[Online Exclusive]: Some state senators want the UC president out

After months of public criticism aimed at University of California officials, three key state senators called Wednesday for the leader of the university to either resign or be fired.

Saying that “greed, arrogance and ignorance” were pervasive in the UC president’s office, Sen. Jeff Denham, R-Merced, asked that the UC Board of Regents fire UC President Robert Dynes.

In a separate news conference Wednesday morning, Sens. Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria, and Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, said Dynes has lost public trust after months of scandal and must resign.

All three senators serve on the state Senate Education Committee, which held two February hearings in which lawmakers were sharply critical of UC compensation.

Three audits have shown that the UC has violated state and university policies regarding compensation benefits on numerous occasions over the past several years.

Senators say the blame for the compensation errors falls on Dynes.

“(Dynes) either knew about all of these secret compensation deals and looked the other way, or he was completely unaware of what his key staff members were doing. In any case, it is clear that new leadership is needed,” Denham said in a statement.

Stacey Hendrickson, a spokeswoman for Denham’s office clarified one difference between Denham’s request and that of the other two senators.

“He asked (Regent) Chairman (Gerald) Parsky to fire President Dynes. He did not ask for a resignation,” she said. “The senator believes that (Dynes) should be fired ... not receive compensation or a severance package.”

Compiled by Bruin senior staff. Read The Bruin tomorrow for complete coverage.