Wednesday, November 13, 1996
INVESTIGATION:
School newspaper has duty to shed light on situationBy Eliot
Hochberg
During my five years at UCLA (1988Â1993), I saw the
dismantling of many of the nation’s top sports programs. During
that period, I wondered if there was an appreciation for the
prestige that such programs brought to universities. I now know
that UCLA is no longer a school for the students, who gain the
greatest benefit from these high quality programs, but for the
administration, who has an agenda which apparently has little or
nothing to do with the wishes of the student body or alumni.
In reading about the firing of Coach Harrick, two thoughts occur
to me. First, that this action resembles that of a "kangaroo court"
without trial or defense. Second, that not too long ago, similar
accusations were centered on the Chancellor himself, and he
survived without so much as a reduction of pay. This strikes me as
being both unfair and unacceptable.
It is with these thoughts in mind that I make the following
request of the Daily Bruin:
First, that The Bruin make its own investigation of the Harrick
situation, to determine whether the information presented by the
administration is true and whether the punitive action taken
against Coach Harrick is reasonable and legal.
Second, to make a statement in the Daily Bruin of the results of
this investigation along with any recommendations The Bruin may
have.
These requests should seem like a natural path for a newspaper
dedicated to the concerns of the alumni and student body of UCLA. I
hope that such action will shed light on this
difficult-to-understand situation.
Eliot Hochberg is a 1993 alumnus and a Music Internet Developer
in Hollywood.