The Ryan Reserve Sale

The University of California’s “bottom-line” decision to sell the Ryan Glen Oak Reserve, “despite a clause restricting the disposal of the property until the Ryans’ deaths,” was unconscionable. As an undergraduate, I know colleges are hard up for money, but selling the land before Mrs. Ryan’s death was pretty tacky.

Frances Ryan, 88, offered to buy back the property, but was refused because Samuelsen, (director of the UC Natural Reserve System) said, “We felt that it would be unwise for a widow lady to be dipping into her estate.” Did the advisory committee make that decision for Frances because of her age, or her sex, or both? (And I was beginning to think that chivalry was dead.)

MARY LANE

Oceanside