Monday, March 31, 1997

FUTURE:

Carnesale should boost morale, university standing and reputation with help of students

By David J. Altman

The Chancellor is gone! Long live the new chancellor! I hope this is the first thing on your desk, in your new office, because it is a students' eye view of UCLA. First of all, congratulations Chancellor Carnesale. WE are honored that you have accepted the chancellorship of UCLA. YOU should be honored that we extended the invitation. At this point I could write several more paragraphs, or even pages, of salutations and regards, but in truth, in the next two weeks you will hear such sentiments from those both more eloquent and illustrious than myself. Needless to say, rest assured that both the alumni and current student body wish you the best and know you will love our university as we do.

Now, since time is short, and with your task at hand, on to business. Before I can proceed, a bit of history. Over the last 40, and especially 30 years, UCLA has skyrocketed from a second-tier institution to a top-tier university. This was due mainly to the ability, talents and leadership of ex-chancellor Charles Young. He had the vision, got the funding, hired excellent faculty, and recruited a diverse and elite student body. Even those who intensely disliked him still felt respect, if not awe, for his accomplishments. He built this institution and everyone knows it.

When I was preparing to go to college, I remember several surveys ranking UCLA in the top 15. But, in the last few years, the university's reputation has slid .... Not far, but significantly. No one dared say a word or confront the chancellor on this issue. How could we ­ after all, he had built the place into what it was? And it was hard to blame him in the face of massive budget cuts. So we let it slide. Fortunately, UCLA has (yet) again out-maneuvered UC Berkeley for the top talent in the country (as it has for the last 30 years in athletics and academia), and I know we got the better chancellor. Unfortunately, you won't have much of a honeymoon period at the office before all the pent-up anxiety over the school's reputation problems comes knocking on your door, soooooo, I have a few suggestions ....

Keep hiring the best faculty. Not the best money can buy. Just the best. As you may know, recently, the Gourmand report rated UCLA's Undergraduate Film and Theater Department No. 1 and is about to do the same with Drama. Why? Because we brought on the brightest AND MOST DRIVEN faculty that could be found. Result? No. 1. The lesson is simple: do whatever it takes to bring in, keep, retain and utilize top-rated faculty. Be systematic and build the departments up professor by professor, department by department. Push the departments that are already in the top 20 into the top 10. This will yield inestimable benefits, as you well know.

Don't ignore the undergraduate education level. I am truly proud of our excellent graduate and research education. But don't ignore the undergraduates. That side of UCLA has gotten relatively less attention, with resulting setbacks in reputation and morale. Get more and better teachers into the classes. I know it's expensive, but university fundraising, as well as the high student fees, should cover some of that. It's up to you to finagle the rest out of Governor Wilson.

Also, completely aside from the academics, you must pay close attention to undergraduate morale. Many of my friends who went to other schools such as Amherst, Stanford, and even Brown are appalled at the lack of camaraderie, esprit de corps and general lack of intense Bruin Pride that permeates the student body. As the leader of the campus community, YOU must make sure that the students know and understand how special they are for making it here, that they are a part of a history that includes academic prizes and distinctions in every field of study and endeavor, Olympic gold medals, and history-making projects and politics. Students must be made aware of the campus heritage early and often. The school should become less bureaucratic and infinitely more friendly to students. I had a terrific experience as a UCLA undergrad. Why? Because the people around me, professors, staff and students, acted as if they were my family.

Only when undergrads can look back and think of UCLA in those terms will you have accomplished the goal of making UCLA the best college experience it can be.

Improve that physical facilities of the school. We are moving into the next century. This school has to be on the cutting edge. When students show up for orientation they should think they have just arrived at Starfleet Academy. I can guarantee you that among good facilities, faculty and 10 nationally ranked athletics programs, you will attract the best and the brightest.

Another important point about campus morale. The stink of petty graft and big money salaries for unknown, minor administrators has recently wafted through campus. You should have zero tolerance for these kinds of shenanigans. These types of things eat away at our pride and confidence in our school.

Campus diversity is important. Nothing breeds intellectual stagnation and ignorance faster than rank homogeneity. It's important to have diverse viewpoints which represent all sides. Nothing has been as eye-opening for me as talking to people of different colors, religions, political affiliations, creeds and backgrounds. I have radically changed my philosophy based on the insights I gained during conversations with people who were different from me. But, diversity is not an end in itself. I would not have gained the benefit I did from talking to these people if they did not have the undeniable intellectual ability found in most UCLA students ....

Ignore student government. I have been here a lot of years. I've learned that they are infantile grandstanders with unseemly amounts of selfish political ambition. Each one of them believes that they are the next Bill Clinton. They see their job as mindlessly and loudly criticizing anything administration does (and occasionally getting arrested) in the pathetic hope that we'll actually believe they care about us. Do what Chuck did. Just say no.

Don't ignore real student needs. Just remember that in years to come alumni will express gratitude to you based on the quality of education they received and the ability to impress others with the reputation of the college they attended, not kowtowing to student government.

Utilize the alumni. There is a solid core of true blue Bruins. They are always writing to the Daily Bruin, the LA Times, cheering at home games and boosting the school to anyone who will listen. Build and expand on that. We're all in the same boat. What we'll be able to say about our education is directly correlated to how the university is doing that year. You have access to thousands of educated, vocal, eloquent spokespeople (and dare I say contributors). Use them.

That is my list. It is by no means exhaustive. The Los Angeles Times reported that you told the selection committee that you were prepared to take UCLA into the top ten. I hope so. You know that I and about 500,000 other alums will be cheering you on. Just remember, we'll be watching you.