International center honors cultural understanding

International center honors cultural understanding

By Lisa Marie Weyh

Mingling with others at an exclusive cocktail reception at the
Beverly Hills Hilton, Chancellor Charles Young and former Los
Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley acted as if they had known each other for
years.

On Tuesday night, guests in tuxedos and sequined gowns gathered
at the International Ballroom to witness the presentation of the
1995 Neil H. Jacoby International Award. The Rita and Stanley
Dashew International Student Center at UCLA presented the award to
businessman Richard Rosenberg for his commitment to international
and intercultural understanding through commerce.

The award was established in 1983 in honor of Neil H. Jacoby,
founding dean of UCLA’s Anderson Graduate School of Management.
Jacoby was also one of the founding members of the International
Student Center.

Individuals who have made exceptional contributions to enhancing
international understanding are eligible to receive the award,
officials said. Past recipients include Ted Turner, Kirk and Anne
Douglas, Armand and Frances Hammer and Norman and Ellen
Cousins.

The International Student Center, located on Hilgard Avenue, is
re-locating to the new facility under construction on Gayley
Avenue.

The new building will be called the Tom Bradley International
Center, and within this facility, the Rita and Stanley Dashew
International Student Center will administer the programs offered
to foreign students.

Services include financial and personal counseling for
international scholars. The center also helps provide them with
visas and housing.

"A whole new world opened up for me when I was a student at
UCLA. That is when I became aware of the importance of
international studies," Bradley said. "I am very excited to have
the International Center named after me. It is a great honor."

Scheduled to open in May 1996, the international center will
serve as a venue where American and international students and
scholars can interact with one another.

The 42,000 square foot facility will include Hall of Nations
lobby, a multi-functional conference room, an international coffee
house, study rooms, a library, a dance studio, a telecommunications
room and the Tom Bradley Archive, which will display memorabilia
collected throughout his 52 years of public service.

"This center is the result of very hard work," said Stanley
Dashew, founder of the International Student Center. "We have spent
12 years trying to get this accomplished and it is finally
happening."

Directly following the reception at 7:30 p.m., hosts led
invitees to the international dinner, where Mario Machado, the
Master of Ceremonies, was introduced.

Among his opening lines, the Emmy Award-winning broadcaster said
"David Letterman wanted to come tonight so badly that he offered
not to be the host."

A video presentation was shown explaining the vision of the Tom
Bradley International Center. The video ended with the message,
"People must absorb the basic principle of international trade …
learning to exchange what you have for what you need in
harmony."

Officials said the Tom Bradley International Center is dedicated
to the demonstration of three principles, one of which is a
commitment to a global citizenry to address the challenges of the
future.

Following the video, Young delivered a speech.

After touching upon several unrelated topics, he then went on to
thank those who have helped facilitate the new center.

Young then presented the award to Rosenberg, chairman and CEO of
BankAmerica.

"Richard is someone who understands and promotes cultural
unity," said Young. "He is someone who is devoted to the world we
live in and is personally committed to achieving diversity."