Poll: Was Punishment Too Lenient for UC Boss Who Gave Raises to Lover?

A UC Berkeley administrator who allegedly gave salary raises to an employee she was having a sexual relationship with was demoted from her position asissistant vice chancellor, according to documents obtained by the Bay Area News Group. Diane Leite was also given a pay cut, but will still make $175,000 a year.

Leite, 47, authorized five raises in the space of two years for purchasing manager Jonathan Caniezo, 30, according to university investigators. The two were involved in a sexual relationship from September 2009 to early 2011, Leite told investigators.

Caniezo earned less than $70,000 in 2007, the Bay Area News Group reports, and by 2010 was earning more than $110,000.

University investigators found that Leite had violated the university's sexual harassment policy, and as a result demoted her from the position of assistant vice chancellor, effective March 1. She was "temporarily reassigned to other duties," according to Vice Chancellor Robert Price.

Leite's pay was docked from from $188,531 to $175,000 — a move criticized by Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, for being too lenient. 

A UC Berkeley student has started a petition asking for Leite to be fired.

"It doesn't matter what college or university you go to, this type of behavior is absolutely intolerable under any circumstances," says student Daniel Ho in the petition letter.