Monday, 6/2/97 Strong winds of change mark year’s end New
chancellor, sports scandals, struggle over affirmative action pace
1996-97
While for some of us time seems to pass too quickly at UCLA to
allow a full appreciation of life or an impressive performance on
finals, we do remember those events that might have impressed us or
filled the idle moments spent between classes in conversation …
don’t we? Some events are already demonstrating their potential for
far-reaching future impact. Starting this summer, Albert Carnesale
will head up UCLA as Chancellor Charles E. Young’s successor.
Carnesale, whose silence about his future plans for UCLA makes his
arrival anticlimactic and even ominous, must work hard to fill the
shoes of his predecessor. A leader of Young’s endurance and vision
does not arrive every day. The statewide passage of Proposition 209
in November highlights the significant role that Chancellor Young
has played in raising consciousness of affirmative action in
California higher education. His work should not be taken for
granted in these times. Proposition 209 seems to already be taking
effect. Since its passage, the number of minority law school
applicants has dropped drastically, down a dramatic 80 percent for
African American students and 32 percent for Hispanic students.
Tragically, it appears that UCLA, traditionally hailed as one of
the most diverse campuses in the United States, risks becoming a
figurehead for a new "whitewashing" of American higher education,
with a corresponding loss of opportunity for traditionally
underrepresented groups. A few weeks ago, in late May, Students
First! returned to power in Kerckhoff Hall. Foremost among their
plans for the upcoming year was to work hard against the effects of
Proposition 209 in order to maintain campus diversity. Whether or
not they can expand their base of power appears to be a major
question for next year’s administration, headed up by
president-elect Kandea Mosley. Not in doubt is the strength of
UCLA’s athletic department, which, despite internal politicking,
appears to have weathered the storm and saved face internationally.
Throughout the world, we are recognized for our athletic might. If
the marketability of Bearwear internationally isn’t a good
indication of UCLA’s athletic dominance, then consider the fact
that 43 Bruins participated in the 1996 Olympic Games, taking home
between them more medals than quite a few of those nations that
also participated. Not bad for a college that, late last year, had
to root out scandal in its athletic department. While one may or
may not miss Jim Harrick and Sharron Backus as they leave, it is
easy to recognize that their departures do not significantly injure
neither the integrity nor the performance of UCLA’s athletic
programs. Violations of NCAA guidelines should not be tolerated at
a school of our athletic caliber, and any sorrow should be racked
up to the work of housecleaning. The smooth transition from Jim
Harrick to Steve Lavin bodes well for more success stories for
UCLA. Also, we would be amiss if we were not to recognize UCLA’s
steps toward catching up to other institutions on the information
superhighway. The extended, albeit overpriced presence of the UCLA
Web page and greater access to Bruin OnLine appears to signal the
arrival of UCLA into the Information Age, fitting for a university
that had a strong hand in inventing the Internet. Finally, at
year’s end, it is time to congratulate those who have accomplished
what they set out to do four, five or six years ago. And to those
returning: Remember that it wouldn’t be the same without you.