By David Dahle
Student apathy is a disease that has infected students at UCLA
in the recent years. Many students here are content with focusing
solely on their academics and work myopically towards their degree
while the vibrant nature of campus life seems to deteriorate more
every year.
Students often complain that they do not know about the many
programs or resources on campus because these services seem
invisible. Student organizations, meanwhile, face a perennial
struggle with maintaining a high level of active membership. This
past spring’s undergraduate student government elections
recorded one of the lowest voter turnouts ever, which unfortunately
continued the recent trend of declining student interest and
participation in events and decisions regarding campus life.
UCLA can be inaccessible, but it is our responsibility to find
out about the different opportunities available to us and take
advantage of them.
The education you will receive here will be dependent on your
willingness to enhance your own academic experience. While UCLA is
considered one of the most prestigious universities in the country
and is lauded for its excellent academia, it is becoming more like
a degree factory than a learning environment due to the indifferent
attitudes of students and professors.
Even students that want to be more active are finding it
increasingly difficult due to new administrative policies like the
minimum progress requirement, which essentially forces students to
take four classes every quarter. This push to herd students out of
UCLA in four years, though, stifles student involvement and further
contributes to the general malaise that seems to be taking
over.
Despite the institutional changes and policy shifts, you shape
your curriculum, you determine how to spend your time, and you can
make your next years here what you think they should be. Do not
waste the precious gift of a UCLA undergraduate experience. The
choices you make in your first year will greatly determine how much
you will ultimately gain from college.
While there is nothing wrong with making grades your number one
priority, take advantage of the huge number of opportunities that
make college life more than just listening to lectures and reading
books. In order to get the most out of your future here, I urge you
to balance your academics with extracurricular activities, and take
a holistic approach toward learning.
If you are interested in student government, walk into Kerckhoff
Hall and get involved in the Undergraduate Students Association
Council. If you like to write or are thinking about a career in
journalism, join the Daily Bruin staff. If you want to gain
leadership skills in the residence halls apply to be a resident
assistant, program assistant, student leader, student health
advocate, or resident computer assistant. Become a member of an
organization ““ there are hundreds listed on the student group
directory, which you can access through the MyUCLA Web site. If you
do not see one that interests you, go to the Center for Student
Programming and start your own. Begin making contacts with alumni
through the Student Alumni Association. Go to UCLA sporting events.
For those interested in outreach and community service, there are
numerous groups that can always accommodate dedicated people. If
Greek life interests you, attend some rush events. Do not neglect
your health while you are here. Exercise regularly and try some of
the fitness classes or intramural sports at the Wooden Center. Wear
sunscreen.
Do not let apathy get a hold of you. Take the time to care about
issues that will affect your life. Watch the news and read a
newspaper, because UCLA will seem like a bubble if you do not keep
up on current events. Take the fliers that people will try to give
you on Bruin Walk. It may seem annoying but you might learn about
something that can change your life. Listen to the guest speakers,
protesters and activists on campus. True education comes from
exploring diverse perspectives.
Your UCLA experience will be what you make of it. My time here
has shown me that students who are more involved tend to do better
in their classes, broaden their social network, gain invaluable
leadership skills, and most of the time have more fun than students
who are inactive.
Many people will tell you to take the first year easy and slowly
transition into college life, but the longer you wait to find your
niche, the shorter amount of time you will have to enjoy it. Have a
great year.
Dahle, a fifth-year student, is the 2002- 2003 USAC
president.