Board’s decision to fire Reed was a mistake

Board’s decision to fire Reed was a mistake

By Michael Meehan

I am writing as a concerned alumnus of UCLA to express my
extreme disappointment in the actions of the ASUCLA board of
directors relating to the placing of Jason Reed on "administrative
leave" after more than 20 years of service to the students’
association and UCLA.

Reed is one of four people to hold the position of executive
director since the creation of ASUCLA by Bill Ackerman and has held
the position for a longer period of time than anyone since
Ackerman. ASUCLA is the largest, student-run association in America
and its size and prestige is due in part to Reed’s focused and
diligent efforts.

As the 1988-89 undergraduate student body president and former
chairman of the board of directors, I can honestly say that Reed
was one of the few administrators at UCLA who felt it was important
for students to have a say in the affairs of the university. When
my administration was fighting with the Academic Senate to have
student representation, Jason Reed was fighting to keep the
association an independent entity at UCLA with a student-majority
board. Reed was constantly working with students to ensure the
association was meeting their needs as cost effectively as
possible, with all "profits" being returned to the students through
programming funds or cost rebates.

I can see how it would be easy for a consultant who lacks retail
and food service knowledge to come in and say, "Let’s get rid of
the executive director." Then the board will say, "OK, but who will
run the association?" The board’s only option is to give total
control to the consultants. This makes no sense if the goal of the
board is to do what is best for the association and the students it
is supposed to serve.

From reading the April 25 Daily Bruin article, "ASUCLA to fire
executive director," it seems clear that the new "executive
director team" has a problem with the organization’s goal of
"keeping prices as low as possible," which means that the students’
association will no longer be the cheapest place to buy your school
books or supplies, but I guess that will look good on the
"consultant’s" résumé for their next acquisition.

I know this move by the board will prove to be a mistake. I also
know that it is a mistake to send the message to all of the
long-time ASUCLA employees that the board has no sense of loyalty
to you for your hard work and commitment. I wanted to write this
viewpoint to point out to the UCLA community that this is a
mistake, and all of the students should be aware that they have
just put one of their greatest champions on "administrative
leave."

Students, the next time you look at your bills and wonder why
the price of food and books keeps going up, remember this day,
remember this board and remember the advocate you lost in Jason
Reed.

Meehan, a UCLA alumnus, served as undergraduate students’
association president and board of directors chair in 1988-89.