Over the past five years, numerous issues have been passionately
debated in the Viewpoint section. Below are a few quotes from prior
editorials in which the Daily Bruin did not hesitate to take a
stand on controversial issues and events affecting students:
“In an attempt to solve California’s lingering
budget woes, Gov. Pete Wilson announced significant plans to reduce
the state government budget one week ago. Part of his proposal
included the privatization of one of four University of California
law schools. The Daily Bruin strongly opposes this course of
action.”
““ Editorial criticizing Gov. Pete Wilson’s attempt
to privatize a UC law school, April 18, 1996.
“The proposal which would penalize UC students for delayed
graduation appears to be running out of steam. It is being
acknowledged by UC officials as a misstep and will, more than
likely, be shelved. The Daily Bruin editorial staff applauds this
display of good judgment … There is more to academic life than
expeditiously collecting a degree, and delayed graduation
surcharges would only pollute the richness of the college
experience.”
““ Editorial supporting the decision to not penalize
students who fail to graduate in four years with a delayed
graduation fee, Oct. 21, 1996.
“Do not accept the UC Regents’ double speak that
they can maintain diversity here at UCLA after they delete their
affirmative action policies … The Daily Bruin lacks confidence in
the Board’s ability to maintain diversity here at
UCLA.”
““ Editorial criticizing UC officials who support diversity
while supporting a ban on affirmative action, Nov. 18, 1996.
“A university should be among the first institutions to
eliminate discrimination within its charter. However, the UC system
is trailing two years behind the conservative-minded Disney
Corporation in its extension of benefits to domestic partners …
The Daily Bruin editorial staff wants to see the adoption of
benefits for domestic partners which exactly match those currently
offered to spouses.”
““ Editorial endorsing benefits for domestic partners of UC
employees, March 3, 1997.
“Carnesale would like to see UCLA become a top ten
university. He is not alone. However, as we ascend through the
ranks, let’s not get so caught up in the pomp and splendor
that we forget about the key issues. Diversity, affordability,
sound labor practices are at the heart of an effective UC
campus.” ““ Editorial responding to Chancellor
Carnesale’s plans to improve UCLA, March 31, 1997.
“ASUCLA autocrats hiked the $7.50 fee to $51 without a
standard practice referendum and will add insult to injury later
this spring when they ask students in a non-binding survey how they
feel about it. We have one question for ASUCLA’s board of
directors and the student government that supported its decision:
What is the point of keeping a struggling student union afloat when
it ignores the very students it purports to serve?”
““ Editorial challenging the need for higher student fees,
May 14, 1997.
“The UC officials need to take a close, hard look at the
test. As it is, the SAT is full of problems which really
don’t provide insight into the student’s ability to
succeed. And until these things are done away with, UC should not
consider the SAT the one source to determine a student’s
admission.”
““ Editorial encouraging a revision in using the SAT as an
admission standard, Oct. 13, 1997.
“Undergraduate Students Association Council is off to its
slowest start in years, as appointments for the finance committee
were just made last week. If USAC would devote more of its energy
on solving problems close to students, such as parking troubles,
campus fee hikes and other general quality-of-life issues, they
could accomplish more and win more student support.”
““ Editorial encouraging USAC to tackle issues in a more
effective and organized manner, Nov. 10, 1997.
“An unfortunate chain of preventable incidents has circled
fraternity life nation-wide. At UCLA alone three tragic accidents
have occurred in the past three years. The fraternity culture of
promoting “˜brotherhood’ can be achieved without putting
fraternity brothers’ jeopardy at stake … The
university’s relationship with Greek life needs to be
entirely redefined.”
““ Editorial calling for more regulation of fraternity
activities at UCLA, April 13, 1998.
“A week ago, UCLA witnessed the real effect of Proposition
209: decimation of people of color. Chancellor Carnesale, if you
are a principled person and you indeed support racial diversity on
campus, you should be willing to challenge the regents; people have
been willing to risk a lot more than their jobs when standing up
for important issues.”
““ Editorial challenging Chancellor Carnesale to stand up
to the UC Regents and Proposition 209 in the name of diversity, May
27, 1998. “This official policy of “shared
governance” was virtually ignored when regents passed SP-1
and SP-2 in July of 1995, ending affirmative action at the
University of California. When the regents disregard faculty
opinion, they should expect to hear about it. The UC faculty have a
right to influence university policies on behalf of the students
they instruct.”
““ Editorial stressing the need for the UC Regents to
recognize faculty opinion on affirmative action, Oct. 21, 1998.
“The TA strike, which was strategically planned to begin
Tuesday, comes as the result of the university’s repeated
refusal to recognize the Student Association of Graduate Employees
as a union. Indirectly, the university’s treatment of TAs
reflects the low priority undergraduate education occupies. By not
recognizing TAs as legitimate employees, the university trivializes
a significant aspect of what they do ““ teach.”
““ Editorial making light of the university’s
reluctance to grant SAGE union rights, Dec. 2, 1998.
“Associated Students of UCLA’s influx of commercial
ventures has revealed its true colors: it is a profit-driven
corporation with only secondary concerns of serving students.
ASUCLA cannot continue to “downsize” student services
in order to maximize financial returns.”
““ Editorial recognizing the need for ASUCLA to place
quality student services before financial profits, Feb. 10,
1999.
“Gov. Gray Davis’ mission to get more college
students involved in community service projects is a welcome idea
““ but shoving it down their throats is not. Davis has made a
big push to increase the number of students involved in community
service projects.”
““ Editorial opposing Gov. Davis’ proposal for a
mandatory community service requirement, April 21, 1999.
“Sexual orientation is still not recognized by federal hate
crimes law, in part because right wing members of Congress fear
that passing such legislation would validate a “˜lifestyle
choice’ which their constituents might disapprove of. These
politicians ignore their responsibility to protect all
citizens.”
““ Editorial supporting the enactment of gay rights
legislation, Oct. 13, 1999.
“Dwindling numbers of under-represented minorities
admitted to UCLA’s Medical and Law Schools prove just how
disastrous the end of affirmative action has been. Two African
Americans and 17 Latinos entered UCLA’s law school this year,
compared with 19 African American and 29 Latino students in 1996,
when affirmative action was still in place.”
““ Editorial highlighting the adverse effects that the of
removal of affirmative action has had on minority admissions to the
law and medical schools, Oct. 27, 1999.
“UCLA’s football team suffered a season of losses
and disappointment, but team members who illegally obtained
disabled parking placards and the community members they offended
won an important off the field victory by participating in a
cooperative form of justice. This type of program is laudable as an
alternative model for rehabilitation.”
““ Editorial recognizing UCLA’s football team for
agreeing to carry out community work to compensate for the handicap
placard incident, Nov. 24, 1999.
“Last quarter’s string of hate-related incidents,
and the complacent campus reaction to them, speak volumes about the
need for increased ethnic diversity at UCLA. (It) has become a
place where members of minority groups must fight for their
survival ““ because, quite frankly, many others don’t
seem to care.”
““ Editorial reacting to a string of on-campus hate crimes,
April 12, 2000.
“Renaming UCLA’s hospital after Ronald Reagan
constitutes a new low in administrative pandering. Reagan’s
disregard for healthcare funding played a notable role in his
presidential politics. A man who showed no commitment to bettering
the public health of his country, and who so blatantly undermined
the principles of this university should not be granted such a high
honor.”
““ Editorial opposing the decision to name UCLA’s
hospital after former president Ronald Reagan, April 26, 2000.
“Every year at freshman convocation, the chancellor
announces the increased academic excellence of incoming students,
as evidenced by higher GPAs and superior SAT scores. Unfortunately
for the campus, many students, in their rush to sustain these kinds
of lofty academic standards, neglect a crucial part of a quality
education ““ developing a relationship with their
community.”
““ Editorial asking students to recognize their social
responsibility and include community activism as part of their
university career, May 31, 2000.