Thursday, May 28, 1998
Meeting with chancellor unproductive
ACTIVISION: Carnesale,
students in stalemate over admissions, protest
By Barbara Ortutay
and Michael Weiner
Daily Bruin Staff
Another meeting between Chancellor Albert Carnesale and student
leaders resulted in a stalemate Wednesday, when the Affirmative
Action Coalition (AAC) and the African Student Union (ASU) reissued
their still un-met demands to Carnesale.
In addition to their demands regarding Proposition 209 and
admissions policy, students also called into question the response
from administration and police to the recent Days of Defiance
protests. The LAPD riot squad was present at the final protest, and
88 students were arrested.
During the meeting, Carnesale did not budge from statements he
has already made about ASU’s demands. He reinforced his commitment
to uphold Proposition 209, stating once again that he "will comply
with the law."
Carnesale also denied the students’ request that a moratorium be
placed on admissions and recruitment policies. However, he
expressed his interest in the establishment of outreach centers,
including the possibility of allocating funds for this purpose.
At a press conference following the meeting, student leaders,
including current USAC President Kandea Mosley and president-elect
Stacy Lee, said that no progress was made.
"Basically he’s been very hypocritical," said USAC Internal Vice
President-elect P.J. Gagajena. "He’s refused to move steps forward.
He’s been very noncompliant and unfriendly to students."
In an interview after the meeting, Carnesale expressed his own
discontent with the meeting, saying that the students present did
nothing more than repeat old demands and add new demands. He added
that they did not seem willing to compromise.
"I did not find it to be a constructive meeting," Carnesale
said. "It did not appear to me that what they wanted to do was make
progress and see how we can enhance diversity at UCLA."
"I don’t want to be drawn off into a debate that has nothing to
do with the university," Carnesale said.
The students’ new demands included an apology from Carnesale
regarding Professor Michael Allen’s remarks referring to the "Queen
of Sheba" and "babes" during the chancellor’s inauguration.
While students and some professors saw these remarks as a racist
and sexist attack on Mosley, Carnesale said he does not see it that
way, and he refused to issue an apology. Allen also says the
statements were not a racist attack.
"I would not issue a statement of apology for his remarks just
as I would not issue one for Ms. Mosley’s remarks," Carnesale
said.
AAC and ASU are also demanding that the university drop the
charges against the students who were arrested during the protest
at Royce Hall last Tuesday.
However, Carnesale said that the answer to that will come "in
due course."
The students said the way police and the administration dealt
with student protesters was unnecessary and perpetuated a hostile
environment.
"It was a peaceful protest, a peaceful takeover of Royce Hall,"
Williams said, adding that the arrests and the actions of the
police showed that they did not see it that way.
"We feel that the police had control over everything that day,"
he continued.
Regarding the arrests during the protest, Carnesale said
students had the opportunity to exit the building and avoid
charges.
"The decision (to be arrested) was made by the 85 people who
were arrested," he said.
In addition, student activists also allege that UCPD officers
harassed Dana Evans, ASU’s vice-chair, on Tuesday night when she
was walking home from campus and that she was detained for 20
minutes.
Students demanded an investigation of this incident, as well as
other allegations of police harassment of students.
Carnesale said that the first time he heard of this incident was
at the meeting and that he will look into the situation.
During the meeting, Carnesale said he does not support the
students’ "demands as demands," however, "some proposals have
merit."
He said it is not his place to deal with issues that are not
under the direct control of UCLA.
Carnesale said that he has come out in favor of using
affirmative action in order to achieve diversity at UCLA.
"I have taken a stand on the effects of the university not being
able to use race, gender and national origin in admissions
processes," Carnesale said. "I believe it affects the university
adversely and hurts the university."
But AAC and ASU members say that this is not enough and that his
actions do not reflect this commitment.
"As of yet, the administration has not shown concrete steps
towards ASU’s demands," said Mosley.