UCLA makes right move by re-renaming hall
Thumbs up to Chancellor Albert Carnesale for reversing the
decision to rename Schoenberg Hall last week. The university
decided to rename the concert hall in the Schoenberg building after
Mo Ostin because of the Ostins’ $5 million donation. We
commend the chancellor and the university for admitting errors were
made in the decision process. The concert hall was already named
after composer and UCLA professor Arnold Schoenberg, whom the music
building was named after as well. Though the university originally
made the decision without proof the hall and building were named
for Schoenberg, after proof was presented, they announced the
concert hall would remain renamed. We are pleased the university
will recognize and respect Schoenberg’s contribution to UCLA
for as long as the university stands. We hope the university finds
another appropriate way of recognizing Ostin’s financial
contribution to the institution. The UCLA community values the
significance of each campus building and the name associated with
it. We are pleased the chancellor heard the public outcry and had
the guts to do what is right.
City MTA board prolonged transit strikes
Thumbs down to the City of Los Angeles’ MTA board for not
acting faster to end the union’s strike, which affected more
than a half-million commuters for over a month. Rather than
spending $2.5 million on public relations efforts, the board should
have made a more serious attempt to end the strike sooner. The new
contract gives bus and train operators a modest wage increase and
eliminates the spilt-shift in which employees were required to be
available 12 hours a day, four days a week without getting
overtime. Instead of spearheading the negotiation effort, mayor
Richard Riordon, the most influential member of the MTA board,
remained in Europe on a bicycling trip. We believe if the strike
had affected a more affluent and powerful segment of the Los
Angeles community, the mayor and the board would have made vigorous
efforts to negotiate and end the strike earlier.
Public must know true crime rates
Thumbs up to the Department of Education for its decision to
review whether or not the University of California and the
California State University accurately report crime on campus,
especially those related to sexual offenses. The decision resulted
in part after the Sacramento Bee published an article claiming the
UC and Cal State systems did not meet the provisions of the Clery
Act, which requires the university to disclose reports on all
criminal acts, not just those made to the police department.
Students, prospective students, families and community members
should receive accurate statistics on campus crime rates, as the
Clery Act requires. If the review proves the schools are complying
with the law, then students can rest assured they are being
accurately informed. If the review reveals universities are not
accurately reporting crime statistics, changes can be made. Either
way, the review is a positive step toward accurately informing the
public of university crime statistics.
Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down represents the majority opinion of the
Daily Bruin editorial board. Send feedback to viewpoint@media.ucla.edu.