UCLA athletes say they value being in same conference as USC as UC regents mull vote on joining Pac-12
Drew Cannon, a senior from San Diego, talks about his commitment to the USC Trojans, and how he has developed a relationship with the Trojan family. (Ben Margot / Los Angeles Times)
Los Angeles Times staff writer Taylor Lorenz and Mina Bloom
UC regents gathered in their meeting room to vote on a proposal of unity with the Pac-12 on Sunday. The regents voted down a motion to join the Pac-12 for the 2014-15 school year. (Ben Margot / Los Angeles Times)
Drew Cannon, a senior from San Diego, talks about his commitment to the USC Trojans, and how he has developed a relationship with the Trojan family. (Ben Margot / Los Angeles Times)
The University of California regents have reached an impasse on the most consequential vote of their tenure. As regents began to leave the meeting room at Cal Chancellor Timothy P. White’s office after the vote on Sunday, one regent, who would only identify herself as “E” and did not give her name, told her colleagues: “We’ve had a very difficult year here, and I don’t need to tell you.”
A few minutes later, two regents, who would not identify themselves, approached the trio of regents who had just left the meeting room. The two regents took the microphone and said, to the group that had voted no and to their colleagues, while holding a sign that reading “We need a Pac-12”: “The Pac-12 needs us.”
In the moments that followed, E, who declined to specify her relationship with the other two regents, said she went into their conversation knowing that they were discussing the regents’ failure to vote on the Pac-12 proposal, but that her presence was only meant to give voice to people who were feeling unrepresented. In a text conversation before the meeting, E shared her concerns about the regents’ approach to handling the Pac-12’s proposal, believing that it lacked the commitment and leadership that is necessary in this situation.
UC regents met on Sunday to vote on a proposal of unity with the Pac-
