Almost half a century ago, a man began his relationship with
UCLA. He taught, served as an administrator, and taught some more
over the tenures of almost half of UCLA’s chancellors. His
tall shadow can be traced walking around campus admiring the
architecture and interacting with students along his path.
The same man will continue to walk a path. But this time around,
he will hold a new position that has more influence on UCLA than
any other.
He is Norman Abrams, the recently appointed acting chancellor of
UCLA.
Appointed as the interim chancellor by UC President Robert Dynes
in June, Abrams has already attracted spotlight attention over his
proposals to change admissions policy and increase faculty security
measures.
Abrams, a professor emeritus of law, has been the interim
chancellor since July 1, immediately following the end of former
Chancellor Albert Carnesale’s nine-year term.
Abrams has seemingly cooked a feast of proposals and policy
changes in his first two months, but his stated vision for UCLA
does not reflect his actions. Abrams said he wants to
“maintain UCLA’s pace.”
“Generally, I think UCLA is in good shape,” he
said.
However, the university has faced criticism recently for its
admissions statistics.
UCLA drew national attention and criticism from some education
analysts in June when it released the statistics of its incoming
freshman class.
The statistics showed that the demographics of underrepresented
student minorities were continuing in a declining trend.
The statistic that drew the most attention was the figure
showing that 95 black students had enrolled in the incoming class
of 2006, which totals thousands.
Since then, Abrams’ quick response and call for action was
a catalyst to drafting policy changes for the admissions process. A
“holistic approach” was introduced in what seemed like
an overnight process. Other campus boards are now reviewing the
process for approval.
But Abrams’ work did not stop with proposing changes to
admissions policy.
He also responded with added security measures when a faculty
researcher was the target of an attempted terrorist bombing.
The Animal Liberation Front, an animal rights group, recently
carried out terrorist acts against a UCLA professor who uses
chimpanzees in his research, which also stirred commotion.
Abrams announced UCLA has added extended security efforts for
the safety of its faculty, though those details are not made public
since disclosing the efforts would compromise the effectiveness of
the security they are meant to provide.
But Abrams also wants to foster a welcoming environment for the
UCLA community, especially among the first-years.
“We’ve got a lovely community and the campus and the
architecture is just wonderful. We want students to feel part of
the campus and part of the community,” Abrams said.
“I’ve been doing this and will do more of it once
students come back and that is to just walk around and interact
with students,” he added. “(UCLA) is a very special
place and everyone should take great pride in it.”
Abrams also said he expects to continue fundraising at least to
the same degree that has been done in the past.
“(Fundraising) is certainly a big part of my job ““
it’s not the only thing, but it is important,” he said.
“And certainly it is part of my job to maintain the same
level of fundraising and if I can build on that, then
great.”
Abrams’ tenure comes after that of a chancellor who led
the highest-yielding fundraising campaign for any public university
““ Carnesale led Campaign UCLA, which raised more than $3.2
billion.
And though no dramatic fundraising proposals are planned, only
the events of the year will reveal just how active of a role Abrams
will assume.
Maximo Langer, a professor at the law school, has known Abrams
for three years and said he thinks of the interim chancellor as a
“generous and thoughtful person and scholar.”
Another colleague of Abrams, Herbert Morris, a professor
emeritus of philosophy and law who has known and worked with Abrams
for about 50 years, said Abrams possesses qualities that would make
his tenure as acting chancellor a great success.
“He is cool and patient under fire,” Morris said.
“He is decisive after conscientious consideration of the
issue before him.”
Chancellor advisory committee members are still taking part in a
search process to recommend a permanent chancellor to succeed
Albert Carnesale.
The process has stretched to its 10th month, but the committee
hopes to forward its recommendation to Dynes and the UC Regents for
final approval sometime before the end of the academic year.
But even after a permanent chancellor is chosen, Abrams will
probably continue to walk that path of admiration for UCLA.
And since Abrams is a big fan of UCLA sports, particularly
basketball, students are likely to find that his path will lead him
to Pauley Pavilion.