Thursday, March 13, 1997
INTEGRITY:
UCLA’s ‘guardian’ promotes students and faculty, fulfills
university missionBy Don Hartsock
Chancellor Charles E. Young and UCLA are inseparable! That is my
perspective from the vantage of serving an age-old (yet young)
institution in an innovative post.
A chancellor is a guardian, a keeper of the values of an
academic community which encompasses an unflinching examination of
the universe and an unwavering commitment to respectful
collegiality and service. An ombudsman, on the other hand, is like
a court jester from a medieval carryover with responsibility to
question and to examine grievances from those within the community
who were injured by the system, the policies and/or the
personalities of those in power.
How could a "court jester" relate to a "duke"? With stories,
trust and respect for a common mission  "to create and
sustain an environment that is conducive to sharing, extending and
critically examining knowledge and values, and to furthering the
search for wisdom" (preamble to the Faculty Statement of Rights and
Responsibilities, 1971). Chancellor Young would listen, sometimes
argue and decide, but there would be no question as to his
commitment to the community for which he was the steward.
Preserving the creative heritage of the university and providing
for innovative change which nurtures the dynamic growth of the
community is a tough balancing act. For example, during the
highlights of the ’60s and early ’70s, he spoke with students,
faculty and staff as he was urged to speak as a leader in what was
seen as a moral quagmire confronting all of us. He clearly
described what he could do as chancellor, what he could not do and
what he would do.
I think and feel that he exemplifies the idea that systems,
including universities, exist for the sake of people; people do not
exist for the sake of the system. The mark of a liberating
education?
Young’s passion for the best for UCLA translates as the best of
students, faculty and staff and the best for students, faculty and
staff.
While I sense that Young and UCLA are inseparable, his legacy is
that all of us are inseparable from UCLA. If we accept that gift,
then may we also be committed to create and sustain the kind of
environment that preserves his legacy and our inheritance.