Speaks Out: What is your opinion of Chancellor Gene Block’s plan to keep in touch with students by joining them for breakfast in the dining halls?
Tatiana Rizova Graduate student, political science
“In terms of the way students and the chancellor communicate, I don’t know if that’s going to have any effect. But I think its just a friendlier way of opening up ... and listening to (students’) thoughts.”
Tess Chao Fourth-year, psychology
“I haven’t been to any of the student office hours, and I haven’t heard that much about them, so ... if he’s in the dining halls, he will probably have a bigger presence and attract more students.”
Stephen Kooshian Third-year, history
“It will provide for more students to see the chancellor, but ... you might not get a lot of your questions asked. But there are 40,000 students here, so it seems like a reasonable thing.”
Calvin Chen Fourth-year, English
“I think it would be a good idea. ... The chancellor actually making an effort to approach the students this way makes him more accessible and that way students can voice their opinions.”
Past UCLA Leaders
Abrams was made acting chancellor on July 1, 2006. He has been involved at UCLA since 1959. Prior to his position as acting chancellor, he served as a professor and then dean at the UCLA School of Law and then vice chancellor of the university. He is a Chicago native who received his A.B. and J.D. from the University of Chicago.
1997-2006
Carnesale came to UCLA in 1997 after 23 years at Harvard. He helped raise $3 billion for the university, and research funding awarded to the university through contracts and grants doubled during his time as chancellor. During his tenure, many important programs at UCLA were launched, including the California NanoSystems Institute and the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Medicine.
1968-1997
Young became chancellor at the age of 36 and led the university for 29 years, during which time he helped develop it into the prestigious, top-rate research university it is today. Young himself was a UC student, entering UC Riverside as a transfer, where he acted as student body president and graduated with honors. He then came to UCLA, pursuing his doctoral studies in political science. Prior to his appointment as chancellor, he served the university as an administrator and political science professor.
1960-1968
Murphy came to UCLA in 1960 after almost a decade as chancellor of the University of Kansas. Murphy revamped UCLA academics, turning the College of Applied Arts into the College of Fine Arts and developing a program of interdisciplinary institutes and study centers. The School of Library Service and the School of Architecture and Urban Planning were also established during his tenure.
1959-1960
Knudsen, a renowned physicist at UCLA at the time, was appointed as chancellor when he was just one year away from retirement. He played an important part in the establishment of graduate programs at UCLA. Before coming to the university as an administrator in 1934, he specialized in acoustics and helped design Hollywood sound stages and did research on submarine warfare for the U.S. Navy.
1952-1959
Allen was the first head of UCLA to receive the title of chancellor (an academic and administrative title) instead of provost (an academic title). He was trained as a doctor and worked in medical administration before coming to UCLA, which made him well-suited to help develop the UCLA Medical Center and the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing. Allen resigned amid scandal regarding under-the-table payments to football players throughout the Pacific Coast Conference.
1945-1950
Dykstra had taught political science at UCLA from 1922 to 1930, and 15 years later he returned to lead the university. UCLA was divided into two campuses at the time, and Dykstra was instrumental in developing the Westwood campus and creating on-campus housing for students. The first dorm was completed after his death in 1950 but was named Dykstra Hall in his honor.
1937-1942
Hedrick taught mathematics at UCLA for 13 years prior to his appointment to the head of the university in 1937. He received his bachelor’s degree by age 17 and his doctorate by age 20. He worked as author and editor of many articles and textbooks about mathematics and had 10 children, four of whom attended UCLA. Hedrick died in 1943.
1919-1936
Moore was one of the cofounders of the Southern Branch of the University of California in 1919, which became UCLA in 1927. He held professorships in education at both Yale and Harvard before coming to California in 1917. He taught at UCLA for five years after leaving his administrative position and continued to be involved in the university, living nearby. He died in 1955 at the age of 83, leaving his personal library to the university.
Reach out to students – increase chancellor’s visibility
"Thanks for having me over ... the root beer floats were great,” I said to him.
Interim Chancellor Norm Abrams smiled and said thanks as I left a student reception in his backyard last May. Students mingled with him and took photos, but most kept their distance, preferring to talk with other students instead.
Maybe they were just tired (it was nearing finals) or in awe of the original Andy Warhols lining the walls of the mansion, but whatever the reason, I can relate to their feelings of awkwardness. Ever since an encounter with now-former Chancellor Albert Carnesale my freshman year, I’ve struggled to understand the ambiguous role that the chancellor plays in my life as a UCLA student.
From the time we enter UCLA, we’re told that in order to succeed, it’s crucial to utilize the “big school” resources. This traditionally means doing research projects with professors, seeing near-professional athletes win on the field, and, to some, hooking up with classmates that we (almost) don’t have to worry about bumping into again.
Applying the same logic, how should we embrace our new chancellor, Gene Block, the latest distinguished-East-Coast-academic-turned-administrator to take the reigns of this gigantic university?
Sure, I read Abrams’ e-mails after my identity was potentially stolen by thieves from an electronic database. And after a Taser was used on a student in Powell. And when a gun threat resulted from a crossbow in the apartments. (And those were just last year.)
But beyond such warnings and generic correspondences, in a place where I scarcely even interact with my own professors, I foresee our personal relationship as very limited.
While I originally felt cheated that chancellors tend to spend such limited time with students, I’ve come to accept that it just isn’t statistically feasible for Block to do this and get anything else done. He may be an expert on circadian rhythms in mammals, but he can’t be there to offer advice every time a student needs to pull an all-nighter in Powell.
Although the chancellor can’t meet with every student during office hours or have breakfast with every student in De Neve, he can take easy steps to become a more visible figure on campus. He may not be a direct resource we can all use, but if students know he’s working (and sometimes having fun) on behalf of them, at least he will be someone they can relate to.
For example, it would be great if Block could occasionally attend campus sporting events. Despite the fact he probably wore red and cheered on a dancing tree during his years at Stanford (UCLA won the national basketball championship all four years of his undergrad), it would be great to see him in blue and gold and know that he supports all facets of the university, not just academics and research.
Instead of just having a few students to his office, he could hold a forum once a quarter in a lecture hall or Pauley Pavilion where all students are invited to come and ask him questions. Or he could set up a tent between Ackerman and Wooden once a quarter for a few hours and meet with students on their way up Bruin Walk.
These wouldn’t take up a significant amount of time and would help remove some of the awkwardness and misunderstanding. Through visibility, Block can gain the respect of students who will then lend their support to his position, allowing him to achieve more.
By reaching out to students using these “big school” opportunities – the same that students use to make the most of their time in college – Block will not be square. He will be the perfect fit for UCLA.
If you think Al, Norm and Gene should start a band, e-mail Noble at bnoble@media.ucla.edu.
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