The Daily Bruin endorses Bryant Tan for academic affairs
commissioner.
Tan has experience working with the Asian Pacific Coalition and
the Affirmative Action Coalition, and he also has a concrete
understanding of the academic issues UCLA faces. He gained
understanding of the position by shadowing the current academic
affairs commissioner at meetings.
Tan says he supports the dual admissions plan ““ the
proposal that would guarantee UC admission to the top 12.5 percent
of students in each high school as long as they complete basic
requirements at a community college first. But, he added that his
support is contingent on the plan’s ability to increase the
proportion of underrepresented minority students at UCLA, showing
his complex understanding of the proposal.
In contrast, S.U.R.E. candidate Katheryn Klein is not well
informed about how the dual admissions plan works. Though she
boasts a record of involvement in academic programs, she does not
have any previous involvement with USAC, student advocacy groups,
or the academic affairs commission.
Tan supports the addition of a diversity requirement at UCLA
that would make an ethnic studies, women’s studies, LGBT
studies, religion or World Arts and Cultures classes part of
general education requirements. On the other hand Klein says she
supports only an optional diversity program. Such a plan gives lip
service to diversity education but accomplishes nothing since these
courses are already optional.
Though both Klein and Tan oppose the plan to increase units in
the College of Letters and Science, only Tan presents clear and
viable ideas of how to oppose the unit changes. For example, he
plans to have the council take the lead in organizing student
opposition to the proposals and raise awareness through publicity
and discussion.
Tan also plans to play a proactive role in student retention by
working with Vice Chancellor Winston Doby to move the Student
Retention Center to better offices in Kerckhoff Hall, instead of
its current location in the Men’s Gym, and increase the
resources available to the offices.
Though Klein seems to have a genuine interest in the academic
affairs commission, she lacks understanding of USAC. We encourage
her to put her enthusiasm to use by getting involved with the
office next year and gaining deeper knowledge of the issues.
The academic affairs commissioner needs to have a clear
understanding of the array of issues facing UCLA. In terms of
experience, knowledge, ideas and dedication, Tan is the most
qualified candidate.
Academic Affairs Commissioner Bryant
Tan Student Empowerment! Katheryn Klein
S.U.R.E.