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Greenwood still on the payroll
It's been almost a month since University of California provost M.R.C. Greenwood resigned amid allegations that she had accepted inappropriate incentive payments and that she had used her influence to secure jobs for a business contact and her son. And yet, she remains on the payoll, pulling in over $25,000 a month. In the wake of the Greenwood scandal, which in turn touched off controversy about the extraordinary compensation packages received by top UC administrators, UC president Robert Dynes has been promising everyone who will listen that the UC system is going to commit itself to greater transparency and greater accountability. And yet, he somehow managed not to mention to the media that Greenwood was awarded a year's paid sabbatical after she resigned. She'll continue to collect a hefty salary despite the fact that serious concerns have been raised about whether she conducted herself ethically while occupying her post. Greenwood's tactics here are fairly transparent and easy to comprehend--by resigning, she avoided the consequences of an investigation that could have gotten her fired; she also ensured that she would continue to be paid for work she was no longer doing, all on the California taxpayer's dime. Dynes' tactics, however, are not so transparent (though they are readily comprehensible). As such, they suggest that his vow to make the administrative processes of the UC system more accessible--and hence more open to criticism--may not be worth much.
UC spokesmen say that it is usual to give administrators who are returning to their teaching posts a year's sabbatical so that they have time to get back into their research. They aren't commenting, however, on whether it's also usual to give administrators who have compromised themselves and their institutions exceptional financial awards of the sort Greenwood has received.
Posted by acta online at November 29, 2005 06:08 PM
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Comments
This is just the tip of a massive iceberg of fraud and corruption at the University of California. How many faculty members are engaged in proprietary corporate research under nondisclosure agreements? How many sit on the boards of companies? How many operate under massive conflicts of interest? This is all due to Bayh-Dole and the desire for patent research profits. It has led to corruption of basic scientific principles such as the free flow of information, honest examination of scientific results, you name it. Look at the recent stem cell research in Korea - note that a number of patents were involved (of course). As Science magazine editor D.K. said last year - 25 years of Bayh-Dole is enough. The university-corporate complex is out of control.
Posted by: Ike Solem at February 10, 2006 05:27 PM