The Bruin Diversity Initiative proposes a $9.93 fee increase per quarter to fund various campus entities and student organizations, all supposedly bound by the ideal of diversity.
Considering the size of the increase, which will total slightly less than $40 per year, the composition of the initiative should be examined closely.
While some of the line items go to organizations that have supported diversity-related programs successfully in the past, there are some that appear to be related only loosely. Additionally, raising student fees to fund specific groups and not others that work toward similar goals is difficult to justify, particularly given the size of the increase.
To be sure, the initiative deserves a place on the May election ballot. Students should be able to decide whether they want to provide more funding for these programs.
The authors of Bruin Diversity say the initiative focuses on retention, access to education and community service related programs. This includes the Campus Retention Committee, a student-run, university-recognized office that provides peer counseling, mentorship programs and other services to boost graduation rates.
The Campus Retention Committee as well as other campus entities listed in the initiative serve a sizeable portion of the student body and support historically underserved populations. They are worthwhile programs that help promote diversity.
However, parts of the initiative demonstrate a weak connection to diversity.
One particular line-item on the initiative stands out in this aspect: the Fitness Improvement Training through Exercise and Diet program. This program, which serves 50 to 75 students per quarter, supports health and wellness by providing workout programs and nutrition classes.
Brittany Bolden, fourth-year sociology student and one of the authors of the initiative, said students of color are less likely to grow up in communities that promote health and wellness. The initiative seeks to ensure that “diverse student leaders and students from communities disproportionately affected by health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and heart disease are given the tools to succeed in their physical wellness.”
Spending student fees on something that benefits fewer than 100 students is questionable.
Bolden, who is also a former Daily Bruin video journalist, also said that the fitness program relates to diversity since it serves a campus which is, in itself, diverse.
Under this criteria, though, almost every student group “that serves the entire campus” qualifies as promoting diversity.
Additionally, the Undergraduate Students Association Council and the Greek Life Programming Fund, both included in the initiative, are not necessarily focused on diversity. While their actions are likely beneficial to the general student population, there is no guarantee that all of the money from the Bruin Diversity Initiative student fees will actually go toward increasing and promoting diversity.
The initiative states 25 cents for the USAC Academic Affairs Commission Academic Travel Mini Fund will fund “attendance to academic and leadership based conferences,” while 75 cents for the USAC Contingency Programming Fund will go toward “social, political, educational, leadership, development and community service activities”. These are worthwhile uses of money. However, it is unclear why they are grouped within a diversity initiative.
Some have pointed to similarities between the Bruin Diversity Initiative and the PLEDGE Referendum, a fee increase passed in 2009 to fund specific campus entities, including the Daily Bruin. PLEDGE instituted a hike of $12.75 per quarter.
But there is a big difference in numbers. For example, the funds from PLEDGE make up only 9 percent of the Daily Bruin’s budget. For many of the Bruin Diversity Initiative beneficiaries, student fees already make up a much larger portion of these offices’ budgets.
What’s more, PLEDGE, instituted just four years ago, also funded many of the groups contained in the Bruin Diversity Initiative, including the Community Programs Office, the Student Initiated Access Center and the Campus Retention Center. The need for the Bruin Diversity Initiative might be more apparent if it proposed to give funds to groups not included in a previous referendum.
While this initiative deserves a spot on the ballot, students should consider that there are other ways to promote diversity that don’t require a nearly $10 increase to our student fees.
Thank you! This article displays why I am against raising almost $1M to go to a tiny fraction of campus. These organizations already get nearly half of the student fees, just say NO to this initiative!
“Spending student fees on something that benefits fewer than 100 students is questionable.
Bolden, who is also a former Daily Bruin video journalist, also said that the fitness program relates to diversity since it serves a campus which is, in itself, diverse.
Under this criteria, though, almost every student group “that serves the entire campus” qualifies as promoting diversity.”
I LOVE IT!!! WELL SAID!!!
First you trick people into thinking it’s a referendum for diversity, then you trick people into signing your petition. STOP TRYING TO TRICK THE STUDENT BODY!!!!!
I do not feel comfortable giving almost 10 dollars quarter for programs that do not serve me. well written!
All of the services that would benefit from this referendum, including the FITTED Program (which was recognized by First Lady Obama), are for ALL STUDENTS. Know your resources and the services that are available to you as a Bruin. This money goes to parts of campus that benefit everyone and anyone, should you seek them out. Sitting at home commenting on the DB, when you could be participating in these programs, utilizing these services, and learning about and contributing to the diversity that exists at UCLA is pathetic.