While the sun rises on 2003, the United States, California and
the University of California are faced with more problems than they
can combat. As a nation, we are on the brink of war with Iraq while
the war on terrorism is still being fought and heavily funded by an
economy that can’t afford it.
In California, public programs are suffering the consequences of
a reduced budget and there is a looming water crisis expected to
bring about turmoil similar to that caused by the energy crisis. At
UCLA, unavailable parking, overcrowding and poor athletic
performances are only the beginning. Fortunately, here are some new
year’s resolutions suggestions to keep everyone from
President Bush to Dan Guerrero busy until 2004:
We would all sleep better at night knowing Saddam Hussein is
incapable of deploying a nuclear weapon against the United States
or its interests. And as long as he can’t ““ as will be
determined by the United Nations weapons inspectors later this
month ““ there’s no justification for rushing into a
major war aside from suspicious White House suspicions yet to be
made public.
Consistency wouldn’t hurt either. The White House is
treating North Korea leniently compared to the paddling being given
to Iraq. North Korean nuclear bombs are as dangerous as any Iraq
could make. If the North Korean government can be dealt with
without military might, it should be possible to treat the weaker,
less resourceful Iraq this way, too.
Not that the United States has a dearth of military power. In a
list ranking countries according to their military spending, the
United States spends more on their military budget than the next 25
countries combined. There are better ways to spend billions of
dollars than on a Star Wars-like missile defense system. Increased
funding for public education, environmental preservation and a push
toward publicly funded elections to ensure nobody like Bush, Inc.
is the next leader of the free world would serve a more valuable
purpose to the United States population than a missile defense
system incapable of stopping terrorist attacks ““ the real
threat to national security.
Many Californians will have to scrimp and save in 2003 due to
current and impending economic hardship. If Governor Gray Davis,
after being sworn in yesterday, has any future political
aspirations, he should focus on the economy while keeping an eye on
the water supply, lest he be destroyed by sister crises.
The UC system and the UC Board of Regents have plenty to keep
them busy. To make amends for the $405 annual fee hike, regents
should make sure they create “the most coherent fee policy on
the planet” before the year is out.
Richard Atkinson was a great president, but in their new search,
the UC should find a candidate with Chuck Young leadership talent
and staying power. We need a president for the long haul who can
ensure his plans come to fruition before retiring.
UCLA can get to work in the new year by implementing security
measures to prevent future assaults in the dorms. Dan Guerrero
should continue to restore respectability in UCLA’s athletic
program. The class of 2003 was battered by Carson and company, but
the class of 2004 deserves to see at least one victory against USC.
Say what you like about consecutive sweet sixteen appearances, but
past and present UCLA squads have not played to the level their
talent. Wouldn’t Kapono have visited the Final Four already
if Coach K or Lute Olsen was at the helm?
Finally, with all the world’s problems, students should
have a place to relax. A pub on campus would be great for
undergrads … Members of the Graduate Student Association, who
initially opposed sharing a pub with undergrads, might step
separatism up a notch and petition for their own vending machine
kiosks. Word is there’s a couple available by Bunche
Hall.