Editorial: Graduates get kicked off island into reality
By Daily Bruin Staff
June 8, 2003 9:00 p.m.
A television show called “Survivor” aired the summer
after much of UCLA’s graduating class of 2003 had just
completed their first year of college. It grabbed people’s
attention, becoming small talk material in classes and at work and
social events. Eventually, a 39-year-old man, who in real life was
a corporate trainer from Rhode Island ““ though everyone knew
him better as the guy who strolled around the beach naked ““
made off with a million dollar check.
But that wasn’t the end.
After “Survivor,” an onslaught of other reality
television shows, each with a new theme or twist, followed ““
“Temptation Island,” “The Osbournes,”
“Joe Millionaire” and “American Idol.”
This year’s graduating class surely watched its share of
such programs. But those same students could have learned as much
watching themselves.
How? In many ways UCLA is like reality television ““ it is
captivating, full of emotion and stress, sexy and competitive
““ but not quite the “real world.”
This analogy isn’t meant to diminish UCLA’s
importance; it is intended to show that the troubles and stresses
graduating students faced here won’t go away when they leave.
Those challenges will, rather, increase ““Â and become
more “real.”
At UCLA, graduating students discussed, questioned, protested
and endorsed the government’s decision to invade Iraq.
Outside, UCLA graduates actually helped make that decision.
At UCLA, graduating students addressed the difficult issue of
affirmative action, some protesting SP-1 and -2 until they were
repealed, others holding bake sales they hoped would enlighten
people about affirmative action’s “hypocrisy.”
Outside, UCLA graduates lead the businesses and public agencies
that decide whether applicants should get boosts because of their
race or gender.
At UCLA, graduating students witnessed the development of a
nano-technology center and saw cutting edge research. Outside, UCLA
graduates are the scientists and inventors who do that research;
they’re also the entrepreneurs who find creative ways to
apply it to everyday life.
At UCLA, graduating students watched during their last year as
the school’s football and basketball coaches both got sacked.
Outside, UCLA graduates are the coaches and mentors.
At UCLA, graduating students had to deal with the effects of a
budget crisis and paid the first of what will likely be a series of
student fee increases. Outside, it was equally devastating, as the
job market shriveled and companies were hit with embarrassing
scandals. The bad economy will not go away as new alumni look to
enter a limited workforce or attend another school facing cuts.
No matter what graduating students do, the challenges UCLA faces
won’t disappear.
But just as Richard Hatch left his tropical playground, we will
eventually move on as well ““ from being students to becoming
doctors, lawyers, organizers, teachers, entrepreneurs, innovators,
politicians, managers, coaches, athletes, directors, painters and
authors.
As graduating students leave “UCLA the Reality
Show,” they will take what they’ve learned here, in and
out of the classroom, and get busy constructing the future. They
will do just as UCLA graduates have done since long before
“Survivor” ““ continually re-create our world.
