California State University Trustees

Gov. George Deukmejian said Thursday that he would not ask the chairwoman of the California State University trustees to resign, although she made a "bad mistake" by misrepresenting her educational background. In a press conference here, Deukmejian said Huntington Beach resident Marianthi K. Lansdale has apologized to him for claiming a community college degree she did not have when the governor first nominated her to the prestigious CSU Board of Trustees nearly four years ago. The claim was also forwarded to the state Senate, which confirmed her nomination for a term that expires in March, 1993.

L.A.'s water visionary Re "Mulholland's Los Angeles," Editorial, July 10 Though he was a poor geologist (the St. Francis Dam disaster), William Mulholland's environmental legacy is remarkably positive. His 220-mile-long aqueduct is an engineering masterpiece, entirely gravity-fed. It produces hydroelectric power. Contrast this with the California State Water Project of the1970s, which expends more energy than any single operation in California to pump water over the Tehachapi Mountains.

California State University trustees gave unanimous voice vote to a unique proposal that will allow California State University, Fullerton, to build the first on-campus hotel at any public university in the state. Cal State Fullerton President Jewel Plummer Cobb said construction will start next summer, with completion targeted for fall, 1988. The $16-million hotel will give part of its profits to pay for building the university's first football stadium and baseball pavilion.

Stephen Weber says he'll miss walking across the campus of San Diego State when he retires in a few weeks and moves to coastal Maine. Small wonder. The sun-splashed campus on a plateau that locals call Montezuma Mesa is, to a large degree, a reflection of Weber's 15 years as president. Beyond the new construction and landscaping, and the fact that a great number of faculty members were hired during Weber's tenure, there have been significant changes in the curriculum, student achievement levels and the university's involvement with its host city.

Contrary to what "Here's an Idea: Throw Money at CSU" (Commentary, April 15) said, the California State University trustees are committed to attracting more funds. Our 1999-2000 budget request is 11.5% higher than last year and includes a 6% salary increase for faculty. We also are seeking another agreement with the governor for stable, long-term funding. In addition, CSU campuses are 10 of the nation's top 20 public master's institutions in fund-raising. The CSU last year raised $648 million in external funding.

Marianthi Lansdale, chairwoman of the California State University trustees, not only misstated her academic credentials but also demonstrated an unacceptable arrogance for her position on the board and to the citizens of the state. We do read The Times, and far more importantly, we do care. Personally, I care greatly that she "doesn't care," and that she apparently cannot read well enough to fill out application forms. If she reads poorly and doesn't care what her word means, well, it seems perhaps she earned her degree from a phone book.

The California State University trustees will attempt to purchase up to 550 acres of Ventura's Taylor Ranch for the University Center at Ventura. Most of us are aware of the huge cost and legal roadblocks. Nevertheless, we feel this site is the best one. But it will take a little more than tons and tons of nickels and dimes. During my high school days in my village a long, long time ago, we youngsters discussed how a group of Spanish settlers came across the ocean, landed in the Caribbean and started the first university of the Americas, the University of Santo Domingo, in 1538.

California's two public university systems have approved a plan to standardize college-prep courses required for all incoming freshmen, making it simpler for high school students to stay on track for college. California State University trustees gave the plan final approval Wednesday, six months after it was adopted by the University of California regents.

Re "CSU Admissions: Softer Isn't Better," editorial, Nov. 30: Far from being a retreat on remedial education, the current California State University trustees' proposal lays out an ambitious plan for defining academic standards and implementing them. The trustees are postponing nothing. Instead, they suggest an immediate and effective process to improve the education of all public school students. To get real improvement will not be easy. The earlier subcommittee proposal, praised as "sensible" by your editorial, would have imposed an additional entrance requirement for CSU students--one beyond that of the University of California and most other U.S. colleges.

Taking action at a special board meeting Friday, the California State University trustees approved a 5% fee increase for undergraduate students for this fall to help alleviate steep cuts in state support. The board voted 10 to 2 to adopt the fee hike, which translates to a $204 increase for full-time undergraduates, bringing the total university fee to $4,230 for the 2010-2011 academic year. With additional fees charged by each campus, the overall annual cost for an undergraduate to attend the university will rise to $5,097, not including housing or books.

Taking action at a special board meeting Friday, the California State University trustees approved a 5% fee increase for undergraduate students for this fall to help alleviate steep cuts in state support. The board voted 10 to 2 to adopt the fee hike, which translates to a $204 increase for full-time undergraduates, bringing the total university fee to $4,230 for the 2010-2011 academic year. With additional fees charged by each campus, the overall annual cost for an undergraduate to attend the university will rise to $5,097, not including housing or books.

California's two public university systems have approved a plan to standardize college-prep courses required for all incoming freshmen, making it simpler for high school students to stay on track for college. California State University trustees gave the plan final approval Wednesday, six months after it was adopted by the University of California regents.

Contrary to what "Here's an Idea: Throw Money at CSU" (Commentary, April 15) said, the California State University trustees are committed to attracting more funds. Our 1999-2000 budget request is 11.5% higher than last year and includes a 6% salary increase for faculty. We also are seeking another agreement with the governor for stable, long-term funding. In addition, CSU campuses are 10 of the nation's top 20 public master's institutions in fund-raising. The CSU last year raised $648 million in external funding.

Re "CSU Admissions: Softer Isn't Better," editorial, Nov. 30: Far from being a retreat on remedial education, the current California State University trustees' proposal lays out an ambitious plan for defining academic standards and implementing them. The trustees are postponing nothing. Instead, they suggest an immediate and effective process to improve the education of all public school students. To get real improvement will not be easy. The earlier subcommittee proposal, praised as "sensible" by your editorial, would have imposed an additional entrance requirement for CSU students--one beyond that of the University of California and most other U.S. colleges.

In a prelude to what many expect will be a controversial action, a committee of California State University trustees on Tuesday approved a resolution aimed at significantly boosting the salaries of campus presidents to stay "competitive" with similar institutions around the country.

Blenda J. Wilson, in inaugural ceremonies Friday, will be installed as the third president of Cal State Northridge. Wilson, 52, is the nation's only African-American woman to head a university of more than 25,000 students. Wilson took over the campus in September, after the retirement of James W. Cleary.

In a prelude to what many expect will be a controversial action, a committee of California State University trustees on Tuesday approved a resolution aimed at significantly boosting the salaries of campus presidents to stay "competitive" with similar institutions around the country.

Blenda J. Wilson, in inaugural ceremonies Friday, will be installed as the third president of Cal State Northridge. Wilson, 52, is the nation's only African-American woman to head a university of more than 25,000 students. Wilson took over the campus in September, after the retirement of James W. Cleary.

Gov. George Deukmejian said Thursday that he would not ask the chairwoman of the California State University trustees to resign, although she made a "bad mistake" by misrepresenting her educational background. In a press conference here, Deukmejian said Huntington Beach resident Marianthi K. Lansdale has apologized to him for claiming a community college degree she did not have when the governor first nominated her to the prestigious CSU Board of Trustees nearly four years ago. The claim was also forwarded to the state Senate, which confirmed her nomination for a term that expires in March, 1993.

Marianthi Lansdale, chairwoman of the California State University trustees, not only misstated her academic credentials but also demonstrated an unacceptable arrogance for her position on the board and to the citizens of the state. We do read The Times, and far more importantly, we do care. Personally, I care greatly that she "doesn't care," and that she apparently cannot read well enough to fill out application forms. If she reads poorly and doesn't care what her word means, well, it seems perhaps she earned her degree from a phone book.