Monday, June 3, 1996
The following is an open letter to Chancellor Young.
Money’s worth
Editor:
I am a student paying my own tuition, and I am not able to
enroll in the classes I need to graduate. This situation is truly
frustrating for a majority of students. The fees are up and the
class choices are down.
The most important problems are tuition and the decreased number
of classes, especially in upper division. These two factors force
the graduating seniors who need upper division courses to fight one
another over the limited number of open classes.
The number of classes that are worth my while are being
sacrificed, and therefore I must take classes that I can use, but
do not enjoy. As a result, a class that I do not enjoy leads to a
lethargic attitude towards studying and a waste of time, energy and
money. The fact that I am spending money on a class that I do not
enjoy means that I will not use the books again. Therefore, my
money is wasted compared to others who might enjoy the class.
Financial responsibilities, coupled with lack of upper-division
classes, are forcing undergraduates, like myself, to spend more
time at this university than the allotted four years. The
fourth-year graduate is doomed to the same fate as the powerful,
yet extinct California grizzly bear. UCLA will no longer be a
quality education earned in four years, but a five- or even a
six-year one.
Although these images and ideas are difficult for you, it is
more difficult for us. As put by a certain upper division biology
professor who felt pity on us: Why are we more overcrowded and
undereducated, while paying more? At the rate of the present
cutbacks I, and many other people, will be forced to become
sixth-year seniors.
Chancellor Young, please cut the number of buildings being
built, refurbished or remodeled (outside of earthquake
retrofitting). UCLA is a universally famous institution. Why must
we as students constantly pay more to have these unneeded
frivolities stacked upon the already mentioned student and
architecturally saturated campus?
This architectural boon comes at a time when the faculty and
staff are taking great cutbacks. I believe that we need fewer
buildings and more funding for the basics to renew the academic
caliber that the name UCLA rightfully invokes. Since we are the
pride of Los Angeles, why must we be ashamed of our school? After
all, are we not customers in a free marketplace, and are you not
there to help us?
Sasan Sanandaji
Fourth-year
Biology