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By Dennis Lim Daily Bruin Contributor To honor one of the most successful fund-raising ventures UCLA has ever undertaken ­ and to announce its next stage ­ administrators, alumni and special guests were invited to a special conference on Friday titled "Linking Frontiers of Knowledge."

The conference was meant to show donors to Campaign UCLA, the university's seven-year effort to raise private funds, where their money is going.

Chancellor Albert Carnesale announced Friday that the campaign, which originally set its goal of raising $1.2 billion by June 30, 2002, has already accomplished that goal and now plans to raise it by another $400 million.

"To guarantee the excellence of UCLA and to raise money to meet specific unmet needs, we have decided to announce our new goal of raising $1.6 billion by the same date," Carnesale said. "This venture will be the largest campaign ever taken by a public university and the fourth largest among private and public universities."

After lunch and a presentation at Covel Commons, UCLA buses escorted alumni and guests to their choice of six lectures taught by notable professors about their fields of study.

Lecture topics ranged from "Love, Sex and Marriage in the Middle Ages" to "Reading the Genetic Human Blueprint."

After the lectures, participants were bussed to the base of Janss Steps, where they gathered for a ceremony to dedicate the re-naming of Janss Plaza to Wilson Plaza, in honor of Campaign UCLA Chairman Bob Wilson.

Wilson and his wife Marion, both graduates of UCLA, have a long tradition of donating or helping to raise millions of dollars for the university. The couple has raised money for the schools of medicine, law, dentistry, and athletics among many others.

The couple met while undergraduates at UCLA and all five of their sons were born at the medical center.

"Bob and Marion often speak of their pride in UCLA," Carnesale said at the dedication ceremony. "We don't speak often enough about our pride in them.

"So, to do just that, we will take this beautiful part of our campus, and will dedicate it to two very beautiful people," Carnesale continued.

A giant plaque on the plaza at the base of the steps marks the new name. Construction on a parking structure beneath the plaza had closed off the space, but it was opened to the public winter quarter last year.

"I suppose if someone were to ask me how I feel right now, I would have to say overwhelmed," Bob said. "This is a real honor. UCLA has done so much for both Marion and I, that this is the least we could do to thank the university."

Alumni and guests then moved from Wilson Plaza to Collins Court in the Wooden Center, for a special dinner and dance to conclude the night.

Marion, who will serve as president of UCLA's Women and Philanthropy organization starting September, concluded the night by saying the campaign's accomplishment was not an end, but merely a milestone in the history of UCLA.

"This is not over," Marion said. "This is just the beginning of what we can do together as a great institution. We feel like the university is a second home or family to us and we will continue to do great things for the school and the community as long as we possibly can."

Event participants were just as excited about the success.

"It's a pretty incredible accomplishment," said Pradeep Thiyanaratnam, a third-year applied math student and invited guest. "They've raised so much money in such a short amount of time."

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