CSUN Vice President to Resign

Ron Kopita, the powerful and controversial vice president of student affairs at Cal State Northridge, announced Tuesday that he will step down June 5 to pursue “new challenges” that could include a teaching post at the university.

The announcement marks the second resignation of a CSUN vice president in as many months.

Since taking the job in 1992, Kopita revamped CSUN’s student-recruitment program and presided over an enrollment increase of about 3,500 students to 27,000. He also oversaw the expansion of the school’s National Center on Deafness and the Center on Disabilities.

Kopita ran into controversy, however, when the university announced in 1997 that it would eliminate the men’s soccer, volleyball, baseball and swimming programs rather than increase funding to meet federal gender-equity requirements. Under strong objections from alumni, most of the sports were restored.

He was also criticized following the arrest of a coach on federal charges of conspiring to distribute cocaine.

In an interview Tuesday, Kopita denied that he was under pressure to resign.

“I’m at the point in my life when I’d like to make some new contributions in some new ways,” Kopita said.

CSUN President Blenda J. Wilson praised Kopita’s administrative achievements, in a statement issued Tuesday, saying he “has played an important role in helping us keep our students’ needs foremost in our thoughts.”

Kopita came to CSUN in 1992, leaving behind a position at Moorhead State University in Minnesota, where he had worked as a top administrator for 15 years. During his tenure, CSUN’s residence hall program paid off a $4.5 million debt and a $17-million University Student Union expansion was completed.

“I’m sorry that he’s leaving,” said Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Louanne Kennedy. “He worked very effectively with some very complicated issues.”

Although well-liked by many of his colleagues, many students and people outside the university criticized his handling of CSUN’s athletic program.

In the wake of fierce criticism set off by the decision to cut four of the university’s men’s programs, Kopita went on a fishing vacation.

“You can rip it right off and have a sharp pain for a short time, or you can try to ease it off and feel a slow pain. I like to rip it off,” Kopita was quoted as saying shortly before the teams were disbanded.

A last-minute allocation by the California Legislature restored the athletic programs, but several university sources said the incident hurt Kopita politically.

Kopita came under renewed criticism last year when women’s basketball coach Michael J. Abraham was indicted on charges of conspiring to distribute cocaine. The scandal was capped by the resignation of two top university officials, former athletic director Paul Bubb--who reported directly to Kopita--and Judith Brame, associate athletic director.

At least two student leaders publicly accused Kopita of knowing about rumors that Abraham was involved with drugs and doing nothing. Kopita has repeatedly denied having any knowledge of Abraham’s alleged involvement with drug trafficking.

Kopita will be placed on administrative leave from June until the spring of 2000 and will retain his annual salary of $122,000. As a tenured educational psychology professor, Kopita has the option of joining CSUN’s faculty next year.