Thursday, April 25, 1996
Center hosts gala to honor Wilbur Woo’s community activismBy
Karen Duryea
Daily Bruin Staff
Small globe centerpieces set the theme Tuesday night, as more
than 500 guests gathered to see businessman and community leader
Wilbur Woo receive UCLA’s 1996 Neil H. Jacoby International
Award.
Once a year, the International Student Center presents the
Jacoby Award to an individual whose professional or volunteer
endeavors enhance relations with other nations and their respective
cultures.
"I cannot think of anyone more deserving and who better
represents what this award is all about than Wilbur Woo," said UCLA
Chancellor Charles Young. "For more than 30 years, he has been
involved in fostering trade relations between California and Taiwan
and has served as a committee member and delegate for many state
and national issues relating to Taiwan and Asia."
Surprised at receiving the award, Woo discussed his involvement
at UCLA as the guests arrived in formal attire.
"Never in my wildest dreams, have I ever thought that I could be
honored with the prestigious Neil H. Jacoby International Award,"
said Woo, the father of former Los Angeles Councilman Mike Woo. The
elder Woo told the audience of his move from Canton, China to
attend UCLA.
"When I arrived at UCLA in August of 1940, there were no more
than 12 Chinese students within the student population of about
12,000 at that time," he recalled. "I lived near downtown Los
Angeles because it was difficult to rent a room near the campus.
Without a car, I took two buses in order to get to class. I had to
get up quite early."
But times have changed since the days when he attended UCLA.
Part of that change is reflected in the fact that Woo is the
first Asian American to receive the Jacoby award, said Don
Nakanishi, director of UCLA’s Asian American Studies Center. Past
recipients of the Jacoby award include Ted Turner, Kirk and Anne
Douglas, and Chancellor Charles and Sue Young.
"The Asian Pacific American Alumni Association has formed, and
Asian Americans have just become much more visible and recognized
at the UCLA campus," Nakanishi said. "I think that this is part of
that trend, of all these honorees for this particular award he is
the very first Asian American."
Now, with a growing Asian population, coupled with an increase
in international students from all over the world, UCLA’s need for
a place where these students can meet one another and make a smooth
transition into campus life has increased, officials said.
The Rita and Stanley Dashew International Student Center opened
35 years ago, but the rising number of international students
 currently nearing 6,000  has created the need for a
larger facility, officials said.
The original center on Hilgard Avenue was sold in 1993 to direct
more funds to the new Tom Bradley International Student Center.
Construction has already begun at the corner of Gayley Avenue and
Strathmore Drive, yet the center is not scheduled to open its doors
until March of 1997.
Temporary offices for international student services are located
in Westwood.
The Bradley Center, a tribute to former Los Angeles mayor
Bradley and his dedication to international and cultural relations,
will house the relocated Dashew Center. The complex will provide
services for students, which will include orientation, cultural and
social programs.
Tritia Toyota, anchorwoman of KCBS Channel 2 news, was the emcee
of the fundraiser and award dinner. Her interest in the ethnic
diversity of Los Angeles led her to her enthusiasm about the
evening.
"I literally begged to be emcee tonight," said Toyota, a UCLA
alumna. "I am a real strong supporter of the International Student
Center, because if we don’t have communication globally, we’re
never going to understand or learn anything  not only about
ourselves but about other people."
GENEVIEVE LIANG
Fundraiser proceeds went to the Bradley Center, due to open next
year.