Restoring the guiding principles of ASUCLA

Monday, February 23, 1998

Restoring the guiding principles of ASUCLA

MISSION Association has recently been failing to deliver the
services it was originally created for

Over time, things are lost. Guiding principles or goals are
sometimes forgotten through the years. Apparently, the leaders of
the student’s association have forgotten the true meaning and
mission of ASUCLA, since it hardly seems to serve the purpose it
was created to carry out.

ASUCLA stands for the Associated Students of UCLA, not the
Associated Stores of UCLA, as it currently appears.

In 1919, students formed an association to assist and support
the needs of the student body. ASUCLA created a mission statement:
"to satisfy the needs and wants of its constituents by providing
products, services and facilities in a student-centered
organization that values participatory decision-making."

What we want are services helping students, such as a textbook
library or computing services in the student union. What we need is
the return of student lounges which have been converted to office
spaces students have no access to. What we need is to restore the
"student-centered organization" ASUCLA was meant to be, not the
money-driven corporation it has become.

Ackerman Union opened in 1961 to serve as the central student
union. Primary purposes of a student union are to bring students
together in a relaxing and social environment and to provide
several services to students in one central location. Ackerman
Student Union housed a bowling alley many years ago, as well a
travel agency and lots of lounge space for students.

However, in the 1990s, amidst a financial crisis, ASUCLA began
looking for a way to cover its losses.

Enter the new and improved Ackerman Union of 1997 – a shopping
mall of UCLA logo-bearing clothing, and of course the Clinique
counter. The new Ackerman reflected the new ASUCLA – a corporation
hungry to get out of the red.

But while the new student union boasted of a huge new UCLA Store
(the envy of many other college campuses), Ackerman was stripped of
meeting areas, study lounges and a social core. With more shopping
areas and restaurant space than lounges and recreational rooms, the
union may as well be renamed Westwood Shopping Galleria.

What ever happened to helping and providing services to students
rather than blatantly scamming students with overpriced
paraphernalia and brand name merchandise?

Contrary to what’s stated in the mission statement, ASUCLA
yields little, if any, benefit to students, aside from providing
grossly overpriced merchandise. A student union should be a social
center for college students. Other campuses have pool tables,
ping-pong tables and relaxing rooms in which to study and
socialize. What ever happened to our travel agency and our reading
rooms? The student union, and students, would reap more benefits if
offered child care and counseling, computer rooms and a textbook
library similar to USAC’s Booklending program.

As far as social activities, Ackerman could stage dancing and
karaoke for leisure, even fireplaces and big sofas for studying and
socializing. The student union needs to be reclaimed by the
students and for the students, not by money hungry businesses and
franchises.

ASUCLA needs to be reminded of their purpose and before
increasing student fees for useless causes that cater to only a
select minority of big-spenders, they should put the money to good
use – a student union that we can enjoy without doling out cash
we’re already strapped for.