing to support Cal Athletics. I have opposed those critisisms since IMO Birg has done a good job under bad circumstances.

So please read the entire post next time before going on a rant.:headbang

ride525;729989 said:

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"It has been an honor and a privilege to be your Chancellor.

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It's very very difficult in these trying times to feel sympathy for huugely compensated executives. Argue market forces, you may be right, but I just gotta roll my eyes. The .01%-ers are figuratively sucking the air out of America.

Nice guy? Sure thing, and his darlin' wifey too. Guessing, they'll have no worries (other than health -- we all die) for the forseeable future.

#GoBears!

63Gaucho;730038 said:

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I'm sorry but that is about the most ridiculous comment I've seen on Insider or even going back to Cyberbears. What do you base this comment on? Considering the University's financial difficulities I think he has stepped up to support the entire athletic program as best he could. From his attendance at FB and BB games and the preseason baseball banquet he his been a consistent supporter of Cal athletics. If Cal ended up dropping five sports last year then perhaps your comment might have made sense but fortunately that was not the case.

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Failure. Thine name is 63Guacho.

SiniCal;730892 said:

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It's very very difficult in these trying times to feel sympathy for huugely compensated executives. Argue market forces, you may be right, but I just gotta roll my eyes. The .01%-ers are figuratively sucking the air out of America.

Nice guy? Sure thing, and his darlin' wifey too. Guessing, they'll have no worries (other than health -- we all die) for the forseeable future.

#GoBears!

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I am in sympathy with the substance of your remarks, but I am not sure Birg qualifies as the top one tenth of a percent in income. I believe his comp is in the range of $465k per anum plus whatever bonuses he may get. I believe the top one tenth is income above $1mil per anum before bonuses. In the highest levels of the corporate management world, I don't believe $465K is regarded as major base salary compensation. Don't get me wrong, to me, that is still big money, just making the observation.
I have some sympathy for Birg in that the political infighting experienced within faculty factions in leading a major university is huge. I know of what I speak, I taught at Cal as a visiting lecturer some years ago. I saw the tip of the ice burg, believe me the infighting for departmental recognition, and thus compensation, is huge. All of this goes on at the private universities also, you just don't see it publicized. IMHO Cal occupies an awkward position between the public and private realms. It is no longer really public, but still cannot claim completely private status. My current thinking is that Cal should cross that line, admit that it is essentially a privately financed university, with a public mission. Dilute the influence of the board of regents with an advisory council, composed of alumni with the desire to keep the education process free of any single dominate influence. Yeah, this is easier said than described, much less done.

Number 031343;730960 said:

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I am in sympathy with the substance of your remarks, but I am not sure Birg qualifies as the top one tenth of a percent in income. I believe his comp is in the range of $465k per anum plus whatever bonuses he may get. I believe the top one tenth is income above $1mil per anum before bonuses. In the highest levels of the corporate management world, I don't believe $465K is regarded as major base salary compensation. Don't get me wrong, to me, that is still big money, just making the observation.
I have some sympathy for Birg in that the political infighting experienced within faculty factions in leading a major university is huge. I know of what I speak, I taught at Cal as a visiting lecturer some years ago. I saw the tip of the ice burg, believe me the infighting for departmental recognition, and thus compensation, is huge. All of this goes on at the private universities also, you just don't see it publicized. IMHO Cal occupies an awkward position between the public and private realms. It is no longer really public, but still cannot claim completely private status. My current thinking is that Cal should cross that line, admit that it is essentially a privately financed university, with a public mission. Dilute the influence of the board of regents with an advisory council, composed of alumni with the desire to keep the education process free of any single dominate influence. Yeah, this is easier said than described, much less done.

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I hear your claim that Cal should go public and have some sympathy since the state provides only 10% of the operating revenues.

But 10% is still 10%; and IIRC the State owns the land and buildings and does not charge the university for their use.

Plus there are several other less visible benefits in the form or (i) easier procedures for floating bonds for things such as the construction projects; and (ii) public condemnation of spaces needed for futher buildings [now if Cal could only take over use of space that was previously acquired called "People's Park]

68great;731045 said:

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I hear your claim that Cal should go public and have some sympathy since the state provides only 10% of the operating revenues.

But 10% is still 10%; and IIRC the State owns the land and buildings and does not charge the university for their use.

Plus there are several other less visible benefits in the form or (i) easier procedures for floating bonds for things such as the construction projects; and (ii) public condemnation of spaces needed for futher buildings [now if Cal could only take over use of space that was previously acquired called "People's Park]

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One of the biggest benefits for Cal is the fact that whenever we acquire land, we don't have to pay taxes on them. That alone would be tens of millions out of the budget every single year.