<p>
</p>
<p>I have never disputed that many of my proposals are politically controversial. </p>
<p>Yet it is precisely because my proposals rarely if ever are enacted that has caused me to appreciate just how powerfully entrenched the political forces truly are at Berkeley. Which is why I view the move by the administration to admit their OOS students - and their extra funding - as perhaps the most politically palatable option. OOS students (usually) don’t commandeer school buildings whenever fees are increased. OOS students don’t decry the loss of ‘opportunity’ and ‘access’ whenever admissions requirements are increased. And, like I said, recent taxpayers are not exactly providing lavish financial support to Berkeley anyway. Far from it, in fact. Given that, as the administration, who would you rather admit?</p>