Speaksout

Friday, April 17, 1998

Speaksout

TODAY: In the first incoming undergraduate class affected by the
repeal of Proposition 209 and the passage of UC Regents’ SP-1, the
number of underrepresented admits to UCLA have dropped
significantly. What do these numbers mean to the future of UCLA’s
diversity?

"I don’t really think its the place of the UCLA Chancellor to be
getting involved in such a political issue."

Chris Bocchiaro – Graduate, Physiology

"I think the chancellor should take a stance. Right now he’s
doing the whole wishy-washy thing. He wrote a letter to all his
students saying with 209 in effect, the numbers of minority
students have decreased. Obviously if he wrote a letter saying
that, then he should make a public statement."

Diana Boriboon – Second year, Computer Science

"I think the chancellor’s role should be, as such an influential
figure on campus, that what he says would carry a lot weight. So
there are probably a lot of people who share the sentiment, the
sentiment being that we need more traditionally underrespresented
people on campuses. If that’s what he wants to be dedicated to,
then he should be more active in his pursuits."

Jeff Brown – Fifth year, Sociology/PreMed

"I think the chancellor is better off taking a non-biased stance
because as the figurehead of this campus, he represents all
students and by taking a stance he’d only be representing one side
of the issue."

Courtney Ewing – First year, English

"I think that he should just come out and say what he morally
thinks is right. He shouldn’t go with what he is being pressured to
say. If the chancellor’s for Prop. 209 he should say he is, if he’s
against it he should say that he’s against it."

Julian Ramirez – Fourth year, Biology

"As the head of a major institution, he should denounce 209
publicly and give his opinion as to whether or not it should or
should not be going into effect, which it should not. As the head
of an institution, its his role to say that."

Jennifer Harrison – Third year, African American Studies

"I think its kind of ridiculous for Carnesale to oppose Prop.
209 on moral grounds because he could lose his job over it. He
needs to support advocacy; the protests that are going on right now
are much more effective because its a way to get the word out."

Jeremy Schacht – Fourth year, Art History