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A New Residence for UCI Chancellor

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This is in response to recent news articles concerning the construction on campus of a new, $3-million house for the chancellor of UC Irvine.

I find it difficult to believe that this type of home (or should it be called “estate”?) is being built for the chancellor.

I have done some simple math. Today, to build a custom home with lavish appointments such as marble floors and beveled glass windows costs between $100 and $150 per square foot. Given that no expense should be spared for our chancellor, let us use the $150-per-square foot price and divide that by $2 million (remember, the house is to be built in University Hills on land already owned by the university free and clear). If my calculator did not short out, that is 20,000 square feet. I repeat, 20,000 square feet.

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Could it be that this residence is also going to house Irvine’s homeless? I mean, just how much space will the new chancellor need or want just to be able to get away from it all?

The house is supposed to include rooms for official and social functions. That is great. But who exactly will have access to these splendid facilities? Might it not be better to expand and update the more centrally located University Club, a facility that all members of the university could have access to?

Anyhow, life remains a great mystery and I guess we at UCI plan to keep it as such by adding the eighth wonder of the world on a 2.2-acre facility overlooking UCI, surrounding communities, the homeless, and the Pacific Ocean with its boat people floating in on their yachts.

GARY B. RODRIGUE

Irvine

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