Carnesale takes helm of UCLA

Monday, May 18

Carnesale takes helm of UCLA

ACTIVITISM: 300 students challenge inauguration as police hold
line backBy Barbara OrtutayDaily Bruin ContributorWhile dignitaries
lauded Chancellor Albert Carnesale’s efforts to lead the university
to excellence, over 300 protesters challenged the quality of his
leadership and his commitment to diversity."As you know, there is a
bunch of bullshit going on in there," said USAC president Kandea
Mosley, addressing the protesters in front of Royce Hall after her
speech at the ceremony. "And no matter what speech I make in there,
no matter what I say about not being able to confirm Carnesale,
that all his actions show that he has a racist political agenda in
line," she said, "it really doesn’t amount to much unless we
mobilize and make sure they hear our voice."At Friday’s
demonstration against the inauguration of Carnesale, three students
were arrested during a confrontation with police. Three hundred
students marched into Royce Hall as Carnesale was being inaugurated
and shouted slogans calling for affirmative action.Protesters
demanded that Carnesale issue a statement of non-compliance with
Proposition 209, a law that resulted in a sharp decline in minority
admissions to UCLA.Since the release of admission statistics for
next fall, Carnesale has expressed his commitment to maintain
diversity without taking an actual stand for or against Proposition
209.The protest, part of the second Day of Defiance, began at the
Inverted Fountain at 9:30 a.m. The Days of Defiance are a string of
protests, organized by the Affirmative Action Coalition which is
made up of student groups committed to reinstating affirmative
action.At the inverted fountain, students spoke of the need to defy
unjust laws. Speakers recalled Jim Crow laws and anti-immigration
laws, and likened Proposition 209 to them. "Even though there are
no signs outside this university saying Å’No black people,’
Å’No Latinos’ and Å’No Native Americans,’ they have found
other ways to keep us out," said Stacy Lee, president-elect of USAC
.Protesters wound their way through campus to Royce Hall, when
about 300 entered the building.While this act was similar to last
month’s takeover of Murphy Hall, this time there were more police,
and they directed students back outside within a few minutes.Guards
were positioned in front of many of the doors inside the
building.Outside Royce, police were also anticipating the
protesters. Armed with pepper spray and riot helmets, at least two
dozen uniformed officers maintained their barrier and did not let
students inside the building. At least one officer held a can of
tear gas.As the protest continued, Daniel Rego and Marlon Cicero,
from the Bruin Republicans and Young Americans for Freedom, stood
in front of the barrier holding an American flag."This is against
everything America stands for," said Rego of the protest."This
country is color-blind," said Cicero. "A person’s merits should be
the determining factor if they get into college, not the color of
their skin." Rego and Cicero’s actions angered many of the
demonstrators. An unidentified protester spit at Rego.At one point
during the protest, students present at the inauguration were
kicked out of the ceremony. Some were escorted, some forcibly
removed, when they stood up to see what was going on outside. Other
students who left for any reason were not allowed back in.Chad
Williams, the chair of the African Student Union, and Mike de la
Rocha, USAC general representative-elect, were among the student
activists kicked out of the ceremony. They were given no reason why
they had to leave the building and why they were not allowed back
inside.Police would not comment as to why the students were not
allowed back into the ceremonies.Outside, students removed from the
building held up their tickets as protesters demanded, "Let them
in.""They are segregating us in front of our very eyes," said
Williams."Why is Carnesale afraid to let students hear what he has
to say? Is he afraid we are going to hear him say again that he
believes education is not a right?" he continued.Williams said
police pushed him over the perches in front of Royce and into the
bushes. Apparently disgusted and hurt by the ongoing events, he was
in tears."Are we not as important as they are? Is that what you are
trying to tell me?" asked Williams to the unresponsive police
officers.Williams and other students leaned over the police
barrier, attempting to get a response as to why they were being
kept out of the ceremony.Two of the three arrests were made as
eight students made their way inside the building after the
ceremonies had started. They were stopped by police on the third
floor of Royce before they could get into the auditorium, and they
were then directed outside.Garrick Ruiz and Luan Huynh were among
those who had attempted to enter the auditorium. They were arrested
for resisting a peace officer right after police led them out of
the building.Ruiz, a fourth-year American literature student, said
that while most of the police were letting them out as they were
walking, a couple of officers ran toward them and grabbed two of
the students in the group."I saw them grab Luan (Huynh), and pick
her up off the ground, so I stopped and I yelled at that guy, and
that’s when they grabbed me and put me under arrest," he said.About
a dozen police officers took part in the confrontation, with more
standing behind. The police were in riot gear at that point, and at
least one had his baton out. "Students were removed, pushed and
thrown over police barricades," said Liz Geyer, external vice
president-elect."The way students were treated during the
inauguration is a chilling indication of the extent to which the
Carnesale-led administration will go to silence student voice," she
addedJust as Carnesale began his speech inside, protesters walked
over to the reception near the fountain and ate food provided for
the public.Soon the protest dispersed, although some people went
down to Westwood Plaza.Reactions of guests leaving the ceremony
were mixed."I think it harkens back to the old days," said Minoru
Tonai, board member of the UCLA Foundation. He added that Mosley
"certainly made a point," although it could have been more
constructive.Others, like alumnus Dean Cameron, were angered."This
is outrageous, tasteless and gross. (Mosley) should be impeached,"
he said. He walked off adding that "you can fill in the four-letter
words."Some guests agreed that Friday’s events were exactly the
type of activism needed to overturn Proposition 209."People are
taking the offensive against the policy, and it absolutely needs to
be opposed," said Steve Louie, an activists during the 1960s who
fought for the creation of Asian American Studies centers."I am
really glad to be able to see this. Militance is very, very good,"
he added.With reports by Edina Lekovic, Mason Stockstill and
Stefanie Wong, Daily Bruin Senior Staff.

GENEVIEVE LIANG/Daily Bruin

Affirmative Action Coalition security member Li’i Furumoto holds
back protesters as they try to rush UCPD officers at Royce.

MARY CIECEK

Several hundred protesters gathered in front of Royce Hall
Friday as UCPD officers in riot gear guarded the main entrance.