Every quarter, the Daily Bruin editorial board meets with Chancellor Gene Block to discuss issues affecting campus and to better understand university policy. On Friday, the board held its fall meeting with Block and covered issues ranging from campus diversity, University of California President Janet Napolitano’s visit to campus and recent campus protests advocating for and against affirmative action. Here are some topics discussed in the interview, and the chancellor’s responses.
- Block said Executive Vice Chancellor and Provos Scott Waugh is putting together a team to follow up with a recent report that concluded UCLA does not adequately address claims of racial discrimination among faculty members. Block said the university is motivated to make the process of filing complaints more approachable by partnering with the Academic Senate.
- When asked about a report by the Center for Investigative Reporting published in the summer that outlined significant costs incurred by deans and administrators for travel and accommodation, Block said he felt that the report did not contain context for the various expenditures. For example, Block said that the limousines referenced in the CIR’s story were vehicles from the university’s fleet, typically 2006 Toyota Camry hybrids. Block added that the university’s deans are motivated to spend as little as possible while trying to meet their fundraising targets, but no formal plans or policies were put in place to reduce spending.
- During Napolitano’s visit to UCLA, Block said they discussed topics including the changing financial picture of the institution, affordability and diversity. Block said they also spoke about the proportion of in-state and out-of-state students and their plans for UCLA’s centennial campaign as other means to increase funding.
- Block was also asked about the 2012 Jeanne Clery report for crime statistics, which showed an increase in sexual assaults from eight incidents in 2011 to 15 incidents in 2012. “The increase is probably reporting, which is good news. More people coming forward helps with serial predators,” Block said. “But we have to do better and the … methodology for doing that isn’t quite clear yet.”
- Block said he did not agree with students protesting the naming of Carnesale Commons. Block said Albert Carnesale, his predecessor and now a professor in the Luskin School of Public Affairs, was not a proponent of Proposition 209, a 1996 law that made race-conscious admissions illegal in California.
- Block said he hopes the diversity requirement will eventually be passed. “I think a lot of the faculty aren’t focusing yet on the importance of this to students,” he said. Block added that students should talk to the faculty members one-on-one to understand their concerns.
- Near the end of the interview, the board asked Block about his position on a resolution passed by UCLA’s undergraduate student government earlier this year calling for the university to divest from fossil fuels. Block said investing in energy research is more important in terms of finding alternative energy resources. He said resolutions such as the one passed by the Undergraduate Students Association Council are worthwhile because they call attention to issues students feel strongly about.
- Ongoing discussions are taking place to discuss the payment of the $57 million debt accrued by UC SHIP, the University’s health insurance plan. This year, Block said his office is monitoring the process more heavily to prevent further debt from accruing. Block said he was unaware of whether UCLA is running a deficit this year.
Compiled by Chandini Soni, Bruin senior staff.