On the one hand, from spin central, there is:
Faculty committee backs plan for conference and guest center
An Academic Senate committee has expressed support for UCLA’s proposal to build a conference and guest center, calling the project a potentially valuable enhancement to the campus. In its review of the proposed operating plan, the Council on Planning and Budget determined that the financing model for the project is sound and that UCLA could benefit from additional conference space and affordable guest rooms. Vice Chancellor Steve Olsen, UCLA’s chief financial officer, was appreciative of the committee’s review…
Full press release at http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/faculty-committee-backs-plan-for-231305.aspx
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But on the other hand, there is this student editorial from the Daily Bruin:
Proposed Luskin Conference Center eats up funds that can go to students more directly: UCLA should not devote money toward project that will not make a significant academic impact
Presented to the UC Board of Regents as a potential academic asset to the entire UCLA community, the proposed Luskin Center is essentially just a hotel with extra meeting rooms – nothing particularly novel or essential… While the creation of a central location for visiting speakers, guests, students, alumni and faculty to convene is not in itself a bad idea, the center is not necessary and would be wasteful considering the university’s fiscal situation. The proposal, which was considered at last week’s regents meeting, was met with skepticism. Regents posed questions regarding the hotel’s feasibility and necessity, suggesting that UCLA could simply buy an existing hotel in the area at a lower cost…
Sometimes, in dealing with the whims of the king, it’s best to learn from the students:
