Choosing a new leader for UCLA

Choosing a new leader for UCLA

Students must actively participate in search for next
chancellor

By Brett Bouttier

and Brad Miller

Chancellor Charles Young’s recent notification of his retirement
has stirred quite a bit of sentiment in the academic community.
Beyond educational higher-ups, who recognize that his departure
will be a loss to the higher education system as a whole, we, as
students, need to recognize that the selection of his successor is
not something we should take lightly.

While many are saddened by the end of an era, we need to welcome
the opportunity to speak out as undergraduates and influence the
direction of this university for the next century – our era.

The nation has embraced UCLA as its most diverse research
institution; we need someone who not only recognizes our integrity
as such an institution, but also emphasizes and has the vision to
expand the importance of instruction and education at the
undergraduate level.

Young provided a lot for this university while he was here; in
fact, without his unsurpassed ability to raise funds, we would not
have the campus resources that we do. But UCLA needs all of that
and more. We need someone who can focus on this campus as an
institution that fosters learning above all else, while carrying us
into the 21st century.

Identifying what we need from a new chancellor, however, is not
enough. We must call to action; we must ensure that our
undergraduate concerns are addressed and that our voices are heard.
Surely, the Board of Regents will want to have their hands deeply
entrenched in the process of selection, as will business leaders
and medical professionals, research program directors and the
various unions that represent the employees of UCLA.

We students cannot sit back as they choose our leader behind
closed doors for the next year and a half. We must be sure that we
are represented and equally heard in the selection process.

So what are the issues that we need to bring to the bargaining
table? Teaching is one. UCLA must further emphasize the necessity
for professors to spend more time with students, expand classroom
discussion and develop closer relationships with students.

Academic support is another issue. UCLA does not have a strong
advising program. Students find that it is a sink or swim
atmosphere; this burden does not serve to foster a fulfilling
academic career.

The academic community is a third area of importance. Why are
there so many separate groups at UCLA? Our new chancellor will need
to recognize our need for a campus community, thereby increasing
campus programming, emphasizing cultural development and exciting
education outside of the classroom.

Finally, maintaining our position as a thriving diverse
institution is crucial. Although it is important to preserve equal
opportunity for all, there are issues within the walls of this
campus that face students beyond the admissions process. Education
here must be as prosperous as possible, once people are accepted
and developing inside the community of UCLA.

Hundreds of thousands of Californians have degrees from UCLA,
and our impact on the gross national product is over 14 billion
dollars annually. These numbers are too big to warrant apathy in
the upcoming selection process.

Although it will be difficult to find someone worthy of running
this university, we look forward to the process of choosing a new
chancellor.

None of us could possibly know what political issues this
university will face 25 years from June 1997, but we know that we
need to ensure that we will be just as proud of our diplomas – and
this institution – then, as we will be the day we receive them.

Bouttier is a second-year business economics/communication
studies student. Miller is a fourth-year business economics
student.Comments to [email protected]