Of the several thousand seniors who will graduate from UCLA this
spring, many have begun taking active steps necessary to ensure
their success for the years to come.
However, the class of 2003 will graduate in a time that seems
more uncertain about its own future than the graduates are about
their own. We live in a era in which leaders deciding foreign
policy seem bent on armed conflict.
This world has been turned around since Sept. 11. Our
environment is charged with ongoing debates centered race and
diversity. We are also living in a time with the highest
unemployment rate since the last recession. Such circumstances may
cause students to ask the question: “Hey, just why am I
graduating?”
In order to progress, however, we must look back at where we
have come. Collectively, we have learned a lot from our UCLA
experiences. Before we go, there are some truths about the campus
we should impart to entering freshmen who may not know what to
expect.
1.) Construction will not stop here at UCLA. It does not matter
if a project finishes; the university will find something else that
needs to be refurbished, repainted, retiled, etc. While some
buildings are in dire need of repair ““ like the Men’s
gym, that, before undergoing construction, still had cracks from
the 1996 Northridge earthquake, and the Wooden Recreation Center
that definitely needs to expand ““ other buildings you did not
even know existed will also be repaired. Such observations make you
wonder how much student fees would decrease if some of these
important projects were abolished.
2.) Saying there is a lack of diversity on this campus is an
understatement. Remember seeing all the brochures stating UCLA is
one of the most diverse schools in the nation? Since the end of
Proposition 209, diversity continues to decrease, especially for
blacks. Only 281 out of a total of 10,507 freshmen admits for fall
2003 are black.
Even if you believe UCLA is diverse, truthfully it is probably
one of the most segregated campuses ““ perhaps as fragmented
as the city of Los Angeles itself. Hopefully the students returning
to Westwood in the fall and future admits alike will pursue
solutions to our lack of diversity.
3.) UCLA football and basketball were not up to par these past
four years. The class of 2003 must be one of the first classes to
witness four consecutive losses to the Trojans at the Rose Bowl. In
fact, before fall 1999, the Bruins were on an eight-year winning
streak. Most of us wanted Lavin fired after our freshman year, but
are content with the new dawn now awaiting the basketball program.
Dan Guerrero, Ben Howland and Karl Dorrel are welcome presences to
programs needing definite improvement.
4.) Tragedies struck. Looking back, we will never forget the
night that Michael Negrete disappeared from Dykstra Hall, never
again to return. I will always remember where I was when the twin
towers fell and my reaction when I heard of the loss of our very
own Cynthia Rabuy ““ who would have graduated with us this
spring, but will now be honored posthumously. The recent hate
crimes have made many students aware that we are not immune to the
presence of hate. These are things that have made us more aware and
stronger.
6.) Amidst the turmoil, victories also prevailed. SP-1 and SP-2
““ the standing policies implemented after the end of
affirmative action ““ were repealed. UCLA won countless
numbers of Pac-10 and NCAA championships in various sports,
including soccer, water polo and track. Workers continue to
unionize at UCLA thanks to the efforts of the dedicated UCLA Center
for Labor Research and Education.
7.) On March 5th, we saw almost a thousand students join in
solidarity with millions around the world to make statements
supporting peace and not war. These little successes are ones that
many will remember and continue to reminisce about for years to
come.
As you graduate from UCLA, definitely remember what you have
learned here. Remember the classes, remember the friendships, and
most importantly, do not forget that because UCLA has given to you
in many ways, you must give back to those around you. Through good
and bad, we have learned invaluable lessons we can take past
graduation and into the world.
Smith is a fourth-year political science student. E-mail him at
rsmith@media.ucla.edu.