FAVORITISM CLAIMS PROBED : UCLA REPORTS 267 APPLICANTS SINGLED OUT.Byline: Sara Catania Daily News Staff Writer UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX administrators were questioned Friday by members of a state Senate committee scrutinizing charges of favoritism in admissions in the University of California The University of California has a combined student body of more than 191,000 students, over 1,340,000 living alumni, and a combined systemwide and campus endowment of just over $7.3 billion (8th largest in the United States). system. The hearing, chaired by Sen. Tom Hayden, D-Los Angeles and held at UCLA by the Senate Select Committee on Higher Education, was intended to clarify UCLA's admissions practices and exhort UC officials to abolish special admissions. ``A lot of what's at the root of this is the love and loyalty factor,'' Hayden said. ``But sometimes love and loyalty can go so far that certain inequities are not noticed.'' The Sacramento Bee and the Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Times Morning daily newspaper. Established in 1881, it was purchased and incorporated in 1884 by Harrison Gray Otis (1837–1917) under The Times-Mirror Co. (the hyphen was later dropped from the name). have reported that regents, politicians and big donors have sought favorable admissions treatment for years for the children of friends and constituents. A report released Friday by UCLA said that admission was granted in the past five years to 267 applicants who had been singled out by ``prominent individuals'' including regents, legislators and faculty. But the report also stated that ``UCLA identified no instances of quid pro quo [Latin, What for what or Something for something.] The mutual consideration that passes between two parties to a contractual agreement, thereby rendering the agreement valid and binding. , where a financial contribution or other favorable action on behalf of the university was contingent upon a student's admission.'' A letter included in the report from Chancellor Charles E. Young Dr. Charles E. "Chuck" Young is currently Chancellor Emeritus and Professor at the UCLA School of Public Affairs. Under his skillful leadership and guidance, UCLA went from a regional college with an operating budget of $170 million to became a world class institution with expenses to the UC provost called the admissions ``an issue of minute magnitude, relating to less than one-half of 1 percent of all admissions'' to UCLA each year. Young, who was not present at Friday's hearing, is expected to appear at a second session scheduled for Monday in Sacramento, Hayden said. Alberto Retana, a junior who serves on the board of the University of California Students Association The University of California Students Association (UCSA) is a coalition of students and student governments that aims to provide a collective voice for all students through advocacy and direct action. , called the special admissions a ``double standard'' because UC regents recently voted to end affirmative action affirmative action, in the United States, programs to overcome the effects of past societal discrimination by allocating jobs and resources to members of specific groups, such as minorities and women. in admissions. ``My parents don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. any influential people,'' he said. ``My father is an upholstery worker. We don't have much money. Without programs like affirmative action, I wouldn't be here. So affirmative action ends, and look what we're left with. The people with the power and the money getting special preferences.'' Hayden said that after the hearings, his committee plans to draft a letter to the UC regents asking that a formal policy be adopted on ``special favor'' admissions. The regents will consider the matter at their May meeting. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: State Sen. Tom Hayden, D-Los Angeles, listens to a s tudent protest special admissions at UCLA. Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News |
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