Speaks Out

If you could change one thing about your UCLA
experience, what would it be and why? Joshua
Silberman Computer science “I’d like to see
more respect for the arts at this university. More money is always
the biggest thing, but publicity is also important. If USAC were to
say “This is what’s going on,” or even if the
Daily Bruin where to tell people when things are by putting
information in better spots rather than the back page of the
A&E section one day in advance, that would be a really nice
change.” Michelle Chung History and
economics “I think it all really has to do with the size of
the population. I think if it were a smaller campus, you’d be
less inhibited to get to know the people on your campus. UCLA is
big and impersonal. I feel like you never see the same person again
““ maybe only once a year ““ so you’re discouraged
from getting to know that person.” Howana
Lundy Sociology and history “I would have made it
more fun for black people to be here. Ever since they took away the
spot where we kick it ““ the Bruin Bear ““ and lowered
our numbers, we have been more focused on political issues, and we
didn’t have time to worry about having fun. Whites have
fraternities and different parties, but people of color don’t
have that same luxury. I would have made it so it would have been
easier to have parties. I would have had a spot where it was cool
for us to kick it on campus.” Poonam Dharn
Sociology and history “I would say the diversity. I
don’t see a lot of diversity on this campus, and even so,
everyone is separated by their ethnicity or class. On other
campuses, there’s diversity and you have people of different
backgrounds hanging out together, interacting. Here you have
different people, but they’re all in their own clique. Maybe
programs that promote interaction between the groups would
help.” Thomas Lew Psychology “I would
lower the price of textbooks. The university already gets money
from elsewhere. They have tuition money, they have parking ticket
money, so they can afford to reduce the cost of books. Every other
day you get a ticket from the meters.” Mitul
Patel Psychobiology “I like everything here. I
don’t know why, but I haven’t had any bad experiences
yet. Everything has worked out the way it was supposed to work out.
Everything I came here to do ““ to get into medical school,
academics and to have fun ““ it all happened. I wouldn’t
change a thing.” Speaks Out compiled by Edward Chiao, Daily
Bruin Senior Staff. Photos by LuAnne Dingiasan, Daily Bruin
Contributor.