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Cigarette sales finally at an end

Thumbs up to the Society of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Café for stopping cigarette sales last spring despite
financial losses. The SEAS Café remained the only on-campus
vendor of tobacco products since the Associated Students of UCLA
banned cigarette sales 10 years ago.

The decision to smoke is a personal one, but selling cigarettes
on campus was ironic because the university dedicates so much
research to conditions that may result from smoking, such as
cancer, heart disease and emphysema. Furthermore, the ban on
cigarettes should be university-wide, and for 10 years, SEAS had
the monopoly on sales.

The decision to stop cigarette sales does not limit a
student’s freedom to smoke, since cigarettes are still
available off-campus, but it ensures UCLA does not sell carcinogens
right next to medical research centers.

UCOP puts students on back burner

Thumbs down to the University of California Office of the
President for the insufficient research that resulted in the
stalling of a student-approved measure.

Last spring, 85 percent of voting UCLA students approved a
referendum to give 91 cents per quarter to the United States
Students’ Association, a national organization that lobbies
on behalf of students.

UC Regents must approve student referenda, however, based on
research from UCOP. The decision to approve or deny the referendum
was put off until November due to insufficient research by
UCOP.

UCOP never contacted members of UCLA student government about
the measure and officials admitted to only researching USSA through
the Internet. If the regents reverse a decision approved by a
majority of the student body, then they need to provide clear
justification for doing so ““ such as that it violates a
Supreme Court decision.

Failure to adequately research the referendum and its
implications is not an excuse for stalling approval and it suggests
the regents do not take students’ interests seriously.

Health plan ensures problems

Thumbs down to the UC Regents and to the UC Office of the
President for proposing that health insurance be mandatory for all
undergraduates beginning next fall. Surveys say 40 percent of UC
students do not have “adequate” health insurance.

While addressing the health concerns of students is important,
the regents and UCOP should realize that the additional fees could
place UCLA beyond the financial grasp of some students. Currently,
UCLA health insurance is $700. Students from lower socio-economic
backgrounds may not be able to afford the extra costs and will be
hit hard.

Added to this problem is the ambiguity of the plan itself. The
regents have not specified how much the insurance will cost,
whether financial aid will cover it, and though the plan will
provide “adequate” coverage for students, there is no
definition of “adequate.”

Student health is important, but it should not make UCLA more
difficult to attend.

Money is the name of the game

Thumbs down to UCLA for renaming Schoenberg Auditorium after Mo
Ostin. UCLA’s decision to rename the hall came after Ostin
made a $5 million donation to the university.

Unfortunately, administrators feel securing a large donation
takes precedence over preserving an honor bestowed on an
accomplished composer and UCLA professor. Also, the university
should have respected the Schoenberg family by informing them of
the decision before it was made public.

UCLA seems to be establishing a pattern of selling buildings to
the highest bidder. Academic accomplishments and contributions to
society have taken a back seat to financial power. Who knows how
many times UCLA will change the names of buildings for the sake of
money?

So long as the price is right, it seems anyone can buy
recognition from UCLA.

Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down represents the majority opinion of the
Daily Bruin editorial board. Send feedback to [email protected].