Munitz lands new position

Former CSU chancellor Barry Munitz was appointed Monday to head Governor-elect Gray Davis' transition team. Munitz will assist California's next leader with policy development and recommendations for potential political appointments.

Davis touted the move as one that underscores his commitment to education, but faculty members who worked under Munitz expressed concerns that the former chancellor's influence on the next governor will take higher education in a direction they do not agree with.

"He has been associated with trying to impose a corporate model on education and he's particularly associated with the failed (Performance Step Salary Increase) system," said Tom Krabacher, geography professor and chair of the faculty senate at CSUS.

During his tenure as chancellor from 1991 to this year, Munitz implemented the PSSIs, a merit-based pay system that faculty largely despised.

Munitz also oversaw a 40 percent jump in student fees, from $936 for the 1991-92 year to $1,308 for 1992-3. When he left office in March of this year, fees were $1,584.

Jeff Lustig, president of the California Faculty Association for CSUS, called the appointment "lamentable."

"It's a slap in the face of the faculty who are by and large angry with Munitz, and a slap in the face of environmentalists as well because of Munitz' involvement with Maxxam," Lustig said.

Prior to his appointment as chancellor for the 22-campus system, Munitz was vice-president of MAXXAM, Corp., an investment company that sparked lawsuits and public outcry after raiding Pacific Lumber and threatening the existence of old-growth redwoods.

"I give him very high marks as a businessman, but I'm not sure about the educator part," said Michael Fitzgerald, journalism professor and former chair of the CSUS faculty senate. Fitzgerald is currently a statewide academic senate representative and has worked with Munitz in the past.

"What people should do is go back and review what Barry Munitz stood for and see if that's the vision they want for their next governor," Fitzgerald said. "I think we should not read too much into Munitz' appointment. He is a good organizer, if a ruthless organizer, but beyond that, we make a mistake if we read too much into this."