Battling the Bias Against Women at UC

* After reading Prof. Morris Hirsch’s commentary (“There Are Solutions for Women’s Lack of Advancement at UC,” May 1) on gender bias at UC Irvine and throughout the UC system, I want my state legislators to know this: As a taxpayer and mother of a UC graduate, I’ve had enough!

For years I’ve defended the University of California against right-wing attacks, and I always supported more generous funding. Now I’ve changed my mind. I figure it this way: If the University of California has money to burn on lawsuits defending the administration’s discrimination against women faculty, then--as far as I’m concerned--the university has too much money.

I say let’s cut the UC budget. Let’s cut it deeply, until the administration shapes up and ends its disgusting discrimination against women.

BEVERLY KASPAR

Corona del Mar

* Morris Hirsch has suggested a very reasonable and long-overdue approach toward settling complaints of gender bias in personnel actions of UC faculty before they evolve into expensive litigation.

As a faculty member of more than 30 years’ experience in the University of California, I recognize that such gender bias can and does exist in some departments. Supposed safeguards established through administrative policy statements and appeals processes created by the Academic Senate are not enough to ensure that equity will be reached in every case.

The blue-ribbon panel proposed by Hirsch would provide the chancellor with a review by distinguished scholars. This may expedite early administrative action to restore equity and avoid the pain, suffering and expense that usually result from protracted appeals and long litigation.

H. DAVID MOSIER, M.D.

Irvine