Here in Los Angeles, where we are blessed with beautiful weather
year-round, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between the
seasons. But there is not a more energizing time on campus than
fall quarter, which brings with it the return of students to UCLA.
Joining the UCLA family this month are more than 4,300 entering
freshmen, some 3,400 transfer students, almost 4,000 graduate and
professional students, and 230 newly appointed faculty members. I
am delighted to welcome these newest Bruins to our campus
community, and to welcome back returning Bruins.
As the academic year begins, we anticipate with excitement the
many discoveries that you will make, the adventures that you will
experience and the connections that you will forge. Opportunities
for intellectual growth and achievement abound at UCLA. These
include the chance to study in small seminars with top faculty
through our “Fiat Lux” program, to explore issues such
as the global environment or interracial dynamics through
interdisciplinary Freshman Cluster courses, and to conduct research
that itself advances the frontiers of knowledge.
I encourage you also to be open to other forms of learning. Your
classmates, who bring with them different experiences and
perspectives, will often prove to be your greatest teachers. Many
times it is through exploring the unknown, such as by attending
public lectures and programs that may fall outside your area of
scholarly interest, that you learn the most about yourself. And I
hope that you will experience first-hand the gratification that
comes from public service, which is integral to the
university’s mission and part of UCLA’s obligation to
serve our broader community.
As a student at UCLA, in the vibrant metropolis of Los Angeles,
you have immediate access not only to the finest academic and
scholarly resources, but also to a remarkably vast array of
cultural and extracurricular offerings. UCLA is home to a premier
university-arts program that includes UCLA Live, the West
Coast’s major presenter and producer of new works and
world-class performing arts events. As a Bruin, you can root for
our many outstanding athletic teams, including men’s football
and basketball, both of which are welcoming new coaches this year.
Last year, four UCLA teams won NCAA titles (women’s water
polo, gymnastics, and softball; men’s soccer), bringing the
number of NCAA team titles UCLA proudly holds to 90. This year, we
look forward to building on this record, which is already the best
in the nation.
While there is much for us all to look forward to, I am aware
that for many students and their families, this year begins on a
difficult note. As you know, the state of California has been
confronting an unprecedented fiscal crisis, which has greatly
affected the University of California. This year’s $410
million cut in state funding for the UC has important implications
for all of us at UCLA.
In order to protect the University from the impact of this large
cut, UC President Richard Atkinson proposed ““ and the UC
Regents approved ““ several measures. One such measure that
affects students directly is the 30-percent increase in 2003-04
student fees, which was announced this past summer. This increase
was an unfortunate but necessary response to the actions taken by
the state government, and was done in order to preserve the
academic quality of our University.
I know that any increase in student fees is unwelcome. The
timing and size of this particular increase was especially
unfortunate as it came after many students and parents had already
planned their expenses for the coming academic year. I understand
that many families face other financial pressures as a result of
the current economic climate. Fortunately, there are avenues of
support and sources of information available to you, including
financial assistance and financial-aid counseling.
Despite the recent fee increases, your UCLA education will
continue to be a remarkable value, a tremendous source of pride and
an asset that will benefit you for the rest of your life.
I look forward to communicating with you throughout the year,
and I wish you all the best for a productive and fulfilling UCLA
experience.
Carnesale is the chancellor of UCLA.