Poor communication and bad planning appear to be at the root of
an administrative blunder involving UCLA Vending Services, which
will likely cause almost $100,000 in university funds to go to
waste.
The administration has approved the removal of a full-service
vending machine kiosk recently built in front of Bunche Hall,
following complaints mostly from faculty members that the kiosk
ruined the aesthetics of the area, said Michael Foraker, director
of Housing and Dining Services.
The final decision to remove the the machine was made by
Executive Vice Chancellor Daniel Neuman, Foraker and other
administration officials said. As EVC, Neuman is second in
administrative command only to Chancellor Albert Carnesale.
The kiosk, completed in late August, cost about $75,000 to
construct, and will now require an additional $25,000 to remove it
if plans are approved, Foraker said.
It was installed on the south side of the building, directly
opposite the Bunche Tower elevators and next to the olive trees
adjacent to the Palm Court structure.
Foraker said the request for installation had originated 18
months ago by graduate students studying late in the 24-hour Bunche
Hall graduate student centers.
They felt it was unsafe to walk to the nearby Campbell Hall or
LuValle Commons vending areas at night.
The political science, economics, geography and history
departments all make their homes in Bunche Hall, along with the
UCLA International Institute.
Foraker said many faculty members had demanded the removal of
the kiosk because its appearance was unattractive and its placement
was unfavorable.
“They felt the placement of the vending kiosk mitigated
the view of the green space around Bunche as they came out of the
elevators,” he said.
Scott Waugh, dean of social sciences, held an informal meeting
with the chairs of all academic departments within Bunche Hall to
gather an understanding of their concerns with the vending
machines. He said complaints about the kiosk had been raised even
while it was being built.
“The sentiment was that it shouldn’t have been built
in the first place,” he said. “Many felt the kiosk
itself was too full and that it was unnecessary considering the
proximity of other vending sites.”
The location of the kiosk was selected by the campus architect
in conjunction with Vending Services, Foraker said, and was deemed
to be the best place to install such a service. But some faculty
felt they had missed the mark.
“The kiosk looks like it was designed by a dropout from
the USC School of Architecture,” said William Allen,
professor emeritus in the department of economics. “The
placement of the machines was not well-inspired; they could have
been put … on the A-level outside Bunche facing Public
Policy.”
More importantly, those opposing the kiosk are angered by the
fact that there was virtually no consultation with the inhabitants
of the building before the construction was approved, a sentiment
shared by those who would like to see the machines remain.
“I feel that it is important for faculty to have some say
about the environment in which they live on a daily basis,”
said Fred Notehelfer, professor for the history department.
“To my knowledge, there was no consultation about putting
these machines in the present space.”
Most involved found out about the situation after Neuman had
given the approval for removal. The kiosk structure had barely been
standing for one month before the decision to have it removed was
made by Neuman in late September, Foraker said.
After numerous attempts to set up a meeting with Neuman, a press
aide said he would be too busy to comment.
In the meantime, graduate students who demanded the installation
of the machines for so long are now faced with them being removed.
Many signed a petition, given to Economics Management Service
Officer Todd August, demanding that the machines stay.
“It sounds to me like a very little minority acted
energetically for the removal, but the silent great majority of the
users are going to suffer the negative consequences of such
action,” said Juan Manuel Juaregui, a graduate student
studying economics.
The whole incident has forced students to wonder how in such
times of economic difficulty, the university can allow a chunk of
money to essentially go down the drain.
“Presumably students in the fields of economics and
political science are learning something about social
responsibility and efficiency,” said Yan Lee, an economics
doctorate student. “Given the costs of installing and then
removing, if the vending machines are indeed removed, in reality,
what we’re getting is a lesson in waste and abuse of
power.”
Although the go-ahead to remove the kiosk has been given,
Foraker said it remains to be seen how the decision will be
implemented. He is working with the campus architect to decide how
best to use the time and resources already spent.
One potential outcome would be to determine whether the kiosk
could be altered to serve a different function, if the whole plaza
was to be given a face lift. This may involve the placement of
tables and chairs in the courtyard like those at LuValle
Commons.
Alternatively, Foraker said administration may consider
partially tearing down the structure in a bid to tone down its
presence; or, finally, to remove the kiosk completely and restore
the area to the way it was prior to construction.
“All of us wish there had been greater consultation of
those who study and reside in Bunche Hall,” Foraker said.
“Executive Vice Chancellor Neuman believes this is the best
solution, and with this understanding we will continue to work with
graduate students to find the best solution for them as
well.”