There was more diversity at UCLA’s JazzReggae Festival
this weekend than this campus has seen in a long time, and for once
this university lived up to its name.
Los Angeles is the second-largest city in the United States and
one of the most diverse cities in the world. But UCLA often seems
like UC Westwood, an upper middle-class society separated from the
real issues and experiences of everyday Angelenos.
This weekend, performing on the threshold of Bel Air, artists
Anthony B, Rupee, Roy Hargrove and India Arie, among others, were
able to draw a crowd that seemingly reflected the diversity of the
Los Angeles community.
The JazzReggae Festival is a great step toward building bridges
with Los Angeles. Other programs such as the Los Angeles Times
Festival of Books, the university’s downtown Labor Center,
and the chancellor’s “UCLA in LA” initiative are
other good steps, but there needs to be more.
UCLA should continue to hold these types of events and build
more partnerships. Not only are they enjoyable to the community,
but they increase access to UCLA by familiarizing the rest of the
city with the campus. As one of the leading public colleges in the
nation, it’s the least we can do.