Thursday, February 25, 1999
Matt Fong coming to UCLA to discuss education issues
SPEAKER: Former treasurer to avoid partisan debate, address
affirmative action
By Karen Thompson
Daily Bruin Contributor
Three months after losing the 1998 California senatorial race,
former Republican candidate and state treasurer Matt Fong will
speak in Royce Hall today.
Fong is expected to focus on the issues of affirmative action
and bilingual education, and his speech will be followed by a
question and answer session.
"I plan to be very candid," Fong said. "I hope not only to
enlighten the students with my views, but I hope they’ll share
their views with me."
Pi Sigma Alpha, the political science honor society, is
sponsoring the event, which will begin at 7 p.m. in Royce 190.
"We’re hoping to have a meaningful discussion of the issues,"
said Denise Pong, a fourth-year political science student and event
organizer. "It won’t be just one-sided."
Pi Sigma Alpha is expecting at least 30 students, both members
and non-members of the society, to attend, according to Pong.
"This is for the UCLA community. I think there will be a lot of
politically aware students there," Pong said.
While Pong said that Fong was invited because of his political
experience, rather than his partisan views, many Republican
students plan to attend.
"I would like the UCLA campus to see who and what Matt Fong
really stands for," said Steve Davey, a first-year political
science student.
Davey served as chairman for Fong’s senate campaign in El Dorado
County, near Sacramento, last November and plans to attend the
speech.
"The Boxer campaign painted him as an extremist
ultra-conservative," Davey said. "Matt is actually a moderate
Republican who shares views with most Californians and UCLA
students."
In last November’s senatorial race, Fong lost to Democratic
incumbent Barbara Boxer by a 10 percent margin.
Today’s event will be an open forum, according to Fong, although
he said he would share his political views.
"We chose him because he’s been in the political spotlight. I
don’t think he’s going to say too many partisan comments," Pong
said. "He said he didn’t want to have a hot, fiery debate because
that’s already been said and done."
One of Fong’s stated campaign goals was to ensure the quality of
California’s education system.
Pi Sigma Alpha asked Fong to address the issues of affirmative
action in education and bilingual education based on student
interest in these subjects.
"I think the people who have been really outspoken on these
topics have just laid it out in black and white," Pong said. "We
hope this spurs more of a dialogue."
According to Pong, Fong is eager to give his time and speak to a
student audience.
Fong also plans to address the challenges facing students after
graduation, in terms of the job market.
"He has an 18-year-old daughter and has always done a good job
relating to issues pertinent to younger Californians," Davey
said.
Fong is currently an attorney in Los Angeles, as well as a
member of several financial and volunteer boards.
"There is no such thing as a neutral discussion, but I hope to
expand their horizons so that they come to their own conclusions
about the issues," Fong said.
Fong’s speech will last about 30 minutes, and then he will open
the floor to questions.
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