Sitting down in a closed room and talking until results start
showing is the attitude behind a new student group’s
communication-focused approach on improving Westwood for all
interests.
In an attempt to make Westwood better fit the needs of students,
homeowners and businesses alike, the group, headed by fourth-year
civil engineering student Joe Vardner, intends to create an
environment where student input on how to improve the community is
welcomed and encouraged.
The group, which Vardner said will probably be called the
“Revitalize Westwood” committee, wants to make Westwood
Village a more dynamic, safe and profitable place by allowing
students, homeowners and businesses ““ three groups “all
trying to vie for this four-by-four block area” ““ to
discuss their needs, Vardner said.
“Everyone has to realize that we’re all working
toward the same goal. We all want Westwood to succeed,” he
continued.
Student interest is what keeps Westwood alive, and businesses
need to have a way to tap into the knowledge of what students need
in order to do well and be valuable to the community, Vardner
said.
“It’s been a long time since there’s been any
student involvement or discussion. … There hasn’t been any
organized effort to get together the shareholders” in
Westwood, said Kenn Heller, associate director of the Center for
Student Programming and one of the people who initially helped
Vardner get the idea for the group off the ground.
Heller and Vardner both touched on the importance of local
businesses knowing and meeting the needs of students.
“Part of improving relations is improving the business.
The businesses doing well in Westwood are serving the needs of
students,” Vardner said.
“UCLA is a changing campus. Westwood isn’t changing,
and that’s the problem.”
“One of the reasons why Westwood has a lot of vacant shops
and doesn’t seem to be rebounding is because there is no
communication going on” between the three major groups,
Vardner said.
To get that dialogue started, the group plans to “get
students, business owners and homeowners in a room and lock the
door,” he said.
The group will have its first meeting next week.
“I think (the group) could have a great impact,”
Heller said.
The idea that the real issues going on in Westwood are too
complicated for students was very troubling to Heller, who ventured
to suggest to students such as Vardner “that if they’re
concerned, they should get involved.”
The group is trying to fill a gap in the job of the
Undergraduate Student Association Council external vice president,
which Vardner says “just doesn’t have the staff to deal
with it all.”
John Vu, USAC EVP, said, “Our office does work on local
issues, but it’s not necessarily an official
component.”
He added that while he thought the group was a great idea, it is
important for pre-established resources to be utilized, such as the
contacts the EVP office already has with the Westwood
community.
The group runs out of the USAC office of the internal vice
president.
After discussing the issues he saw in Westwood with Heller,
Vardner started work on the group this past fall, drafting a letter
to local entities of behalf of the students.
Vardner also talked with local businesses, often just walking in
the door and saying hello in order to create a working relationship
with Westwood’s establishments.