Friday, April 17, 1998
Well-organized rally targets Prop. 209
ADMISSIONS: Concerned students stage march on Murphy Hall to be
heard
By Barbara Ortutay
Daily Bruin Contributor
The voices of students angered by the decline in
underrepresented minority admissions echoed throughout Murphy Hall
yesterday, as protesters expressing outrage over the decline in
minority admissions took over the building.
The event may be the start of a period of student mobilization
and action against Proposition 209, organizers said.
"We definitely have to let people know that this is just the
beginning. It is the first step in a long campaign to eventually
overturn this law," said Chad Williams, Chair of the African
Student Union.
Police estimated that about 400 people took part in the rally,
but Williams reported there were over 500 active participants.
"We are sending a clear message to the administration that we
are reacting, we are mad and we are not going to sit idly," said
Mark Ng, chairperson of Samahang Pilipino.
As the rally in front of Schoenberg Hall progressed, a group of
about 300 students, mainly from the ASU, marched around Murphy
Hall, chanting and surrounding the building arm-in-arm.
A fire alarm opened the floodgates of Murphy Hall, releasing
administrators into the sea of student protest. After a 15 minute
lull, a wave of protesters flooded the building.
With sweat glistening on their faces, the passionate crowd
inside Murphy Hall expressed a sense of unity and power.
"I feel very empowered by the way so many African people and
people of other ethnicities can come together for a common cause,"
said Shonda Richburg, a second-year political science student.
"The people’s adrenaline is really flowing, and you’d better
believe this is just the beginning," she added.
Jackie Garcia, a fourth-year Latin American studies and history
student, said she felt a sense of strength and unity in the
demonstration "more than any other protest I’ve been in."
"I had chills just walking through the halls," she added.
Despite the highly passionate air of the takeover, demonstrators
evacuated the building when an organizer instructed them to leave
in order to avoid arrests.
While police were present at the rally and several even carried
riot helmets, no direct action was taken.
"The demonstrations were clearly coordinated and organized, and
there was identified leadership as well as compliance with the
protesters," said Clarence R. Chapman, UC Chief of Police.
"There was nothing problematic besides the blocking of traffic.
We could have done that – blocked traffic – in a safer way," he
added.
However, Chapman was dismayed that the police department was
unprepared to deal with the level of student outrage and the
spontaneity of the events as they unfolded. "My only disappointment
was that we weren’t notified."
Several students felt it was ironic that police were not present
at Wednesday’s Hemp-fest, where people openly smoked marijuana in
front of Kerckhoff Hall, while they did show up at the
demonstration.
"We were having a peaceful protest and they show up." said
Charissa Cottonham, first-year student.
Winston Doby, vice chancellor of Student Affairs, said the
demonstration was a "legitimate form of expression," but the
administration is committed to the law.
"We have no alternative but to admit (students) according to the
law of the State of California and the policies of the University
of California," he added.
Several speakers at the rally expressed outrage over Carnesale’s
apparent lack of commitment to preserving diversity by complying
with Proposition 209.
"Go back to Harvard is all I’m saying," said Kendra Fox-Davis,
chief of staff of the USAC president’s office.
Earlier this week, ASU presented a list of demands to the
administration, including a statement of non-compliance with
Proposition 209. The law has resulted in a plunge in the number of
minority students admitted to UCLA.
Chancellor Albert Carnesale continues to stand by his statement
that he will comply with the state law, although he said the lack
of affirmative action "adversely effects" this university.
Many minorities feel their future existence at UCLA is
threatened because of Proposition 209.
"We face extinction," said Ng. "This goes beyond just being a
problem for students of color – it’s a problem for the entire UCLA
community."
Facing the engrossed crowd of demonstrators, Fox-Davis
emphasized the importance of resisting unjust laws. She cited
historical examples of resistance such as the civil rights movement
and Rosa Parks.
"I want my children to know that students in 1998 stood up
against a law that is racist, sexist and fascist," said
Fox-Davis.
Asian Pacific Coalition and other student groups stood in
solidarity with ASU and their demands to Carnesale.
Mike Schwartz, a member of the Affirmative Action Coalition,
said even though other UCs did not experience the decline in
minority admissions like UCLA and UC Berkeley, overall minority
enrollment declined and the issue still needs to be addressed.
"We learn more from the different people we meet than in our
classes," he said.
"The lack of diversity hurts us as a school. Diversity equals
education," he continued.
Schwartz also sought to break myths surrounding affirmative
action that include the argument that it gives unqualified
minorities preferential treatment.
"There were 1200 African American, Latino/a and Native American
students rejected from Berkeley and UCLA with 4.0 GPAs," he
said.
Petitions of the Students for Educational Opportunity
Initiative, in support of the reinstatement of affirmative action
in admissions, circulated in the crowd.
Some demonstrators planned to hold another protest later in the
day, but the reaction amounted to a short boo-ing when Carnesale
step on stage to speak at the Arthur Ashe Wellness Center
dedication.
"Students should not be afraid of the administration," said USAC
President Kandea Mosley.
"We shouldn’t allow them to silence us, and that means we need
to march up to Murphy to let them know that we are not
intimidated."
Protesters made it clear that this event was just the first of
many to come, and that they will continue the struggle to preserve
diversity. As the rally wrapped up, participants smiled and
embraced each other.
"I feel that this was a positive event, but it’s important to
realize that this is just the beginning," said Noluthando L.
Williams, after hugging a fellow protester.
With reports from Kari Browne, Matt Grace, J. Jioni Palmer and
Stefanie Wong, Daily Bruin Senior Staff.
CHARLES KUO/Daily Bruin
Students take over Murphy Hall, rallying in support of finding
sources of diversity in UCLA’s admissions policy.
CHARLES KUO/Daily Bruin
Tiffany Jones, first year undeclared student, looks over a
petition.