Advocating for diversity-related initiatives has historically been a quiet yet daunting task in higher education. Even more challenging is the process of aligning different campaigns for a larger diversity movement. Nonetheless, 2014 has marked an unprecedented shift in the legitimization of diversity-related issues at UCLA, particularly due to students refusing to be silent. We […]
Category Archives: Community
Submission: UCLA’s privatization pushes operation costs onto students
UC President Janet Napolitano made it clear this April that the UC system was turning its attention toward more private sources of revenue and partnerships with private industry to offset the lack of state funds. The University experienced state cuts in education in 2008-09 and 2011-12. The University acted upon its plans to expand investment […]
Submission: College Diversity Initiative would promote unbiased thinking
My first reaction when I heard about the new College Diversity Initiative was, “What? What could possibly be the point of another vote when we just had one in 2012 and that proposal was defeated, although, sadly, just 29 percent of eligible faculty voted two years ago?” I thought I understood some of the arguments […]
Submission: Lack of USAC knowledge should not disqualify worthy candidate
Around week one, a transfer student asked me why I was running for transfer representative without much USAC experience. I answered that learning and understanding are two different concepts. Learning is based on fleeting memorization, while understanding is grounded in skill and aptitude, which I have. I don’t know every USAC office name or elected […]
Submission: Two transfer students on USAC make for better representation
We, Negeen Sadeghi-Movahed and Sofia Moreno Haq, have decided to join forces and become running mates in this fall special election. Our experiences at UCLA have been similar. We are two Muslim women of color who have dealt with the transfer process and the culture shift of coming from community colleges to this large institution. […]
Submission: Student regents encourage diversity
Editor’s Note: This submission has previously appeared in The Aggie and The Highlander. It has been edited for Daily Bruin style and reprinted below. As classes resume and we return to campus, reminders of the diversity of our student body are all around us. Some students have arrived freshly inspired by the beauty and culture […]
Submission: Respect vital to maintain during USAC election
As we approach a USAC special election and begin the 2014-15 academic year, it is critical that we all remember what it means to be a part of a world-class institution like UCLA, including the obligations and expectations that come with being a True Bruin. One of our most important expectations, particularly in the context […]