Tuesday, November 25, 1997
Governor sought gain for self, not UCs
BENEFITS: Wilson’s uncouth tactics confirm that university,
presidential politics shouldn’t mix
Last week, Gov. Pete Wilson went to extremes. He was out to
empower himself at the cost of the university. The governor showed
he would do anything to achieve an end. He showed he would even
resort to prostituting the UC Board of Regents for his own
political gain.
The Board of Regents met and approved a measure to provide
health benefits to same-sex employees.
However, the meeting did not go without a few hitches – namely
three new regent appointments at the last minute. Wilson’s
shuffling and maneuvering of regents proves the board has become
too political – and the governor potentially can shape university
policy for his own gain at the expense of the university.
The regents made a wise decision despite Wilson’s all-out
attempts to block the benefits. The board not only amended the
proposal to grant benefits for domestic partners, but also extended
it to those who "are incapable under California law of a valid
marriage because of family relationship," thereby not violating the
anti-discrimination statute of the university.
Wilson argued that because heterosexual unmarried couples are
not entitled to benefits, while homosexual couples are, the
extension of benefits would constitute a violation of
anti-discrimination policies.
The heated debate over whether to grant benefits to domestic
partners has been the subject of much attention in the past few
years, so much so that Wilson actually decided to show up and vote.
For the first time since the affirmative action debates in 1995,
the ex officio regent attended a UC Regent meeting.
Wilson is simply using this divisive debate in hopes of securing
a Republican nomination for a possible bid for the presidency in
2000, similar to the way he used the affirmative action debates in
his last attempt for the nomination.
While the regents were able to withstand Wilson’s last-ditch
efforts to vote the proposition down, the battle was very close,
winning 13-12. Wilson sunk to new lows in his latest ploy. Prior to
the meeting Thursday there were three vacancies among the 18 regent
seats appointed by the governor. Fearing the regents he appointed
earlier in his term would approve the benefits package, a desperate
and cunning Wilson resorted to appointing additional regents to
swing the vote. Democrat Ralph Ochoa was named a regent days before
the regents convened, and John Hotchikis and Carol Chandler were
appointed the morning of the final vote.
Wilson’s efforts to stack the board indicate he has little
respect for the UC as an institution of higher education, and he
simply views the board as his political weapon. While Wilson was
defeated this time, the prospects of a possible victory show how
dangerous it is to put the needs of a university in the hands of a
self-serving politician.
The regents should be applauded for not swaying to Wilson’s
objections and approving the measure.
The fact that Wilson could have won by stacking the board is
evidence that the current system of regent appointments is in dire
need of reform.
The University of California, under the state Constitution, is
supposed to be "independent and free of partisan and sectarian
influence." But the last-minute appointments show a degradation of
those principles.
Wilson’s conduct indicates the danger in giving him so much
power – especially when it involves institutions that should not be
embroiled in politics. His vile tactics nearly secured a victory,
one which would not be based on the best interests of the
university but on his own gain.