EDITORIAL: Editorials take stance against apathy, critics

EDITORIAL BOARD Editor in
Chief  Timothy Kudo

Managing Editor
 Michael Falcone

Viewpoint Editor
 Cuauhtemoc Ortega

Staff Representatives
 Maegan Carberry
 Edward Chiao
 Kelly Rayburn

Editorial Board Assistants
 Maegan Carberry
 Edward Chiao

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This year, the Daily Bruin has published more staff editorials
than in the previous four years combined. While there has been
plenty of controversy surrounding our editorials, we strive to take
stances in the best interests of our readers on issues including
the state of the UC budget, the BruinGo! program, on-campus housing
and workers’ right to unionize.

The board has often taken stances on the actions of student-led
organizations, particularly the Undergraduate Student Association
Council. While we can be critical of how student-led groups are
run, we do this to hold them accountable to our readers who have a
right to know what their leaders are doing and how they are acting.
But these student groups are all part of a learning process, and
like us, they make mistakes. All student-run organizations,
including The Bruin, are in a constant learning process. But unlike
these student-run groups, The Bruin doesn’t have a watchdog
looking over it.

We walk a fine line between idealism and realism every day, and
over the course of the year, The Bruin has been overly idealistic
and printed several regrettable editorials. We have called for the
relocation of UC Merced, basing it on the environmental impact the
campus would have on the surrounding marshland and shrimp
population.

We also editorialized against On-Campus Housing Council’s
proposal to provide students with outside news sources delivered to
them daily. At the time, we were afraid this would compete with our
readership and jeopardize the future of The Bruin, and urged
students to vote against the proposal. But this contradicts a core
value we have at The Bruin, which is encouraging students to
educate themselves and broaden their horizons.

Most recently, the Editorial Board has learned from the
controversy surrounding Associated Students of UCLA and
workers’ rights to unionize. The board adamantly supports
labor rights, and as a result we quickly jumped on the side of the
workers. Only when we realized the financial troubles unionizing
would place on ASUCLA and student programming and government were
we forced to reevaluate our stance.

We have made our fair share of mistakes throughout the year, but
at the same time, the Editorial Board has improved on itself in
fulfilling its mission to hold group leaders, campus officials, and
UC administrators accountable for their actions. Now we must hold
ourselves accountable as well.

Since these editorials were published, we have taken great pains
to ensure our future editorials do not contradict the core values
of the Daily Bruin. The Bruin exists for its readers, and strives
to provide them with insightful news coverage and rational,
well-formed opinion.

We expect the same effort from our readers to also challenge
themselves and work to expand their horizons. We support students
in being active members of the UCLA community, regardless of
whether or not we agree with their opinions.

The Bruin can and will serve as a voice for student concerns,
but unless we can put an end to student apathy, this voice will
never be fully realized.