Teaching and Research at UC

“Is Every Professor Really Doing Research?” (editorial, March 7) buys the party line put out by the University of California that certain courses are too valuable to the mission of a great university to be eliminated. It follows, in your view, that requiring professors of underenrolled classes, for example, to teach an additional class would not benefit the university.

UC’s assertion is, of course, a red herring that diverts attention from the fact that a university, great or mediocre, must live within its budget. The truism is particularly so in the case of UC, which is publicly funded. This may mean eliminating certain courses and faculty positions.

For too many years, UC has enjoyed virtual diplomatic immunity in its insulation from fiscal realities. All other levels of publicly supported educational institutions have recently been forced to absorb drastic cuts despite cogent arguments about the indispensability of their offerings.

It’s time that UC pays its price.

WALT GARDNER, Los Angeles