Tuesday, February 23, 1999
Thumbs up/thumbs down
Re-entry students deserve help
Thumbs up to UCLA Vice Chancellor Winston Doby and Assistant
Vice Chancellor Robert Naples for considering a proposal that would
establish an office for re-entry students – students who left
college without completing a degree and then returned after turning
25 (29 for graduate students).
UCLA currently offers courses such as English 100 and 180, two
courses that aid re-entry students in writing and research skills.
The author of the proposal, Debra Walker, suggests that a new
office would expand such programs – offering management skills,
financial support and a sense of community.
Considering the increase in the re-entry student population,
from 18 percent to 22 percent over the past decade, it is about
time UCLA offered such an office, which will help students adapt to
the university. Other University of California campuses with fewer
re-entry students already have such programs.
UC Berkeley offers courses specifically for re-entry students
that are extremely popular; its 11-year-old office was the deciding
factor for some re-entry students to choose Berkeley over UCLA.
UCLA should work to encourage re-entry enrollment. Re-entry
students bring new perspectives and enrich the educational
experience of all students. This proposal will guarantee that this
type of student body diversity remains a factor on the UCLA
campus.
Rape victims entitled to warning
Thumbs up to a new automated telephone notification system in
Los Angeles county, which will notify victims of rape, stalking and
domestic violence when their attackers are released from jail.
Victims who choose to make use of this system must register with
the program by calling a toll-free number. After registration,
victims can call to obtain information about court appearances,
parole hearings and custody charges. The system will also
automatically call victims several days before the attacker is to
be released from jail, and it will continue to call every 30
minutes until the victim is reached. The program is in both English
and Spanish.
This program highlights the problem nationwide of inadequately
rehabilitating convicts before their release. Ideally, victims
should not have to worry if their attacker is released from prison;
the convict should either be rehabilitated or stay in jail with a
longer sentence until rehabilitation.
This program will keep victims better informed and will
hopefully protect them from being victims again.
Carnesale’s e-mail unfair to SAGE
Thumbs down to Chancellor Carnesale for distributing a
campus-wide e-mail explaining his opposition to granting collective
bargaining rights to teacher’s assistants (TAs), readers and
tutors. This letter was sent out only a few weeks before the
upcoming March 9 through March 11 union representation
elections.
The Public Employee Relations Board (PERB) recently decided that
an election would be held on campus to determine union
representation. School officials are currently deciding who will be
eligible to vote.
At a Student Media press conference last Friday, Carnesale said
that he was not trying to sway votes against unionization. But
Carnesale announced to the university that he "believes …
collective bargaining would harm" student-teacher relationships on
campus; and his opinion could have a serious impact on voters,
especially since he is the central representative of UCLA.
Carnesale is entitled to his opinions and beliefs, and he has
the right to voice such views. He expresses these opinions,
however, during a time that directly influences voters. His timing
and attempts at campus-wide influence infringes upon any
employer-employee neutrality. Carnesale should not interfere
because he is the employer. He should not step into the situation
at this point, at this time, and in this manner.
Thumbs up/Thumbs down is determined by a majority opinion of the
Daily Bruin Editorial Board. Send comments and suggestions to
viewpoint@media.ucla.edu.
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© 1998 ASUCLA Communications Board[Home]