Friday, January 17, 1997
WESTWOOD:
Petition seeks to stop new stores from opening on campusBy
Rachel Munoz
Daily Bruin Contributor
No one can deny that the aura of Westwood has metamorphosized
from the hot spot of the 1970s and 1980s to a dismal ghost town of
the 1990s. One question remains: Whose fault is it?
Some say it’s UCLA’s fault.
Those who place the blame on UCLA include over 100 of Westwood’s
merchants. Through a recent petition, many store owners and
managers are calling for a moratorium against new businesses and
restaurants on the UCLA campus, claiming they suck the life out of
the village by keeping students and faculty on campus.
The petition was devised by Gary Avrech, owner of the Student
Shopper, an advertising-based pamphlet distributed on campus and
throughout Westwood. The petition has yet to be presented
officially, but is directed at the university  more
specifically the Associated Students of UCLA Â accusing it of
stealing prospective customers from Westwood.
Avrech says that Westwood merchants are suffering, and he has
also seen a decline in advertising in his own publication, the
Student Shopper.
"The flow of people through Westwood has died down to a
trickle," he stated. "The businesses are dying in Westwood."
But ASUCLA officials question allegations that they are the
cause of Westwood’s decline.
"Look to the competitive environment beyond Westwood that is
drawing the consumer," said Carol Anne Smart, director of retail
operations at ASUCLA. Smart attributes the exodus of consumers from
Westwood to places like Old Town Pasadena and Third Street
Promenade.
"(Westwood) lost customer base to more exciting elements," Smart
said.
Although the Ackerman Student Union  the hub of student
activity and site of several of the campus’ restaurants and retail
establishments  had been under construction for the past two
years, other ASUCLA services are still blamed by merchants as
taking their clientele.
But Avrech claims that the problem was further aggravated by the
recent re-opening of the student union. He likens the building to a
minimall, claiming it goes beyond what a normal campus store should
have.
"The development of restaurants, retail and other businesses on
state- operated university campuses is beyond the scope and mission
of the university," Avrech’s petition states.
The petition’s resolution for this problem, agreed on by both
the merchants and Avrech, is an instant moratorium placed on the
new businesses and restaurant development in addition to the
dismantling of the existing on-campus business operations.
So after millions of dollars spent on the renovation of Ackerman
Union, much of Westwood would essentially like to see it torn down.
But Smart upholds that, despite the conditions in Westwood, ASUCLA
is fulfilling its obligation to the students.
"Our goal here is to service the students, faculty and staff of
UCLA campus better than ever before," Smart demands. "We won’t be
deterred from that goal."
In addition, Smart adds that retail is not the center of
attention in the student union.
"Through our remodeling we have remained true to the core basics
 books, computers and emblematic wear. Those are the things
that got space and benefits in the new location," Smart
explains.
But some merchants stand behind their signature, claiming the
students’ association has an unfair advantage.
"(ASUCLA) has a corner on the market, and if they lose money,
they’re bailed out by the state," alleges Steve Neuberger, a
partner of Don Antonio’s.
However, since ASUCLA is a nonprofit organization, it cannot be
funded by the state of California. Other merchants involved with
the petition also claim they were not presented with all the facts
before they agreed to the petition.
"As far as general competition, Gary (Avrech) does not have a
case at all  I am upset that I signed it," said Martin
Knight, manager of California Sunburger.
Knight claims that when approached by Avrech, he was told that
ASUCLA and the Daily Bruin broke the law by giving preferential
advertising.
In the petition, Avrech alleges that ASUCLA has an advertising
advantage in the Daily Bruin. He claims that The Bruin gives
priority as well as discounts to the students’ association.
Although ASUCLA is a frequent advertiser that tends to take out
full-page advertisements, UCLA Student Media Director Arvli Ward
claims they get no special treatment over other advertisers.
"There are rules to laying out a paper," Ward explained. Since
larger, full-page ads  the kind ASUCLA frequently purchases
 are inserted first, they tend to be placed toward the front
of the publication, according to Ward.
"We can’t guarantee placement, even to ASUCLA. They do enjoy the
best rate we offer, (but) it is a rate built on volume of
advertising. They (advertise) a lot," Ward added.
Avrech complains that the stores in Westwood cannot afford to
advertise in the Daily Bruin or in Student Shopper, leaving him and
the merchants seemingly out in the cold.
However, Avrech continues to distribute the Student Shopper at
various locations on campus, despite university policy prohibiting
the distribution of advertising materials and publications. He
claims this law is yet another way for ASUCLA to monopolize
students.
Although he has been requested to leave campus via a letter
written by Berky Nelson, director of the Center for Student
Programming, Avrech has refused to leave campus and states he will
go to jail for what he believes.