Walkout disrupts meeting
By Thyda Duong
May 4, 2004 9:00 p.m.
Correction appended
As the circle of student supporters of the diversity requirement
deepened, so did the emotions Tuesday night at the inauguration of
tent city.
Amid tears, students from numerous minority campus organizations
joined Undergraduate Students Association Council members for the
beginning of a three-day campout in front of Schoenberg Hall to
demand that UCLA incorporate a diversity requirement into its
curriculum.
Tuesday’s weekly USAC meeting had been proceeding for five
minutes when Sophia Kozak, Academic Affairs commissioner, announced
that she was going to walk out.
“It’s been 17 years of struggle. That’s most
of my lifetime. That is too long,” she said.
With only discussions about the Student Voice Referendum and
votes on minor issues, Kozak and several others marched to
Schoenberg with chants of “fighting for justice and our
education” and “we are what diversity looks
like.”
Council members walked out of the meeting to show that the most
important issue of concern that night was tent city and the passage
of the diversity requirement.
“We are in L.A., one of the most diverse cities in the
world. We are here to show solidarity because it is a right to have
a relevant education, not just a privilege,” said Rosario
Luis, a second-year undeclared student who is a member of
MEChA.
“We hold the university accountable for providing students
with the relevant tools to succeed in today’s society,”
said Matthew Kaczmarek, USAC external vice president.
Many participants urged other students to relay the message to
professors, administrators and faculty, who have the ultimate vote
in deciding whether the requirement will be a part of the
curriculum.
“The faculty and administration have a responsibility.
They have the power. They have to make decisions,” said USAC
President Anica McKesey.
“We should not be sleeping on the lawn,” said
Internal Vice President Allende Palma/Saracho, “The
university should be sleeping on the lawn.”
Many of the students expressed the opinion that UCLA should be
ashamed to be the only UC campus to not have a diversity
requirement.
Seventeen student representatives from departments such as
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender studies, African American
studies and Middle Eastern studies each spoke about the importance
of their department as a part of UCLA.
They were recognized by a supporting chant from the crowd:
“We struggle with you.” Each person subsequently lit a
candle in front of a picture of a representative of their group;
the 17 candles represented the 17 years of advocacy for the
requirement.
“We have to remember the people before us that
struggled,” McKesey said, who became emotional when
mentioning two Black Panthers who died on campus in a demonstration
for diversity 30 years ago, as well as other organizations who have
fought for equity.
The history of activism regarding the requirement was a theme
that evoked intense emotions throughout the night.
Gathered in a circle that initiated tent city at 7:30 p.m.,
participant introductions were made, and it did not take long for
deep emotions to arise.
Students spoke of the stereotypes and instances of
discrimination they had encountered as minorities on campus, but
the emphasis was on the need to change this through education.
“I’m tired of my brothers and my family being
labeled as terrorists. I’m tired of the conservative attacks
on my organization,” said Samahang Pilipino President
Genevieve Espinosa, a fourth-year political science and Asian
American studies student.
She also expressed anger about the lack of Pilipino faculty
representation at UCLA, saying that the only professor of that
background left UCLA because she said her contributions were not
valued.
Racism, a central topic of concern to the students, was said to
be derived from a fear of the unfamiliar, which is why they believe
the requirement needs to be passed.
This requirement would incorporate a course on diversity,
encompassing aspects such as race, gender and ethnicity, into the
general education curriculum.
This change would not add an additional class to the curriculum,
but rather be implemented into the program.
Though the event consisted of students that were adamantly in
favor of the passage of the diversity requirement, others opposed
to its implementation also attended.
“Why do we need to learn about diversity when the
university is already diverse?” said fourth-year political
science student Frank Contreras.
“There are already classes where you can learn about
diversity,” he added. “If you want to know more about
diversity, there are many organizations that you can join. The
requirement is irrelevant when there are other sources.”
Contreras said he believes the requirement is connected to
affirmative action, which he does not support.
Nonetheless, the support for the requirement extends beyond the
UCLA campus, with representatives from UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa
Cruz and UC Irvine coming Thursday to show their support.
Correction:The article should have said
that USAC President Anica McKesey said two Black Panthers died for
diversity on campus over 30 years ago.
