The results of the Moreno report and the campus climate survey have highlighted the extent to which members of the UCLA community feel marginalized in their social, academic and work environments. These reports, coupled with ongoing incidents of racism, sexism and other forms of oppression, necessitate immediate action and responsible leadership. Which begs several questions: Who will define what these terms mean, and which experiences will be recognized? Is campus commitment to diversity a real, tangible effort on behalf of the UCLA administration, or just another hollow promise? These questions are not just academic. In fact, our answers determine the allocation of resources to students, staff and faculty of color. They determine which classes are offered, which work and which workers are valued, and who perceives the campus space as safe and welcoming.
The recent passage of the diversity requirement in the faculty senate indicates changing attitudes on this campus toward the need for diversity work. Similarly, the hiring of Jerry Kang as the first vice chancellor of equity, diversity and inclusion at UCLA is noteworthy. However, these advancements must be put in perspective. Nearly every other university in the UC system already has a similar diversity requirement and campus-wide diversity officer. These UC-wide developments have helped advance conversations around issues of oppression in academia, as well as in our local and national contexts. But these actions are first steps and, alone, are not enough to change a culture that marginalizes and fails many underrepresented groups.
In response, a group of students, faculty and staff are organizing the Forum to Reclaim Diversity at Pauley Pavilion on Thursday April 23, from 3 to 8 p.m. This forum seeks to bridge some of the divides between North Campus and South Campus, between students, staff, faculty and alumni, and to provide a space to collaborate in formulating a coordinated response to challenge and change campus climate. We as organizers of the event feel that changing this culture at UCLA requires institutional and grassroots efforts within and across campus communities, academic departments and administrative units. The people who work and study in these spaces should have input on these efforts, not just high-level administrators.
In this spirit, the forum features workshops and breakout sessions led by students, staff and faculty who are committed to changing campus climate through proactive programs. These interrelated projects and issues include the following workshops, as well as others: One session will be dedicated to improving the biased reporting system, since presently, there is no accurate representation of discrimination, bias and hate speech on campus. We will also discuss developing institutional mechanisms that recognize, retain and protect faculty of color and female faculty, especially those who mentor students from marginalized backgrounds and work toward educational equity. Another breakout will focus on organizers finding a better way to advocate for greater institutional funding and support for retention programs that facilitate the academic success of many students of color. Two sessions will be dedicated to addressing issues of marginalization and oppression of staff members such as sexual harassment, discrimination and exploitation.
The forum’s focal point is a workshop to develop a community letter addressed to Kang, the incoming vice chancellor of equity, diversity and inclusion. This letter will map out the various needs of our campus community and identify the types of resources and initiatives that our communities believe are necessary to see the changes to campus climate that we envision. The event organizers will reach out to students, staff and faculty groups to join as signatories on this document, in hopes of approaching a community consensus that will both support institutional diversity efforts, while also establishing a standard to hold the institution accountable to.
The patchwork nature of diversity efforts across campus make this forum a critical opportunity to engage in conversations and collaborations across campus and constituencies. If we are serious about diversity, we must collectively redefine the term so that it is demonstrative of equitable inclusiveness and courageous advocacy.
Without your voice, this forum cannot help implement the changes you wish to actualize for our community. Please join our initiative, because without your voice, we miss out on your valuable perspectives and experiences, and UCLA will continue to sidestep the issue of racial intolerance.
Khan is a fourth-year microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics student. Murphy is a fourth-year political science and African American studies student. Elzein is a graduate student of education. Taiwo is a graduate student of philosophy. Hong is an Asian American studies and gender studies associate professor.
Yeah, right. All you students are being oppressed at UCLA. Gimme a break. I wonder how many millions of young people your age would love to come and be oppressed at UCLA too. Maybe you can give them your places and go out in the real world, where you will be free of all your misfit professors.
News flash! You are living in the greatest and freest country in the world and enjoying a world class education, er, indoctrination that teaches you that you are all victims. We feel so sorry for you.
Wake up and smell the roses, would you?
Ayesha Khan – one of the writers of this article – is also a member of the virulent antisemitic group, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP).
Having someone like Ayesha Khan preaching to the rest of us about diversity is the utter height of hypocrisy.
Her name sucks all the credibility right out this article.
Thanks to organizations like SJP, UCLA is now nationally recognized as one of the most antisemitic schools in the country. SJP’s constant propaganda and their relentless efforts to dishonestly demonize and delegitimize Israel and Jews has certainly contributed to the problems currently on campus.
The antisemitic environment that SJP helped create struck an ultimate low when the Rachel Beyda incident went viral. It showed that antisemitism in UCLA had gone way beyond random students. It had worked its way into the student government where at least 5 members openly discriminated against Jews. Despite the video being universally condemned all over the country, those 5 members still remain on the board. The entire affair is an ongoing national disgrace for UCLA.
Ayesha Khan – a member of SJP – clean up your own bigotry before you presume to tell us anything about diversity.
Do you even go here?
I’m alumni, although lately I’m embarrassed to admit it.
Today, when you’re a graduate from UCLA, many people assume a lot of negative things about you. The school doesn’t have the reputation it used to and I’m angry about that because I invested a lot time and money into my education. I don’t like watching my education get devalued because my school has a reputation for bigotry and antisemitism.
The administration is doing a terrible disservice to every person who attends and every person who ever graduated from UCLA.
I noticed in other posts that you ask this question to many people.
Do you think people in the community and the country shouldn’t be allowed to express their opinions about what’s happening in one of our most renowned universities?
If you’re planning on graduating from UCLA and living in the real world, you should be VERY concerned about what people think of UCLA – in and out of UCLA.
I’m also an alumni, and I can tell you that no one is thinking negative things about UCLA, or think its reputation is plummeting. Not sure where you work, where you live, but if you’re having a hard time — I have a feeling it’s not because of your UCLA degree.
You can tell us that “no one is thinking negative things about UCLA”?
Exactly how can you tell us what everyone is thinking? Can you read everyone’s mind?
If you really believe what you’ve written, perhaps you also believe that you attended UCLA. I do hope your attendance at UCLA is part of your delusion because I would hate to think that an actual UCLA Alumni would lead off his argument with such a foolish statement.
And as it happens, I’m not having a hard time, but thanks for your concern. Undoubtedly, you’ve drawn some conclusions about me by applying those the same dubious methods you’ve used to reach your other brilliant conclusions in this post.
Clearly, you must’ve graduated many years after me.
The people I graduated with would never make so many obvious errors and assumptions in only two sentences. But I do appreciate your help and thanks for the laughs. Your post certainly helps to substantiate my position that UCLA is in decline.