Quotes, bon mots, and noteworthy utterances from the campus and beyond
16 April 2009
"Toyota…poured billions of dollars into giant SUVs and pickup trucks, but, unlike Detroit, it also brought out the gas-sipping hybrid Prius and the fuel-efficient Corolla. In contrast, GM built super-sized Chevy Suburbans and then invested in Hummers."
Harley Shaiken, professor of education and geography, summarizing the chain of decisions and events that has led to the near-collapse of the U.S. auto industry.
"Motown Blues," Dissent, Spring 2009
"There is absolutely no ceiling for any type of student based on ethnicity — either in policy or in practice."
Berkeley admissions director Walter Robinson, responding to complaints that the percentage of underrepresented students accepted for the 2009-10 academic year did not change from 2008-09.
San Jose Mercury-News, April 9
"Immigrants in fact are the engine of development in this country and always have been."
Professor of Law Ian Haney Lopez, calling for immigration reform "right now" and noting that "it's a mistake to understand immigrants as a drain on the economy."
CNN, April 10
"You would have evacuated the wrong town, and you would have evacuated the wrong town at the wrong time."
Associate Professor of Earth and Planetary Science Richard Allen, on what would have happened had officials heeded an earthquake prediction made by an Italian scientist several weeks prior to the devastating Abruzzo quake of April 6.
New York Times, April 14
"It can be bad for business, keeping the yea-sayers around."
Jennifer Chatman, professor of organizational behavior at the Haas School of Business, on the workplace perils of "sucking up" to management by employees concerned about job security. Such employees may not provide candid feedback or share bad news.
New York Times, April 14
"He would have made a fantastic chief executive officer."
Former Cal quarterback Mike Pawlawski, recalling former head football coach Bruce Snyder, who died this week.
San Francisco Chronicle, April 14
"It's a decision I will be making very carefully, given the economic realities of the state of journalism."
Political blogger Josh Wolf, on his acceptance to the master's program at the School of Journalism. Wolf, who spent 226 days in jail rather than turn over a videotape to the FBI, was criticized by some at the time for lacking recognized journalism credentials.
SF Weekly, April 13
"My pal Scott Biddy trumped my suggestion of 'Twog' as a hybrid between a Twitter and a Blog; Scott's alternative: 'Blitter.' "
Ken Goldberg, professor of industrial engineering, keeping readers updated at SFGate.com. Scott Biddy is Berkeley's vice chancellor for University Relations.