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Young issues Prop. 187 statement

Chancellor makes commitment to campus diversity

By Jennifer K. Morita

Chancellor Charles Young issued a statement Tuesday reiterating the university decision to uphold a temporary restraining order that puts a halt on Proposition 187 until federal courts clarify its constitutionality.

Responding to 26 protesters who were arrested during a sit-in earlier this month, Young met with a small group of students last week and agreed to issue a statement about Proposition 187, the controversial anti-illegal immigration measure that passed by an overwhelming margin in the Nov. 8 election.

"It is important for all members of the campus community to understand that no one is to be denied student or medical services of any kind based on immigration status, and no one is to be asked to prove immigration status in order to receive appropriate services," Young said in the statement.

He added that the university takes pride in UCLA's diversity.

Student activists said they were encouraged by Young's words, though the statement wasn't as decisive as they would have preferred.

"We didn't expect it to be very strong," said York Chang, undergraduate external vice president. "It's not as strong as we would've liked, but the chancellor is taking a step in the right direction. It's important that he responded to the climate on campus."

Chang said he wanted the chancellor to address the tense climate on campus. According to Chang, his office has received about 20 harassment complaints. "Students have been harassed by other students, who feel empowered since Proposition 187 passed. They've been harassed based on the fact that their skin is a different color.

"It's important that Chancellor Young took a step in letting people know that harassment on the basis of race won't be tolerated at this university," Chang said.

Alyssa Kang, a member of the Asian Pacific Coalition who was among those students meeting with Young, added that she is concerned about what will happen if federal courts decide that Proposition 187 is constitutional.

"I feel that if (the university) complies with Prop. 187 it will definitely have a major negative impact on campus," Kang said. "We wanted a statement of non-compliance. We still want the university to really break ground by taking a stance against 187 ­ to take a stance of noncompliance and refuse to follow 187 because it is unconstitutional and it is so dangerous."

She added that UCLA should not comply if it means to stay true to its commitment to diversity.

But others students disagreed.

"I think that UCLA has to uphold the law regardless of what happens," said Kristine Dulmage, a third-year English major. "I think that it's important to allow people to express their concerns, but there's a balance."

Samuel Kashani, a fourth-year biology student said he agrees with everything in Young's statement.

"Right now they've put a stop on the issue, but if it passes ­although I'm not for Prop. 187 ­ the university has to uphold it," Kashani said.

Chang said the next step for his office is to create a place for students to discuss Proposition 187 and come forward with any harassment complaints. For now, he said he is satisfied with Young's statement.

"It's a small but concrete victory coming out of the meeting with Chancellor Young," Chang said.

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