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by Andy
Evangelista First
appeared 2 March 1999
Politics Makes Strange, Bad or Good Bedfellows
It may have seemed an odd sight last week: UC Regent William Bagley -- a 70-year-old,
white male, lifelong Republican --presenting UCSF's Black Heritage Month keynote address.
But as campus affirmative action director Michael Adams pointed out, "Your allies
don't always look like you." And, as Bagley, an outspoken critic of the Regents' 1995
decision to ban UC affirmative action programs, noted, fellow Regent Ward Connerly -- an
African-American who has become part of a national crusade to eliminate race and gender
preferences in admissions and hiring -- no doubt has been getting standing ovations from
white audiences across the country.
At his talk last Wednesday, before a diverse UCSF audience -- administrators,
rank-and-file employees and students of various ethnic backgrounds -- Bagley hinted that
the Regents may soon have enough votes to overturn the controversial 1995 decision, which
he says has tarnished the University's image and driven away highly qualified minority
student applicants. With four vacancies to be filled soon by Governor Davis, and another
two next year, the political make-up of the Board of Regents undoubtedly will change, said
Bagley. A vote on a new resolution, however, will not come any time soon. Although he
would not give a specific timetable, Bagley said he prefers that a new vote on affirmative
action not just squeak by with a 13-12 tally, but have a resounding majority. That may
take a bit more time and work.
Bagley acknowledges that repealing the four-year-old ban on affirmative action would be
mostly symbolic, because it would not overturn Proposition 209. Although the University's
president and nine chancellors opposed the ban, the Regents' vote sent out an unwelcoming
message to minorities around the country, he said. Repealing that vote "would be a
nice surgical incision that cuts out the bad part of that message," said Bagley,
probably feeling the need to use a medical metaphor at a UCSF lecture. Connerly, on the
other hand, has said there is not enough support to lift the Regents' decision and any
move to do so would open up old wounds.
A new Regents' vote touched by politics? Nothing new, says Bagley, who gave a
retrospective on the 1995 decision. He blamed the ban on affirmative action on former
Governor Pete Wilson, whom Bagley referred to as his "former friend." The
resolution "would have not have passed if the governor wasn't running for
president," said Bagley. But Wilson saw the opportunity then to debate Jesse Jackson
before national media and kick-off his presidential campaign. He also swayed enough
Regents to side with him on this "wedge issue," which "attacked the
University just to make political points," said Bagley. But the 14-10 decision to ban
UC affirmative action also kicked-off momentum that resulted in Propositions 187, 209 and
227, he said.
On another note of irony, Wilson announced last week that he is bowing out of the
Republican race for the presidency in 2000.
Airing it Out
Organizers of last week's conference on "UCSF's Environmental Ethics" at Laurel
Heights were puzzled by the occasional rush of noticeable fumes and bad air -- perhaps a
result of the remodeling and construction at LH -- that at times forced some of the 150
attendees to rush for the exits. They chose to keep the auditorium doors open and risk
frostbite rather than to gasp too much of the indoor stuff. Guess there's no good way to
recycle lousy air.
Paging All Batteries
Ever wonder what to do with that burned-out battery? Bear Necessities, the campus office
supply store on the third floor HSE annex, collects all types of batteries big and small
-- including those that make our pagers beep, vibrate and chime -- for proper disposal or,
in some cases, recharging. That handy bit of advice was announced at the conference on
environmental ethics (see above). Jim Hales at the store says every week he collects
between 75 and 100 batteries, which are picked up by campus Environmental Health and
Safety. He invites campus members to bring in their old flashlight, toy and other
batteries from home instead of tossing them in the trash. If they get buried in the dumps,
they juice up some serious environmental problems. Hales also mentioned that used
Hewlett-Packard toner cartridges purchased from Bear Necessities may be returned there for
proper recycling.
Good Press
SF Chronicle columnist Jon Carroll's series of columns last week on diabetes and his
experiences attending the UCSF Diabetes Teaching Center's education sessions triggered
more than 60 calls to the Center from other diabetics. Hundreds of diabetics over the
years have benefited from knowledge, support and confidence gained at the Center to manage
their disease. The Center's number is 476-5029.
Good and Bad Health News
The following clashing headlines were found recently on health and science news wires:
"Wine Drinkers Consume Heart-Smart Diets" (Feb. 2 release from American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition)
"Does Moderate Alcohol Drinking Stimulate Appetite?" (Feb. 24 release
from American Journal of Clinical Nutrition)
"Sex While Intoxicated Boosts STD Risk" (Feb. 26, Reuters Health)
"Running May Build Up Brain Cells" (Feb.
22, AP)
"Unsafe Neighborhoods Discourage Exercise" (Feb. 26, Reuters Health)
"Tomatoes May Lower Cancer Risk" (Feb.
17, AP)
"Vegetarian Mothers Have Higher Incidence of Genital Defects in Sons" (Feb.
25 Nando Times)
Readers: If you have any items or suggestions for this
column, send us an email: andye@itsa.ucsf.edu. |
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