Chancellor hosts forum

The students asked him about Sudan. They asked him about ethnic
studies research centers. They asked him about the nuclear
laboratory in Los Alamos. They even asked him if he listened to
UCLAradio.com or owned an iPod.

Students and faculty met yesterday with Chancellor Albert
Carnesale for an hour in a forum to ask questions and get
information in a town hall setting. The event took place in the
Kerckhoff Grand Salon and was open to everyone.

The chancellor opened the discussion with a brief summary of
points about the current standing of UCLA in academia, including
the progress of UCLA as a research institute and the need to stay
competitive with private research institutions.

Students and staff were then allowed to ask questions about
whatever concerns they had about the campus, the administration or
the chancellor himself.

One of the issues that was constantly raised by students was the
concern over the recent and drastic decrease in the admission of
ethnic minorities to UCLA. Carnesale agreed that this was a growing
problem and explained his view that academic preparation and
outreach programs are necessary to change this trend.

“If we don’t level the playing field … we’re
not going to solve this problem,” Carnesale said.

This point was one of two which Carnesale identified as the most
pressing issues affecting UCLA at the moment. Carnesale made clear
that there is a need to reflect the demography of California not
only within UCLA but the UC system as a whole.

The second issue Carnesale said is most pressing to UCLA at the
moment is state funding for the UC system, which may increase for
the first time in several years per the university’s
agreement with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, called “the
compact.” The chancellor said the compact is needed to stay
competitive with other private research universities.

Many students were also very concerned with the current labor
issues arising with service workers on campus.

Students repeatedly asked the chancellor on the steps he would
take to help increase wages for service workers on campus, or how
he would deal with a potential strike on campus.

The unions’ negotiations with the UC have been at a
standstill for months and the unions have not ruled out resorting
to strike as a means to get their demands.

But the chancellor asserted his stance several times that he has
no means of changing the current financial situation of these
workers since the unions which are involved deal directly with the
UC Board of Regents in system-wide contract negotiations, not
UCLA.

Students had mixed views about the forum’s effectiveness
in answering the questions posed to the chancellor.

“The questions that were asked were the important ones …
(but) often times a direct answer is lacking from many of these
town halls,” said Jenny Wood, a general representative for
the Undergraduate Students Association Council.

Overall, students said the event was a success because they were
able to openly discuss pertinent issues with the chancellor.

“Students came well prepared and had very particular
questions they were asking, and it was very knowledgeable,”
said Allende Palma/Saracho, president of USAC.

Whether the topic was international student enrollment or iPods,
the students at the chancellor’s forum came to ask questions
and get answers.

And no, the chancellor does not own an iPod.

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