UC Santa Cruz Chancellor Suicides
UC Santa Cruz Chancellor Denice Denton, apparently despondent over work and personal issues, died Saturday after she jumped from the roof of a 42-story San Francisco apartment building, police said. Denton’s partner, Gretchen Kalonji, is listed as having an apartment in the building.
Denton, a well-regarded engineer, had been named this spring in a series of articles examining UC management compensation. She had been criticized for an expensive university-funded renovation on her campus home, and for obtaining a UC administrative job for Kalonji.
I believe we mentioned the scandal about executive compensation and benefits on CalStuff before, although I’m not sure if we ever referred to Denton by name. A sad situation.
The article itself is much longer. Thanks to the people who e-mailed me this and posted the link in comments.
Is the Chron claiming credit for her death?
Comment by Beetle — June 24, 2006 @ 9:09 pm
Was she an FTM? She looked like my grandfather, if he were wearing a horrible wig.
Comment by iliketapioca — June 25, 2006 @ 12:47 am
Why do all the involved public officials have to put her up on a pedastal now that she is dead? Sure I agree that the situation is sad. Her death is sad. But, with exception of possible mitigating mental problems/illness, she responded poorly after coming under fire for misuse of administrative privileges (which is not entirely her fault anyway thanks to UC).
That’s her bad. She is no hero. Her actions negate any respect she might have deserved.
I feel very bad for her gf and surviving family. What a horrible situation of confusion and grief she chose to put them in.
When you think it’s hopeless…remember there’s always four seconds left on the clock.
Comment by Eddy C — June 26, 2006 @ 12:51 pm
And to clarify, ” her poor response” & “her actions” etc etc that I keep referring to as taking away her respectability refer to her suicide, NOT to her alleged absuses of power.
Comment by Eddy C — June 26, 2006 @ 12:53 pm
What do you think are the “misuses of administrative privilege” that “negate any respect”?
If you mean the improvements to the chancellor’s residence and the job offer for Ms. Kalonji, I don’t see that. Even if you think those incidents were wrong (that’s debatable, at least), did she misuse some privilege. It looks to me like she requested them, and someone higher up approved them. Maybe it reflects poorly on Dynes, but I don’t see that as something to hold against Ms Denton.
Comment by staff sergeant anonymous — June 26, 2006 @ 1:15 pm
Read #4 genius.
Comment by Eddy C — June 26, 2006 @ 3:18 pm
your full of crap.
Comment by staff sergeant anonymous — June 26, 2006 @ 4:10 pm