Last week we wrote about the 32% tuition hike for University of California(U.C.) students. Ever wonder who’s deciding how much tuition should be? The University is governed by "The Regents," which under the California Constitution has "full powers of organization and governance" subject only to very specific areas of legislative control. The 32% increase doesn’t seem as shocking once you learn that the regents are made up of mostly of corporate C.E.O’s, investment bankers and lawyers. In fact, only 2 of the 19 regents have an education background. Out of the 19 regents: • 12 are male, 7 female • 6 regents are people of color; 3 Latinos, 2 Blacks, 1 Asian Here’s a brief bio of the UC regents:

Richard C. Blum is Chairman of Blum Capital Partners, L.P. and Co-Chairman of Newbridge Capital, LLC. Mr. Blum earned his B.A. and M.B.A degrees from the University of California, Berkeley.
Russell Gould, the current Chair of the Board of Regents, has had a varied career in both the public and private sectors. He has served as a Senior Vice President of Wachovia Bank, providing leadership in business development and strategic partnerships as Senior Managing Director of Wachovia Portfolio Services, formerly Metropolitan West Securities, which he joined in 1996.

Sherry Lansing is the Founder of The Sherry Lansing Foundation and former Chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures Motion Picture Group, a position she held for twelve years.
George M. Marcus is the founder and Chairman of The Marcus & Millichap Company, a national commercial real estate brokerage, investment and development company.
Norman J. Pattiz is the founder and chairman of Westwood One, America’s largest radio network company, which owns, manages or distributes NBC Radio Network, CBS Radio Network, the Metro Networks, CNN Radio and and is the nation’s largest producer of news, sports, talk and entertainment programming.
George Kieffer is a partner and member of the Executive Committee of the national law firm of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP. He focuses on regulatory issues and oversees major business litigation, business transactions and government-related matters.
William De La Peña, M.D. is a professor of ophthalmology, and founder and medical director of the De La Peña Eye Clinics throughout Southern California.

 

Hadi Makarechian serves as Chairman of Makar Properties Board of Directors and Banning Lewis Ranch Management Company.
Eddie Island is is a retired attorney and executive. Prior to his retirement in 1998, Mr. Island served as a vice president for McDonnell-Douglas Corporation where he led the law, intellectual property and governmental affairs departments throughout his tenure.
Odessa Johnson is the Dean Emerita of Community Education at Modesto Junior College and a former member of the Modesto City Schools Board of Education.
Joanne Corday Kozberg is a partner in California Strategies, a public affairs consulting firm. Ms. Kozberg has served in various other leadership and professional posts, including Executive Director of the Coro Foundation in Southern California and as Southern California Director of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund.
Monica Lozano is the Senior Vice President of Newspapers for Impremedia LLC, the number one Hispanic news and information company in the United States in online and print. Ms. Lozano is also the publisher and Chief Executive Officer of La Opinión Newspaper,which is the nation’s largest Spanish-language daily newspaper.
Jesse M. Bernal is the student Regent for a one-year term commencing July 1, 2009. A first generation college student, Mr. Bernal received his bachelor’s degree in political science from Westmont College in Santa Barbara.
Bonnie Reiss is a partner in the Pegasus Sustainable Century Merchant Bank, the market leader in providing capital as well as strategic advice to commercially attractive sustainable businesses which are located primarily in the United States.
Fred Ruiz is Chairman and CEO of Ruiz Foods, a leading manufacturer of authentically prepared frozen Mexican foods.
Leslie Tang Schilling is Founder and Director of Union Square Investments Company, a commercial real estate investment and management firm.
Bruce Varner is is partner with Varner & Brandt LLP. His practice is in the areas of general business, corporate and transactional law.
Paul D. Wachter is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Main Street Advisors. Main Street Advisors provides a wide range of financial, strategic and asset management advisory services to a select group of high net worth individuals and companies.
Charlene Zettel is currently a Board Member of the San Diego Regional Airport Authority and served as the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger from 2004-2007.