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UC Regents show signs of warming to bidding

University of California Board of Regents have as yet not made a decision on whether the university will bid to continue managing the Laboratory, but some regents who have expressed uncertainty showed signs of warming up to the idea Wednesday during the regents' bi-monthly meeting.

Regent Norman Pattiz, who had earlier expressed doubts about the continued management of the Laboratory, said a recent visit to the Lab affected him.

"It was quite an experience, it was one of the most interesting and stimulating visits that I've made to any place," he said. "A lot of my questions were answered..."

He continued, "It's also very clear to me that the work, the wide variety of work, being done there is crucial, is essential."

Mark Ornellas, another regent, noted that he had a similar experience during a visit to the Lab.

While the regents reiterated that they will wait for the final request for proposal before making a decision on whether to bid, Regents Chairman Gerald Parsky said, "We are going to be paying very close attention to making sure that [LANL employees'] retirement, their benefits will be protected in this or we won't bid. We want to give assurance to them that as part of the UC family we are very cognizant of their concerns."

For more on the regents' meeting, with regard to the management contract, see articles in the UC Daily Bruin and UC Berkeley's Daily Californian.

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