Change doesn't come through words

Published: Friday, May 29, 1998

Friday, May 29, 1998

APATHY: When presented with key campus issues, choose side, not sideline

By Brian Neil Rudiger

There has been a great deal of discussion these past few weeks concerning the various actions and demonstrations of the Affirmative Action Coalition.

Many people have clearly articulated the necessity of affirmative action and the racist implications of Proposition 209, so I will not reiterate what they have already said. What I seek to expose is the disease of political apathy that plagues our campus.

Countless columns in The Bruin have been devoted to petty complaints about being "harassed" or "bothered" on Bruin Walk or some other campus venue by proponents or opponents of various political beliefs. The brunt of this criticism has been directed against the opponents of Proposition 209.

In his column on May 26 ("Demonstrators' strategy not most effective path"), Jesse Torres spends much of his time criticizing the tactics of the Affirmative Action Coalition (AAC). He says that "our best bet and our biggest power" is voting, and that it's time "we all took a moment to stop the noise making and take a look at those candidates running in the state elections."

First of all, it's rather convenient that Torres discounts the "noise making" protests in favor of the relatively easy role of voting. Imagine where our society would be if people only demonstrated their political force through voting! What if people like Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Fannie Lou Hamer had relied solely on the electoral process to bring about equality for African Americans? It is important to recognize that it takes a lot more than voting to enact major change in a society.

And by the way, there are numerous people from campus working on the Equal Educational Opportunity Initiative, so there are, indeed, opportunities for those who want to make a difference through the elections.

Secondly, who is this "we" he keeps talking about? While I am sure we all appreciate that Torres "can understand the concern and frustration that people feel about losing affirmative action and how scary Proposition 209 seems," what really concerns me is the level of apathy that arguments like his express. People keep saying that "we should do this" and "we should do that." But, may I ask, have they ever been to an AAC meeting? Have they organized their own campus group that takes on political issues? I have never seen Torres or any of the other detractors of our tactics do such a thing.

What I am getting at is that it is awfully easy for one to criticize the actions of activists when all one has to do is worry about getting to your next midterm or attending your next frat party. Everyone who has ideas about different strategies to bring back affirmative action is welcome to come to the AAC meetings. And those who want to see affirmative action left in the dust can ally themselves with Chancellor Carnesale, the Bruin Republicans or the Young Americans for Freedom. As much as I find the arguments of the right-wing campus groups to be repulsive, at least they have expended the effort to mobilize a small, often irrational, yet fairly vocal opposition. The fight over affirmative action is indeed a fight, and while it is unfortunate that certain members of our community have chosen to take the side of the privileged elite, they have at least recognized and taken part in the struggle, which is more than I can say for the apathetic students on this campus.

A large percentage of the UCLA community has chosen to avoid the issue of affirmative action and would rather throw stones from a safe, inactive distance. Actions speak louder than words. Carnesale has made it clear, by his inaction, that he is not committed to diversity. The UCPD has made it clear, by their harassment of protesters and Affirmative Action Coalition members, that they are willing and able to enforce a police state. Rather than merely sitting there and throwing out insults and criticisms, make it clear that you are not going to be just another apathetic college student.

Come out and help so that we can create change together!