Monday, March 3, 1997
Sporting events, academics and campus aesthetics are on the list
of things that make UCLA students and alumni proudBy Tricia Fong
Hua Arnsdorf
Daily Bruin Contributor
Driving down the 405 Freeway, it’s hard to trek a five-mile
stretch without looking out the car window and finding a sticker or
license plate frame that reads "UCLA Bruins."
On a visit to an amusement park like Magic Mountain or
Disneyland, it is common to find UCLA’s letter sewn on a
sweatshirt, silk-screened on a T-shirt or stitched into a hat.
At a Bruin sports event, the crowds roar in a frenzy of
excitement, giving an enthusiastic eight-clap whenever the
opportunity arises, reminding their team that as fans and
supporters, they are there for encouragement until the victory
comes home to the Bruins.
"One word: Pride," said second- year English student Jason
Barbanell. "It’s as easy as that  pride is what being a Bruin
is all about."
The thought of UCLA alone conjures images of pride for thousands
of people. From the successes of UCLA’s athletic department, to the
outstanding quality of UCLA’s academic program, many agree that
being a Bruin gives rise to an inner satisfaction that generates
school spirit in the individual, which later tremors through the
crowds.
At a UCLA men’s basketball game against USC two weeks ago,
Pauley Pavilion enjoyed record attendance. This record was broken
only three days later when the men’s basketball team hosted and
defeated Duke, and Pauley Pavilion entertained 13,478 people
live.
The numbers indicate that UCLA has been drawing a stronger crowd
but even a new spirited attitude has emerged.
Many students know of the now infamous "beenie boys" who attend
basketball games donning baby blue beenies and white tank tops.
"Sports are definitely a main factor contributing to pride here
at UCLA," said Tammi Bachecki, a third-year psychology student.
"And it makes sense … we have more NCAA titles than any other
school."
In addition, UCLA has produced some of the finest professional
athletes. UCLA alumni include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jackie Robinson,
Troy Aikman and Florence Griffith Joyner, to name a few. UCLA has
sent 332 participants to the Olympic Games, earning 95 gold, 46
silver and 42 bronze medals along the way. UCLA has also produced
more major league baseball players than any other college,
according to the UCLA Athletics department homepage.
However, despite the many titles and honors UCLA Athletics
enjoys, Bruins seem to agree that their pride stems from other
benefits that UCLA offers.
"I see UCLA as one of the most spirited schools, having fans who
support all sporting events," said Kevin Bennett, a first-year
undeclared student. "But, it’s not all about sports, academics play
a stronger role."
Bennett recognizes and appreciates the talent of UCLA athletes,
but he argues that Bruin pride is largely the result of the high
caliber education UCLA students arm themselves with after
graduation.
Bennett said a substantial amount of pride comes from how much
respect he commands from others as a Bruin.
"When you tell people you’re a Bruin, they automatically see you
as an intelligent, bright person. Then, you kind of get this
reaction of, ‘I’m proud of you.’ That definitely makes me proud to
be a Bruin."
UCLA is the most sought after of the nine University of
California campuses, with more than 28,000 high school seniors
applying to become one of 3,600 freshmen at UCLA, according to the
UCLA homepage.
The campus also enjoys national ranking status with several top
college programs and is known as the birthplace of the Internet.
UCLA is the most diverse university in one of the world’s most
diverse communities. Moreover, the opportunity for academic
excellence attracts roughly one out of 170 Californians to earn a
UCLA degree.
"Ever since I knew what college was," Barbanell admitted, "I
knew I wanted to go to UCLA."
Like so many others, Barbanell grew up with visions of himself
seeking a higher education at UCLA, and UCLA alone.
"UCLA was my first choice," said Andrew Wolfberg, a second-year
biology student. A native of Chicago, Wolfberg takes pride in
saying that, "UCLA is perceived as a very competitive school, and
coming to school here leaves a favorable impression on others."
Second-year business and economics student Alfredo Aguilar can
relate. He has family in El Salvador, and said, "It feels good to
know that UCLA is big in the cities over there, too."
Alfredo prides himself with the reputation that UCLA enjoys, at
a cost that is not too high.
"It’s encouraging to know that I’m getting one of the best
educations, and that it is not too expensive … There are just so
many things I like about UCLA that sometimes I just go off talking
about it to other people."
Unlike Barbanell, Wolfberg and Alfredo, though, not all UCLA
students pictured themselves as a Bruin first. Tammy Stafford, a
third-year political science student, admits that she did not
always know that UCLA was the school for her.
"When I first arrived at UCLA, I spent a lot of time making
adjustments, but I have to say that dealing with these problems I
faced made me a better person," Stafford said. "If I could go to
another school now, I wouldn’t."
Amidst the athletics and academics at UCLA, Stafford sees other
advantages that UCLA offers its students.
"There are tons of resources available, and there is a diversity
in classes and activities, as well as people. Between this, our
academics and sports, we represent a good meshing of what a true
college is."
Stafford said this builds Bruin pride, something she shares with
her Youth in Government adviser from high school who asked her to
pick up a ‘Six-for-Six’ T-shirt for him to share in UCLA’s sixth
consecutive defeat over USC.
It seems that every time that victory bell rings, it is as
satisfying for UCLA students as it is for the alumni. The movement
and sound of the bell puts a smile on the faces of the many UCLA
alumni who shared their glory days at UCLA, of whom there are
currently 275,000 living.
Bursting with Bruin pride from their college days, many Bruins
have decided to contribute, as alumni, to their alma mater.
Since his graduation from UCLA, Robert Draine has served as the
director and vice-president of the Alumni Association, a Trustee of
the UCLA Foundation, and a member of the Board of the School of
Architecture.
In response to why he has devoted so much of his time to UCLA,
Draine refers to the bond that many UCLA alumni have with the
school, and this feeling of giving back that it fosters.
"I have an interest in seeing that (alumni) are doing whatever
they can to help students," he said. "Once I was at UCLA, I had no
questions of whether or not UCLA is where I wanted to be. I knew I
wanted to be a Bruin."
Draine, too, shared in the Bruin pride that an excellent sports
program afforded, commenting on the John Wooden Basketball era he
proudly experienced as if rekindling a spark of pride, which later
erupted into a flame as he shared other stories.
Draine admitted, "Sports are an adjunct to the excellent
education UCLA offers students. As much as I am an avid fan of UCLA
sports, 90 percent of my pride comes from the reasonably priced
education UCLA offers.
"I also pride myself with knowing that UCLA is not all about
family and who you’re related to, rather it is about being able to
pull yourself, and to learn to be in control and take advantage of
the opportunities life has presented you with."
This self-satisfaction contributed to the pride and spirit
Draine felt, later leading to an eventual disdain for that other
school across town. And, like other Bruins, Draine had his share of
rivalry stories  something that always seems to link Bruin
alumni with current Bruin students.
Pride and rivalry often come hand and hand. For Bachecki and
others who admit to having a small-scale rivalry with friends from
high school claim two words often keep their adversary quiet: "Who
won?"
Bruin pride leads Barbanell and Bachecki to share the same level
of defense. Barbanell says if anyone were to talk down on UCLA in
an insulting way, "He’d have to step in and defend the school
because, well, you know, it’s UCLA."
Whether it is athletics, academics, activities, UCLA’s campus,
location or any combination of the above, UCLA means pride for many
Bruins. And, UCLA is a place many Bruins will identify with
forever. As Stafford said, "It’s true, once you’re a Bruin, you’re
a Bruin for life."
AARON TOUT
(above) UCLA fans rush the court after the men’s basketball team
defeated Oregon to win their third consecutive Pacific 10
Championship.
(left) The "Pauley Diehards" have become a regular fixture at
Bruin basketball games and have even garnered national
recognition.JUSTIN WARREN/Daily Bruin