Save Tightwad Hill activists reached a settlement with the university last week concerning plans to expand UC Berkeley's Memorial Stadium, terminating an 18-month-long lawsuit between the parties.

The community group has agreed to work with university planners to reach a compromise about the proposed expansion to the stadium.

Tightwad Hill supporters first filed the lawsuit in January 2007, claiming that the university did not adequately address the issue that the expansions would obstruct the famously free view of football games that many Cal fans take advantage of season after season. The hill is located behind Memorial Stadium and is considered a landmark by Cal football fans.

"From my perspective, it looked like they were pretty much building the coffin for Tightwad Hill," said Dan Sicular, chairman of Save Tightwad Hill's central committee.

Despite presenting a 1,000-signature petition to the UC Board of Regents against the expansion of the stadium in fall 2006, Sicular's petition failed in halting the plans, causing him to lead efforts to sue the university.

Campus officials could not be reached for comment.

Now that a settlement has been reached between the two parties, they are slated to adjust the expansion plan to take into account the current view from Tightwad Hill. Sicular and the vice chair of Save Tightwad Hill's central committee will work most directly with university officials in reaching a compromise.

"Our protests have all been in the spirit of cooperation," Sicular said. "I'm very pleased that the university has entered into the settlement agreement with us, because it establishes their intent to work with us to preserve Tightwad Hill. I would like to think that this is an acknowledgement that the university recognizes Tightwad Hill as part of the Cal football tradition."

Hill-goers decided to form Save Tightwad Hill to protest the university's expansion plans for the stadium, but many said they have been coming to the hill long before the lawsuit was raised.

"We're not there to disrupt anything, we're there to enjoy Cal football," said Sicular. "I go up there with people I've known for years. I grew up in Berkeley and I went to Cal. It's quite a scene up there."

Tags: TIGHTWAD HILLS, MEMORIAL STADIUM