The administration is about to waste $100,000 to relieve faculty
concerns about the aesthetic appeal of vending machines outside one
of the ugliest buildings on campus: Bunche Hall.
The machines were installed in August for about $75,000, but
plans have now been approved to spend about another $25,000 to
remove them. Their removal is largely due to the faculty’s
complaining about the vending machines blocking their view of the
green area surrounding Bunche. The reason for installation was no
less petty than the reason for removal ““ graduate students
felt it was unsafe to make the short walk to LuValle Commons or
Campbell Hall during late night study sessions in Bunche.
Asinine justifications for the installation or removal of
vending machines aside, the university could have found some much
better ways to spend $100,000 than on a snack machining feud.
A year’s worth of free registration fees, for example,
could have been offered to more than 20 low-income students in the
form of scholarships; the money could’ve covered a
year’s worth of housing fees for at least 10 of them.
The $100,000 could have been used to fund some research grants,
enhance faculty recruitment, or help subsidize a real book-lending
program.
A number of student services would also greatly welcome $100,000
to ensure their viability, or increase their quality. For example,
the BruinGo! program ““ which provides free transportation via
the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus to students, faculty and staff at the
cost of $1 million a year ““ was almost cancelled because of
lack of funding last spring. Pouring 100-grand into the program
would have given it at least a little more viability, since the
program is up for renewal at the end of this year.
The chunk of money could have also helped build an on-campus pub
once the Associated Students of UCLA approve it. With extra money,
ASUCLA might have been able to afford two ““ one for the
Graduate Student Association, and the other for everyone else.
Giving the Post Office on campus a “university
helper” ““ to bring the number of employees there to a
grand total of two ““ would reduce wait time substantially and
make life easier on a lot of students.
Other student services outlets that could use more money, too:
the Student Initiated Outreach Center, with its recent cut in
funds; ASUCLA, so it can help pay for their workers’
benefits; and the Wooden Center, so it can address its dearth of
treadmills and other equipment.
Speaking of athletics, the money could have been used to hire
another coach for Bob Toledo ““ one to advise him against
running fake field goals on fourth and 15 with a six-point lead in
the fourth quarter.
Saving the money could have also opened a window of opportunity
to improve the quality of student representation: $100,000 can send
a lot of Undergraduate Student Association Council members to
Ghana, not just External Vice President Chris Neal.
Better yet, UCLA could have used the $100,000 to enlarge Gov.
Gray Davis’ campaign chest ““ maybe buying a share of
him would make the governor more committed to increasing funds for
the University of California.
This could also be approached a tad more indirectly: UCLA could
give someone $100,000, have the person donate it to Davis, and ask
to be appointed to the Board of Regents ““ it worked for Power
Rangers creator Haim Saban, so it’s not impossible.
One hundred thousand dollars can go a long way ““
unfortunately, at UCLA it’s going to remove candy machines so
frumpy professors can look at grass on their way out of
elevators.