Carnesale takes helm of UCLA

Monday, May 18

Carnesale takes helm of UCLA

CARNESALE: Solemn inauguration ceremony marks tension between
officials inside, protesters outsideBy Lawrence FerchawDaily Bruin
ContributorChancellor Albert Carnesale was inaugurated Friday among
pomp and circumstance within the Royce Hall auditorium, and protest
outside.The ceremony was not interrupted by the protesters, but the
tension carried through, as evidenced by the large police
presence.Academic ceremonies, such as inaugurations, are
"tailor-made for parody, protest, denunciations and defiance," said
Michael Allen, professor of English, in what turned out to be an
accurate prediction of things to come.The inauguration featured
speeches by Mayor Richard Riordan, representatives from other
universities, faculty and student leaders."You’ve inherited a great
university," Riordan said in his speech addressed to Carnesale.
"UCLA’s future is in your hands – your very competent hands."USAC
President Kandea Mosley, and GSA President Andrew Westall, the only
student speakers, were also the only ones to openly criticize the
new chancellor.These speeches came before Carnesale announced his
long-awaited vision for the future of UCLA.In his speech, Carnesale
emphasized three areas that needed to be addressed: "the changing
role of the university, the continuing explosion of knowledge and
the growing need for resources."Carnesale said the university needs
to do more with these resources."We must ensure that the funds
available to us are being used efficiently and effectively," he
said."A dollar saved by cutting administrative cost is a dollar
made available to academic programs."This was just one of the areas
that Carnesale emphasized as necessary to make UCLA excellent. He
also said that there is a need to examine the way the university is
organized and how that may change in the next century."UCLA is now
at a point at which we can sacrifice some coverage to achieve an
even higher degree of quality," Carnesale said.After the ceremony,
Carnesale emphasized that whole disciplines would not be cut.
Rather, he said, in working with the faculty, he would like to
focus on certain areas rather than feel it necessary to cover all
subjects.He titled this plan "Concentrating on Excellence," a plan
to focus the limited resources in areas where UCLA can have a
"comparative advantage.""Curriculum matters are primarily faculty
matters – that is what shared governance is about … that is why I
said it would have to be embraced by the faculty and implemented by
the faculty," Carnesale said.The chancellor also recognized the
importance of the faculty in his speech, saying that there is a
need to provide them with the best facilities so that they will
remain at UCLA.The faculty was represented by Academic Senate Chair
Chand Viswanathan, who emphasized the role the faculty wants to
play as part of shared governance.Carnesale also used the
opportunity to talk about UCLA’s history and his predecessors,
often drawing pieces from their inauguration addresses.The
chancellor was not the only one to give a speech that brought an
audience reaction, though.The speech which seemed to raise the
largest and most varied reaction was Mosley’s."I will not endorse
the confirmation of Carnesale today, and I must stand in solidarity
with the students outside who are struggling and who are protesting
this inauguration," she said.Following her speech, Mosley moved to
the center of the stage, sat down, and raised up a clenched fist as
a sign of solidarity with the protesters. She remained there for
about 10 minutes until a member of the Black Alumni Association
approached the stage and spoke to her. She then left the ceremony.
The audience reaction to both her speech and action was mixed.
While some applauded, others booed or laughed."I think she was
being very thoughtless," said Amanda Stork, a Westwood resident and
parent of UCLA students.Some in attendance applauded the speech and
said they supported Mosley, however."In general, the students have
a lot to complain about, and I think it’s good they’re mobilizing,"
said Richard Anderson, associate professor of political
science.Anderson was one of the audience members who left the
auditorium after Professor Allen, who spoke after Mosley, made
comments that some interpreted as racist and sexist. In his
introduction to the UCLA Chorale’s performance of "The Last Words
of David" from "The Songs of Solomon," Allen made reference to the
"queen of Sheba," a remark some interpreted as a reference to
Mosley."When he said that, I walked out," Anderson said. "I think
that’s what people are directly talking about when they talk about
sexism and racism and I’m not going to sit in a university assembly
and listen to that."Mosley also expressed dismay at the remark."It
was personally disturbing to me that members in the audience
laughed when Professor Allen referred to me as a Å’queen of
Sheba,’" said Mosley. "Although I cannot say that I was surprised
by the racist sentiment it expressed."Carnesale later said that he
did not see Allen’s remarks in this way. He also expressed his
respect and support of the right for Mosley and other protesters to
speak."It’s a perfect example of the respect for freedom of speech
at UCLA," Carnesale said. "We invited the two elected student
leaders to speak, and each of them did; it demonstrates our
commitment to that principle."At the private reception on the
balcony of Royce Hall, Carnesale addressed criticism that his
speech did not go far enough in taking a stand for diversity."I
think I made a pretty strong statement," Carnesale said. In his
speech, he said that he will do everything within the law to
nourish and increase diversity. "I will not break the law," he
added.Carnesale also went through a series of examples of why
diversity is important to UCLA."As a white student of American
history, can I better appreciate my nation’s past by learning how
African-American, Native American, or Chicano students perceive
that past?" Carnesale said.Some students expressed concern over
these remarks made in his speech."From this comment, it is clear
that Albert Carnesale views the history of people of color as
separate and subjective whereas white-European history is truly
American and objective," said Cori Shephard, an African Student
Union member.The last time UCLA held an inauguration was for
Chancellor Charles Young, 29 years ago. Carnesale was the first
chancellor to be inaugurated in Royce Hall since 1953.These facts
caused UC President Richard Atkinson to joke that inaugurations at
UCLA may have become a lost art. Halfway into the ceremony, he
concluded that it was not.The inauguration ceremony featured an
academic procession of about 500 people dressed in the colorful
robes and caps familiar to academic occasions. With many of the
seats taken by participants in the ceremony, the number of student
tickets available was limited. Some students who had tickets,
reported that they were unable to see the entire ceremony because
they left their seats during the ceremony to see what was happening
when protesters entered the building."When we went to see what was
happening to the students, we were forcibly removed from the
auditorium," said Mike de la Rocha, a USAC general
representative-elect.The event was also televised on university
cable and the internet.Despite the protests outside, Carnesale said
he was happy with the ceremony, calling it "splendid.""I enjoyed
the opportunity to give my ideas about the future of UCLA, and I
appreciated all the kind, if not necessarily true, things that
people said about me."With reports by Michael Weiner and Stefanie
Wong, Daily Bruin Senior Staff.

AARON TOUT/Daily Bruin

Despite protests both outside and in, Chancellor Carnesale made
several important points during his inauguration speech.

(Left) Despite protests, Chancellor Albert Carnesale vocalized
his goals for UCLA during his inauguration speech Friday. (Above)
USAC President Kandea Mosley sat in silent protest for nearly 10
minutes after her speech before being asked to leave the stage. In
the background (left to right) are Los Angeles Mayor Richard
Riordan, Carnesale, UC Regent Meredith Khachigian and UC President
Richard Atkinson.