Interim Chancellor Norman Abrams was honored on the terrace of Fowler Museum on Friday by the UCLA Black Faculty and Staff Association for his efforts in diversifying the campus.
The theme of the association’s fifth annual Spring Convocation was “Building Bridges and Empowering Diversity,” in which Abrams was honored for his work with UCLA students, faculty and alumni to increase black enrollment numbers.
At its Spring Convocation each year, the BFSA honors a faculty member who has made significant efforts toward an issue important to the organization.
Abrams applauded members of the student group Bruin Ambassadors for their work in going out into disadvantaged communities and talking to children about the beauty of UCLA.
“Student-to-student (connection) has a special value. There are some things that students will not listen to adults about,” Abrams said.
Abrams also commended the faculty for putting in the time to change admissions to a holistic review process, which takes into account applicants’ personal experiences and achievements in addition to grades and test scores.
Holistic review considers such factors as being raised by a single parent, having worked through high school, whether the applicant has a handicap or major illness, and student leadership, among other things.
“The staff worked night and day for six weeks to implement this change because we did not want to delay this. The faculty really deserves accolades for this,” Abrams said.
The chancellor praised alumni, specifically the Black Alumni Association, for raising funds that will go to scholarships for underprivileged youth. The chancellor also mentioned former UCLA and NBA basketball players Baron Davis and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, recognizing them for their concern and participation in providing means to increase black enrollment.
Members of the BFSA said they believe Abrams has made major contributions in the past year that have inspired others to become more committed to diversity.
“The question was raised, “˜Do we really have something to celebrate?’ … And we concluded that yes we do ““ Chancellor Abrams has really been committed to progress in diversity this year,” said VC Powe, chair of special events in the BFSA.
Abrams was introduced by Keith Parker, assistant vice chancellor for government and community relations, who praised his unique qualities of leadership. Parker said Abrams has a magnetism that allows him to recruit and convince people into making certain changes to the system.
“When he came on board, I am sure he did not know that he was going to be confronted with the Taser incident, the files break-in, the animal research issues and African American admissions,” Parker said.
Parker went on to praise Abrams for the way he has handled these issues and what Parker called Abrams’ determination to honor the things he feels strongly about.
“He had a vision and a commitment to our community. He did not just say, “˜I am going to leave this for the next guy,’ he said, “˜I am going to work on this.’ He went around talking to people at junior highs and middle schools. He talked to counselors, children and parents to make this happen,” Parker said.
Abrams expressed his gratitude for being honored at the event, as well as his pride in the community working together to create the changes that took place this year.
The chancellor also said he believed the faculty, students and alumni behind the diversifying movement were a testament to diversity itself since those involved comprised a mosaic of different ethnicities.
“Elevating diversity, what we have accomplished, has been accomplished by a very diverse group: Caucasian, African American, Asian, Latino, all the way down the list,” Abrams said.