SUBJECT:

Assembly of the Academic Senate

Dear Colleagues:

As you may know, the systemwide Academic Assembly held a special meeting yesterday, March 13. The press release below reflects the outcome of that special meeting. The action of the Assembly was taken during closed, executive session. As I am sure most of you will agree, this is a very difficult precedent to set for the UC Senate. I wish to assure all of you that this was done in a very deliberate, measured fashion. The outcome was painful to all of us.

Jean-Bernard Minster, Chair Academic Senate, San Diego Division

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE ASSEMBLY OF THE ACADEMIC SENATE TAKES ACTION ON THE SENATE CHAIR

On March 13, 2006, at a special meeting of the Academic Assembly of the University of California, the Assembly passed the following Resolution of "No Confidence" in Professor Clifford Brunk as Chair of the Academic Senate of the University of California:

"The Academic Assembly instructs Vice Chair John Oakley to convey the following resolution to the President and requests that he transmit it to the Board of Regents of the University of California, the Chancellors, and all other relevant and appropriate parties.

"Resolved: the Assembly of the Academic Senate of the University of California has no confidence that (1) Clifford Brunk is professionally, faithfully, or effectively performing the duties and responsibilities of the Office of Chair of the Academic Senate, and (2) that Clifford Brunk can faithfully represent the views of the University of California Academic Senate."

After passage of the resolution, the Assembly adopted a motion to remove Professor Brunk as Chair of the Academic Senate, effective immediately.

The Academic Assembly is the systemwide governing body of the Academic Senate, which was established by The Regents and includes tenured and tenure-track faculty. Professor Brunk served as Chair of the Academic Senate beginning on September 1, 2005. His term was scheduled to end August 31, 2006. He remains a tenured member of the faculty at UCLA.

The former Vice Chair of the Academic Senate, Professor John B. Oakley of the UC Davis Law School, has become Chair of the Senate. Professor Michael Brown of UC Santa Barbara has been appointed Vice Chair of the Senate, pending an election to be held by the Assembly at its next meeting in April.