UCLA

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Unfriendly Persuasion?

Byuclafaculty

Three UCLA students were arrested Thursday during a confrontation with university police after protesters disrupted a UC regents meeting with a “spring break” demonstration during which some stripped down to bathing suits and tossed inflatable beach balls. The clash took place as 40 protesters, angry about high tuition, were leaving the UC San Francisco meeting hall after repeated warnings by police to clear the area. Authorities said that one student then pushed a police officer in a corridor and two others interfered with his arrest. Students denied pushing and said UC police overreacted, particularly by piling on to the arrested students and…

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No Parking? (and no decision at the Regents)

Byuclafaculty

There are in fact UCLA policies about reimbursing the parking authority for the costs of parking replacement when capital projects displace existing parking.  Contrary assertions were made at the Regents meeting on the hotel/conference center. Below you will find a link to the official parking policy: Open publication – Free publishing – More parking Yours truly is in transit at the moment but I am told that the hotel matter was deferred today to the next meeting of the Regents after the embarrassing questions that occurred at the Regents yesterday. If UCLA is willing to rethink this project as working…

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UCLA History: Ralph Bunche

Byuclafaculty

On the left is the graduation photo of Ralph Bunche, the famed African American diplomat after whom Bunche Hall is named.  Bunche was an undergraduate at the old Vermont Avenue campus of UCLA. Someone with Bunche’s mediation and diplomatic skills might be needed today by UCLA to find a solution to the embarrassing hotel problem it created yesterday at the Regents.  See yesterday’s two posts on that matter.  Too bad he’s not around to help. ===Yours truly will be on an airplane today and unable to report on the Regents session, including what they do with the hotel.  The UCLA…

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Alternative Transit to UCLA

Byuclafaculty

UCLA traffic hits lowest level since 1990 By Alison Hewitt March 27, 2012 The rest of Los Angeles may seem as congested as ever, but traffic at UCLA is the lightest it’s ever been since the university began measuring more than 20 years ago. “Vehicle counts are lower now than they were in 1990, when the cordon count first began,” according to UCLA Transportation’s newly released State of the Commute annual report, which tracks all vehicles driving into and out of campus. The reduced traffic represents the success of UCLA Transportation’s focus on lowering the number of drive-alone commuters at UCLA to lighten…

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The Story So Far: Part 2 – Hotel Proves Highly Embarrassing for UCLA

Byuclafaculty

My previous blog entry noted the objections to the UCLA hotel/conference center raised by non-UCLA participants at the public comments session this morning. As in the case of the morning session, I was unable to record the afternoon session of the Regents’ Committee on Building and Grounds.  However, I did hear most of it. There were presentations by Gene Block and Steve Olsen which led to a very skeptical set of questions by the Regents on the Committee.  They questioned all of the items raised by the morning witnesses. Ultimately, the Committee was not willing to conclude its session with…

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The Story So Far: Tuition, Ballot Propositions, Hotel, Japanese Garden, Pepper Spray, and More

Byuclafaculty

Yours truly tried to get a decent recording of the Regents public comment session this morning. Unfortunately, an aging office computer produced such a low quality recording that I will summarize below in writing: Prior to the public comment period, President Yudof said he intended to endorse the governor’s tax initiative and would ask the Regents to do so.  After the comment period, Academic Council chair Bob Anderson noted that faculty members are voting on a memorial to the Regents asking them to endorse ballot propositions that provide funding to the university.  (The memorial does not designate a particular initiative.)…

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Sneak Preview

Byuclafaculty

Later this morning at the UC Regents meeting, there will be a public comments period.  There may be oral testimony by persons opposed to the latest version of the UCLA hotel/conference center project. Below you can find a link to the written testimony of “Save Westwood Village,” a group of neighbors and local business & hotel owners.  Although the group may have interests regarding this project different from those of the faculty, it will be necessary for any Academic Senate review of this project to respond to the objections raised.  The faculty interest essentially is that the project not end…

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Japanese Garden Update

Byuclafaculty

It is possible that the sale of the Japanese Garden by UCLA may come up at the forthcoming Regents meeting, at least in the public comment period.  The letter below was emailed to me by an individual who has been involved in the debate over the sale.  I should point out, in reprinting the email, that the UCLA Faculty Association has no position on the proposed sale but, as in other matters pertaining to UCLA, prefers that information on controversial matters be aired openly when possible.  The Japanese Garden matter affects not only the garden itself but also could have…