Though it surrounds the UCLA campus, some feel that Westwood has
lost its status as a “college town.”
Before considering Westwood, though, one must find a suitable
definition for the somewhat elusive term “college
town.”
Interpretations vary, but third-year Notre Dame student
Stephanie Rosales provided one definition.
“A college town is an area that is accessible and
affordable to college students, with a vibrant, life-filled
environment,” she said.
In her view, the term denotes much more than the neighborhood
near a university ““ to be a college town, a place must be
accommodating first and foremost to the unique needs and desires of
the student population.
With the parking difficulties and expensive establishments that
currently dominate the Westwood experience, an increasing number of
students and alumni feel the town is failing to meet the central
goal of any college town ““ catering to the students.
“Westwood is about as “˜college town’ as you
can get in L.A., but it doesn’t retain the college town feel
you get in places like Boston or Berkeley,” said third-year
geography and environmental studies student Charlotte Vickers.
She identified the high prices of shops and restaurants in
Westwood as the most obvious way that Westwood strays from the
college town ideal.
“I never really shop (or) eat in Westwood because
it’s too expensive,” she said. “The costs in
Westwood make me stay on campus. Even going to a movie is really
expensive.”
Vickers also noted the great difficulties faced by students
because of the limited and costly parking options in Westwood,
saying that the parking situation made owning a car in Westwood
“a problem.”
Alumna Linda Balbien stressed that the parking dilemma is a
decades-old predicament, but said that she has noticed a
transformation in other aspects of Westwood since she graduated in
1976.
“It was a lot better back then,” Balbien said.
“There were little clothing stores, quirky jewelry stores,
unique restaurants. … It was more independent. It’s way
more commercial now.”
Balbien identified the dramatic changes undergone in the
Westwood eateries during the past three decades.
“There used to be a lot more restaurants geared to what
students can afford,” she said. “(Westwood had) very
student-oriented restaurants with good food. … They took away all
this great stuff and put in all these restaurants that are not very
unique or special.”
Balbien illustrates her point using the changes undergone on the
corner currently occupied by California Pizza Kitchen.
“Before, there was Mario’s,” she said.
“It was the best Italian restaurant ““ a unique place
(that was) very non-commercial, instead of California Pizza Kitchen
““ where there are a zillion across the nation ““ there
was only one Mario’s.
“Westwood has lost a lot of its charm. What do you have
now? Another La Salsa. Give me a break.”
Whatever shortcomings Westwood may have as a college town, the
area’s unique qualities still continue to impress.
Rosales, a Southern California native whose former boyfriend and
sister graduated from UCLA, spends a good deal of time in Westwood
when she is not studying at Notre Dame.
She said the town offers much more than its Notre Dame
equivalent ““ South Bend, Ind.
“In South Bend, you can’t walk to anything,”
she said. “In Westwood, you have everything right there,
everything you could possibly want ““ restaurants, movies,
bars. … Everything is close (and) people feel safe.”
Incoming freshman Jennifer Friedman said the many attractions of
Westwood and the surrounding area guided her decision to attend
UCLA.
“Although it is not a typical college town, the other
things Westwood offers makes it appealing to a student,” she
said, mentioning the wide variety of shops and different people in
the town, as well as its proximity to Santa Monica and the
beach.
Costs may be high and parking close to impossible, but for most,
fun is never out of reach.
“You’ll never get bored,” she said.