Bag lunches, ice cream and watermelon slices awaited an
estimated 3,500 UCLA staff employees last Thursday, in the first
All-Staff Picnic.
Dickson Plaza was filled with staffers as they enjoyed two hours
of food, music and dancing at the picnic. The theme this year was
Bruin pride, and even Joe and Josie Bruin made an appearance.
The picnic was jointly sponsored by the Chancellor’s
Office and the Staff Assembly, an organization devoted to promoting
the interests and welfare of all UCLA staff employees.
Though many departments have their own events and get-togethers,
this is the first time in years that staff employees have been able
to attend a campus-wide event. Many staffers thus enjoyed the
opportunity to converse with individuals from other departments and
meet new people.
In his address to staff employees during the picnic, Chancellor
Albert Carnesale emphasized it is not just the students and faculty
who make UCLA what it is.Â
He added that staff members are the ones who keep the university
running and their importance to the school should be
acknowledged.
Other UC schools, such as UCI and UCSD, have had staff
appreciation picnics for several years now. The idea of an
all-staff picnic at UCLA had been floating around for quite
sometime, but it did not become a reality until this year, which is
also the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Staff
Assembly.
Staff Assembly officials stressed that the picnic was an effort
to honor all employees and show appreciation for employees’
dedication and hard work.Â
The staff picnic comes at a time when several staffers’
jobs are endangered by the university current budget
situation.Â
The picnic did not result from the budget cuts, but the topic
was on many peoples’ minds at the event. Staffers
appreciated the gesture, but some still had a few concerns.
Sandra Bailey, who has worked at UCLA for three years, addressed
the issue.
“The picnic was a nice gesture. I can not complain.
However, I would prefer a raise instead,” Bailey said.
Though budget cuts were mentioned in an address by the UCLA
Staff Assembly President Hassan Ghamlouch, he emphasized that the
picnic and budget cuts are not on the same level as each other
““ a picnic and a raise increase are in no way
equal.Â
He explained that state officials had control over budget
matters and not Staff Assembly members.Â
The picnic was meant to give staffers a day to relax, to enjoy a
meal, and to get together to share a sense of unity and
camaraderie.
Aside from a few concerns, many believe that the event was a
success.
Only a few hours after the event, Ghamlouch reported that he had
received dozens of positive e-mails from staffers about the picnic.
He said the Staff Assembly plans to continue the tradition of the
staff appreciation picnic for years to come.
“Getting together with the staff and having a meal
together was a morale booster. Having a chance to come together
finally is a great satisfaction” Ghamlouch said. “To
see the picnic come through was a great feeling.”