Cambridge to California

Friday, March 7, 1997REACTION:

Carnesale’s impact on governance, access prompts worriesBy
Brooke Olson

Daily Bruin Staff

Optimism and skepticism met head to head Thursday after the UC
regents determined Albert Carnesale would serve as Chancellor
Charles Young’s successor.

As staff and faculty lauded the regents’ decision, many students
expressed deep reservation and concern about the Ivy League
outsider.

Administrators cited Carnesale’s reputation as a strong leader
as well as his academic background and charming personality as
factors which would enable him to carry the university into the
21st century.

"I’m quite pleased ­ he sounds like a very good
appointment," said social sciences Dean Scott Waugh. "I’m
optimistic that UCLA will continue on its upward trajectory of
excellence."

But students were more suspicious of Carnesale’s
qualifications.

"He has a lot of experience within the private university which
is apparent with his position as provost of Harvard and he knows a
lot about arms control," said undergraduate President John Du,
referring to Carnesale’s former employment at the U.S. Arms Control
and Disarmament Agency.

According to members who served on the chancellor selection
committee, Carnesale was not the first choice among the
students.

In addition to his age (at 60, he has been widely described by
UCLA students as out of touch with today’s youth), student
committee members were concerned with how smooth Carnesale appeared
during the interview.

Students noted that Carnesale’s ability to correctly answer
every question was indicative of his way of "playing with the
crowd," said Chris Tymchuck, graduate student president and search
committee member.

Carnesale’s history with private universities also created
apprehension among students who felt that either a UCLA insider or
any other public school administrator would have a better
understanding of the university.

"Coming from a private institution, (Carnesale) has never worked
within the public sector and although he may be great for a private
school, he will have tremendous difficulty in leading a public
institution ­ especially UCLA," Du said.

However, faculty members were delighted with the decision to
bring in an outsider to head UCLA.

"I think that kind of interchange between universities … is
indeed healthy and if we didn’t do that, each university would
remain fairly stagnant," said Brian Copenhaver, provost of the
College and Letters and Science.

"It brings to bear a different kind of educational perspective
… and I’m sure that the new chancellor will have things to teach
us based on his experience" at Harvard, Copenhaver added.

Carnesale’s Harvard background has also elevated his status
among faculty members, who believe that his Ivy League affiliation
brings a high degree of promise.

"We need a leader who’ll not only talk the top line but who’ll
deliver (and) he certainly has delivered at Harvard," said Vice
Provost of Undergraduate Education Judith Smith. "If we use that as
a standard barrier, Harvard’s not a bad place at all."

But some students quickly discounted the importance of his
previous job.

"I don’t think we should all get caught up in the fact that he’s
from Harvard," said Ben Hofilena, a third-year physiological
sciences student. "I hope he doesn’t bring a pompous attitude to
UCLA and I hope that he prides himself in this institution."

Staff and faculty are anticipating that Carnesale will be able
transfer his Ivy League ties to aid in UCLA’s upcoming $1.2 billion
private fund-raising campaign.

"He may be able to find some new friends for the university,"
said Executive Vice Chancellor Charles Kennel, chuckling.

Students, though, were concerned with some of the goals
Carnesale had indicated he would pursue as chancellor. During his
interview with the search committee, the Harvard provost indicated
that one of his top priorities would be to privatize the
university.

"I’m very concerned about Carnesale’s goal … I’m afraid that
he might not protect access to education," Hofilena said. "But I
don’t believe students will let the chancellor call for the
privatization of the university."

While students believe that the university could never be
divorced from the public sector, they worried that Carnesale would
raise the cost of a UCLA education.

"His goal is to move towards the private sector which means
increasing fees and making public education inaccessible to
students," Du said.

Carnesale’s emphasis on privatization was dismissed as
irrelevant by many staff and faculty, who instead focused on his
promise to convert UCLA into a nationwide top 10 university.

"UCLA is very close to the top 10 and I think he’s capable of
moving us further ahead," said physical sciences Dean Roberto
Peccei. "Certainly, him coming from an institution that is the top
in the nation is a good pedigree."

Although many staff and faculty were quick to approve of
Carnesale, some did express "slight" concerns.

One of the most important aspects of the university that faculty
hope Carnesale will be able to address and understand is the issue
of shared governance.

The policy, which gives faculty a voice in weighty
administrative decisions, is central to the operation of the
university, ranging from budgetary issues to setting universitywide
academic standards ­ an idea some worry Carnesale may have
problems with.

"Shared governance is different here (than at Harvard)," said
Aimee Dorr, Academic Senate chair and professor of education.
"People from the outside can have a hard time (dealing with shared
governance)."

But staff and faculty said it would be unlikely that Carnesale
could weaken the faculty’s role in the university.

"The chancellor is not the only one making the decisions, there
are a lot of people who work with him ­ their strength will
not diminish with a new leadership," Smith said.

Despite these concerns, many emphasized that it is too early to
determine exactly how Carnesale will run the university.

"Now’s really the time to offer our support to Carnesale,"
Tymchuck said. "It’s useless to speculate on what he will do …
only time will tell."

Regardless, all eyes on campus will be keeping a close watch on
Carnesale’s actions and decisions to make sure that he upholds the
qualities of UCLA that have made it one of the best public
universities in the nation.

"It is essential that our new chancellor retains the qualities
of this university which makes it great ­ such as shared
governance ­ and we as students, as faculty, staff and alumni
must hold him accountable," Du said.

SHAWN LAKSMI/Daily Bruin

Charles Kennel, executive vice chancellor, hopes Carnesale can
attract new contributors.CONTINUED COVERAGE: Cambridge to
California

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