[UPDATE x3] Hey UCLA Students: Nice Job Protecting The Bruin (& Getting PWNed By Trojans)
by Nestor on Nov 25, 2009 11:02 AM PST
178 comments
You guys couldn't make the time to show up for "Senior Day" in what was one of UCLA's most important regular season game in years. You are too busy with classes and protests (you know things that we apparently didn't have to worry much about while we attended UCLA).
And now it looks like you guys can't be bothered to protect the Bruin Bear on campus:
Photo Credit: E. Corpuz
Simple questions: Really students? How the heck did this happen? Were there any students protecting the Bear? If they weren't, why not? Let me guess. Same lame excuses will be served up that we had to read on Sunday. Just pathetic.
It's a classic silly prank. I can't really get mad at the Trojans for doing this to the Bear. It's part of the rivalry week. We have done the same to them over the years. Unlike the lifeless UCLA students though, the Trojans were ready and prepared all week:
Photo Credit: Ian Elston | Daily Trojan
Per the Daily Trojan, "The Trojan Knights will hold a Thanksgiving dinner in front of Tommy Trojan on Thursday as they guard the statue as part of Save Tommy Week." You can make fun of them all you want UCLA students but you got PWNed.
It was up to our students to make sure it didn't happen and protect the obvious target. Looks like they dropped the ball again.
Hopefully our football team will show more heart, passion and desire than the UCLA student body has shown the entire season. There is one word to describe the kind of passion UCLA students have shown this year: Dorrellian.
GO BRUINS.
UPDATE (N): As freesia39 points out apparently there is a Bruin Bear "Security Force" who are charged with this responsibility. You can demand an explanation for WTH happened by either calling them at (714) 487-8353 or emailing them at usarep3@asucla.ucla.edu. Every student groups on campus dropped the ball here. They should be ashamed and apologetic to rest of Bruin Nation. Inexcusable. GO BRUINS.
UPDATE II (N): Per UCLA newsroom the damage was extensive:
"This probably ranks as one of the more egregious forms of vandalism of the bear that we've seen," said Leroy Sisneros, director of maintenance and alterations for UCLA Facilities Management, who recalled that the statue was last vandalized three years ago, when it was defaced with white paint, but not during UCLA–USC rivalry week. "It took all day to clean in 2006. This is going to take a lot longer," Sisneros said. "It's going to be very expensive. In the past, vandals used water-based paint that can be washed off. But this time, they used an oil-based paint that will be more difficult to remove."
Oh and take note students. The "Bruin" is a gift from the Alumni Association:
In 1984, "The Bruin," a gift from the UCLA Alumni Association, was unveiled before a crowd of nearly 1,000 alumni celebrating the association's first half-century. Measuring 10 feet long, 6 feet wide, 3 feet across and weighing more than 2 tons, the statue was billed at that time as the largest bear sculpture in the United States.
Again, this week has already turned into the worst "Beat $C" week in years thanks to the laziness and apathy of UCLA students. If these students had any sense of pride they would try to fire back by showing up in thousands next weekend at the Mosoleum. Given their Dorrellian performance in recent weeks, it's clear we can't really cound on them. Not this year. GO BRUINS.
UPDATE III (N): Unbelievably this article is currently posted on the Daily Bruin (and I am assuming ran in the print section today):
Students at UCLA and USC also have a long-standing tradition of attempting to vandalize the statues of one another’s mascots, Tommy Trojan and the Bruin Bear. One way in which UCLA has attempted to redirect some of this student enthusiasm is through the Bruin Bear Security Force.
Students who join the security force spend the night camping out in front of the Bruin Bear statue and are provided with entertainment and spirit activities and snacks by various campus organizations, including USAC and SAA.
“The Bruin Bear Security Force is really an opportunity to allow students to get involved in this friendly school rivalry in a safe way,” said General Representative Thach Nguyen. His office is helping organize this year’s security force, who will be treated to a carnival-themed event that includes root beer pong tournaments, blue and gold tie-dying, and performances by a number of student dance and a cappella groups.
I don't really know what commentary I can add to that. Cappella group to get fired up for a football game? Who are the guys organizing this and do they have any clue about college football? GO BRUINS.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.
2 recs |
178 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
I would like to hear an explanation from The Den
or any other student body organization tasked with protecting the bear.
Inexcusable.
A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. John Wooden
Unacceptable.
SAA.
The Den.
Rally Committee.
The Band.
Daily Bruin staff.
SAA.
Where are our people???
M
"In this program your passion bucket must be full to play SC." -- CRN, to Dan Patrick, 1/2008
This passed EPIC by about a dozen freeway exits.
We’re up to GALACTIC fail now.
M
"In this program your passion bucket must be full to play SC." -- CRN, to Dan Patrick, 1/2008
SAD
That the Bruin was defaced is a freaking embarrassment! How could anyone who attends UCLA currently, let down the best University in the World, and allow this to happen?.. “oh… we were studying for finals” or maybe.. “We didn’t realize we were playing them this week…. sorry.” I can MAYBE excuse those who are new to UCLA, those who do not have a parent who is an alum, but the “MINIMUM EXPECTATION” of alumni parents would be that they instill in their children the importance of “beat sc” week. FAIL. Sad.
Raise the tuition even more.
WTF, fail Bruins.
No kidding.
the spoiled little brats are protesting tuition hikes (which all the other taxpayers need so as not to lose the whole state) yet won’t show even a modicum of school spirit.
by Seanny Rotten on Nov 25, 2009 12:39 PM PST up reply actions
Hey, in fairness -- it's a 32% hike.
Those kids are looking at something like $4K a quarter toa ttend. Anybody rememebr when it used to cost $500 a quarter?
In any event — it wouldn’t have cost them a DIME to camp out with their textbooks and bundle up the sweatshirts and STAND WATCH.
M
"In this program your passion bucket must be full to play SC." -- CRN, to Dan Patrick, 1/2008
Contact info
if anyone wants to write a letter:
http://happenings.ucla.edu/lectures/event/25239
Bruin Bear Security Force
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
12:00 pm – 7:00 am, Bruin Plaza – Area
Students protecting the Bruin Bear from USC (Shift 4 of 4)
Admission
Free and open to UCLA students
Contact
USAC General Representative 3
(714) 487-8353
usarep3@asucla.ucla.edu
Additional Information
Over the years, the rivalry between UCLA and USC has grown to immense proportions, often leading to pranks being pulled on our mascot, the Bruin Bear. USAC General Representative 3 has decided to bring back a program that not only unites fellow Bruins with one another, but also protects the community and students on campus: Bruin Bear Security Force. Over the course of 3 nights and 4 days (November 22-25), the General Representative 3 office is spearheading this campaign in order to protect out mascot from harm that may be done to it by USC students. The event brings together students from many different groups on campus, or those who may not belong to any groups, in supporting our school. There will be UCLA-themed activities including a movie-night, a T-shirt tie-dying event, carnival games and board games, and friendly competitions. Food will be provided.
Now I’m not sure if this means the morning of the 24th. If this happened this morning, there isn’t an event like this posted for the 25th, which may be when they seized their chance.
I seem to remember
That it started earlier than that in previous years. Maybe I’m recalling incorrectly.
The worst thing about being a classics major at UCLA is having to hear about the #@*#$@*&% Trojans every damn day.
Pathetic Student Spirit
They shouldn’t have to put a committee together to guard the Bruin. Students should AUTOMATICALLY just bring their camping gear to the Bruin and guard the Bruin. And Nestor is right, this is all in the fun of the week, so we can’t get mad at those guys across town for doing this. The Den can make fun of ’SC for guarding their statue but at least their statue is UNTOUCHED. Now hopefully our football team can beat $C this Saturday for revenge.
Just Plain Inexcusable
Period.
C’mon, students. You’re better than that.
Los Angeles Rams and the UCLA Bruins!!!!!
by Minnesota Bruinfan on Nov 25, 2009 10:25 AM PST reply actions
Worse than "Dorrellian"
I think it unfair to Karl Dorrell to use his name in connection with the student apathy and lack of spirit that we’re seeing, lately.
Karl Dorrell was a Bruin, a passionate Bruin — even though he was an inept, inept — uh, can’t use his name in the same sentence with the noun that describes the job he held.
Students, listen to the anger of the cross section of alum’s that populate BN. From us Geezers to the young guys, there are some things that need not be carefully planned or organized. They should be instinctual. And, protecting our treasures should be one of them.
Shame on you.
If I were a student, I’d grab a bucket and some rags and start cleaning the bear. I wouldn’t wait for someone to organize it for me, or offer me extra credit or any of that crap.
I’d do it because it’s the right thing to do. And, I’d do it because I’d realize how I was responsible for not having done the right thing in the first place.
Totally disgusting behavior on our part.
sjh
We can't really complain about them doing it either
Since we were the last ones to do it to them, and pretty recently too. It’s was up to the students to make sure they couldn’t get revenge, and, well…FAIL.
Aside from a small minority of our student body,
It seems like school pride has been majorly waning…weakest group of students that UCLA has ever seen?
It could be....
The Den was really small at the last two home football games. And even some students that were there didn’t seem really into it.
Nestor, et al blaming the students. We can’t turn on each other; we have to see this as a teachable moment.
WWCWD? What Would Coach Wooden Do? STICK IT TO THEM ON THE FIELD!
We as alumni must also take this opportunity to lead our younger siblings out of the darkness and towards the promise land.
We have a role here too, so enough of the infighting, focus on the toejam bastards from $UC.
Students, its time to step it up. This is your call to action. First, defend our house. Second, we must win back the victory bell. Third, revenge is a dish best served cold.
class of '99
I am not going to harp on this
But in this post I had to call out the obvious culprits. This was the students’ fault. Period.
They can make up for it by showing up in huge numbers on Sat. You think that will happen? I hope so but given what we have seen how can we have any kind of confidence in this bunch.
UCLA students are not true football fans
I went to UCLA from 1965-1969 when we played all our games in the Coliseum. Back in those days, the Coliseum was split with one side all SC and the other all UCLA fans. The student section was packed and if you didn’t get there early, you’d be sitting beyond the end zone. The seats weren’t reserved and I remember getting there 3 hours before kickoff waiting for the gates to open to rush to find my seat. My now ex-wife went to SC and she went to her side. Our card stunt section was at least 4 times the size (maybe more) of the pathetic section that we saw in last week’s game. We beat SC my freshman and sophomore years, lost 21-20 in a classic game in 1967 and lost again in 1968 when we only won 3 games that year. But even in my senior year, the student section was FULL. Where’s the passion with students today? The games played at the Coliseum the last decade have been pathetic with lack of student support. I guess you have to go to the South or mid-West were football is really appreciated.
+1
I graduated in ’66 and the story you tell rings true.
In the early 90’s, when I moved back to CA and started going to games in the Rose Bowl, I was surprised to see that the student section was smaller, less involved and less passionate.
I attended all home games until I moved to Texas — and the alumni section was by far the most enthusiastic.
I guess this stuff was more important in my day.
sjh
Hey 66
UCLA has never been a “football” school and after seeing the poor student showing for the basketball games thus far, I don’t think it’s even a “basketball” school. I’m just as excited about the game Saturday as I was for my first SC game in 1965. For what it’s worth, I haven’t missed a single SC-UCLA since then and 2 of those years I lived in San Francisco and had to fly down. Even my brother who lives in Georgia came out for 2 games this year. And students today complain because they have to “commute” to the Coliseum?
Idea?
Maybe the students should organize a full scale blue and yellow paintball assault on the trojan statue. Maybe even some of the saps surrounding it, too? ; )
Too bad it is covered in duct tape. Don’t they have a fountain we can pour blue dye and suds into? Dump manure on the statue from a helicopter? (okay the last two have been done before in some fashion)
There has to be something we can do back to those spoiled brats!
Group letter?
I propose in addition to our individual letters of outrage, a well written salvo from Bruins Nation in a letter to the editors of the Daily Bruin signed by as many BNers as we can muster.
A form of Declaration of Unacceptability signed by alumni and fans alike.
In this letter I would propose that the Student Section in Pauley be removed to the upper decks and away from the court side seats which they have clearly come to regard as an entitlement and not the privilege it is.
I am furious.
A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. John Wooden
I love this blog and all but
I’m sorry but this post and all the reaction to it was just ridiculous and way too condescending. Yes, we failed to protect the bear for one night, but let’s not pretend like we didn’t have this one coming. We did the exact same thing to Tommy Trojan last year, and this was U$C’s “creative” way of getting back at us. And honestly, a great deal of the student body headed home last night for Thanksgiving, and while school spirit is definitely up there on priorities, I think seeing family transcends all that, so you can’t really fault many students for that. It’s just a bad timing kind of week.
And this whole suggestion of a group letter to remove the student section in Pauley? Absolutely ridiculous, depriving students of that experience. Go to a basketball game, you will see that the students are still the rowdiest section. Go to a football game, the Den still gives the loudest and greatest support to the players. Now that’s not to say that student spirit has been low, I honestly feel like it has. But to completely freak out after one incident? You’ve been saying all year when it comes to the team to have a bit of perspective, let’s try to have some here. That five game losing streak and then a loss in basketball took A LOT out of the student body, yet now more than any previous year I’ve been at UCLA I’ve seen the students more fired up for the $C game.
This may seem like some incoherent ramble, but I think this is being handled the wrong way. How about instead of throwing the students under the bus, the only ones who can actually improve school spirit, you think of a more creative way to rally their energies? Guilt can be used as motivation, unless like in this post and comments section you’re using it to completely demoralize the same people you’re imploring to show more passion.
Not an incoherent ramble
Just another lame excuse. Get back to the Capella group and start dancing around I guess. That will get everyone fired up football.
Oh instead of whining about being demoralize
May be you guys can prove us wrong by showing your passion this weekend. You guys will turn out with full force. No?
If we turn on each other,
the trojan terrorist win! Nestor, I share your anger, but it’s time to focus on the real culprits…and start focusing on how to get our revenge…
class of '99
Whining? Lame excuse?
Look, I’m not trying to excuse what happened. What happened happened. If I’m being honest I’ve been upset with the spirit of the UCLA students for some time. At football games students are spending far too much time sitting (and I get scolded by security for yelling at other students to stand), or people just aren’t as loud and passionate at basketball games as I would like. WITH THAT BEING SAID, what I’m trying to say is that on THIS SIDE of things, things can be handled way more constructively. Nestor, I have a lot of respect for your posts, I’ve been following BN for years, but I honestly respected more out of a response from you, and you need to take a step back and approach this rationally. Instead of deploring what DIDN’T happen, think of something constructive for what NEEDS TO HAPPEN in the future.
For example, as a student at UCLA, I can tell you a few things that need to improve. Yell Crew at games simply isn’t cutting it, we need more spirited and energetic people there to fire up the crowd, because it’s clear that it isn’t happening on its own. The Den needs to come up with more creative cheers. SAA? I have nothing against them, I thought the rally was awesome, and while you can say what’s the point of A Capella groups there and whatever, it was still a great time, the students had fun, and I felt like the bonfire was a huge success. But at its core, grassroots, something needs to be done to fire up the student body, and THIS is not the solution.
Yes you are whining
and offering up lame excuses. If you guys really want to show the student body is not as pathetic as they have proven to be this year, they need to prove in numbers.
You should be out there and getting people organized instead of whining about getting called out for this kind of BS. There is no excuse for this and you make yourself look worse by offering up lame excuses for it. Don’t want to hear any more of that nonsense here.
I agree that our yell crew could use improvement.
And I’ll leave it at that for now.
M
"In this program your passion bucket must be full to play SC." -- CRN, to Dan Patrick, 1/2008
Aces-UCLA -- I respect the sentiment, but I'd admire it if...
… you can turn this around and bring some other Bruin students with you.
N and a whole lot of us here devote time away from families and careers to keep this site going. We don’t get paid, we pull in no profit, we don’t get any steady sort of access to the AD’s office. We’re alums scattered throughout the country, West Coast to East Coast, and we’re here.
You are a student now at the finest university in all the land. Whether you’re a frosh or a 3rd-year grad student, you KNOW that your UCLA experience is what you make of it.
We have loved our alma mater so much that we have rallied fans from all over in victory and defeat, in overflowing, glorious praise and gratitude when our athletic deparmtent has grown and triumphed, and in unrelenting, fact-supported rebuke in times of its recklesness and neglect.
We have stepped up, and will continue to do so.
Aces – you have passion, a sense of fairness, and a love for our common home. My question to you, is THIS:
What are YOU prepared to do?
M
"In this program your passion bucket must be full to play SC." -- CRN, to Dan Patrick, 1/2008
I started on this site as a student
I am now an alum. I see this from both sides of the fence, and I can say that it’s easy to stay connected to UCLA when you’re in school. It’s a lot harder when you no longer go there, and that makes the time commitment of the other frontpagers who have graduated long before me all the more impressive to me. The passion SHOULD burn the brightest and the hottest with the students. That’s the way it’s always been…but we’re seeing disturbing signs that this may not be the case right now. As I see it, we the alums are willing to help out when we can, but it’s really up to the students to execute and to continue the traditions set by generations of Bruins before them.
Totally unacceptable
Look at the photo of the TrOJies camping out. We couldn’t do something similar?
This didn’t need to happen. Period.
No more excuses. Everyone complains about the price of tickets to sporting events, but there always seems to be room in the budget (for many students, not all) for beer.
If you can stay up all night partying, you can devote one night or half of a night to protecting the Bear. There are enough students on campus to accomplish this, easily.
Inexcusable. No. More. Excuses.
Bruin Bear Security Force, you are a bunch of pathetic losers!!!!
I have a job I have to go to 80 hours a week, but if you asked me to protect the bear all night, I’ll come and do it. And if any condoms would have come to paint our bear on my watch they would be tied to that statue in a cage wearing blue and gold paint for everyone to see when they walked down Bruin Walk in the morning.
And you wouldn’t have to give me a root beer pong and tie die carnival to repay me.
And whoever let someone take a picture of the bear like that is an idiot. Couldn’t one of you idiots clean it up with the tent up and hide your incompetence from the city of Los Angeles?
Keep your powder dry...
Sponkey21, I like where your head is at!
Mexibruin, we can not afford to turn on each other.
I agree that the students have to pay a price, and a “strongly worded letter” is very Coach Woodenesq (spelling!?!?), but lets make that price something that helps our school, not something that hurts it.
Aces-UCLA, point well taken, and I’m glad to see a student stepping up…
Nestor, of those that much is given, much is expected. As a leader of this blog how about moving the conversation to what we can do (a la Sponkey21)
Now, as a proud alumnus who is LIVID today (I want to walk down the hall and punch one of the bastard toejam $uckers in the nose) we have to keep it together…bruin_2K I’m with you…perhaps leadership by example is call for here, but certainly not turning on each other!
class of '99
Well
I’d like to see leadership from students. For those who are reading this thread and are feeling burnt, they can come up with solutions and more importantly organize to turn out in record numbers on Sat. They have this blog to make it happen. The ball is on their court and they can use this forum to make it happen. Not up to us to spoon feed them.
That's how I feel about it
All this talk about how “we” should do more. How is that not buck passing? Why can’t the students motivate themselves to prevent things like this from happening? Why can’t they show up to support their fellow students on senior day on what also happened to be one of the most important games of the young Neuheisel era? We are more than happy to host fanposts and fanshots to help rally students to the cause, but honestly, what are “we” supposed to do that the students shouldn’t be able to do better given that they’re on campus and interacting with their fellow students all the time?
While the response for basketball has been better than expected
I’m truly shocked by the response for football. You would think that the loss to CSUF would have killed enthusiasm for BBall early but the early returns to me have been pretty good. The volume of the chants seem to indicate that quite a few students are showing up even for the non conference games. But the momentum behind CRN’s team is palpable, not just this season but for the program as a whole. Maybe it’s just me, but now seems like the perfect time to ride the wave, but we’re seeing the opposite.
It's been a couple hours
Since I heard the news, and I’m still pissed.
by JWongUCLA on Nov 25, 2009 11:20 AM PST via mobile reply actions
Why wasn't the Bear covered up?
A few tarps and some duct tape doesn’t cost that much. The security force should at least done that.
There was a tarp
It said “The Bruin Bear is hibernating”. The $C students cut through it at then poured paint on it.
On furlough
As of yesterday, someone crossed out “hibernating” and wrote “on furlough” on the tarp. I laughed.
by Westwood Wizard on Nov 25, 2009 11:48 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
typo
The $C students cut through it “and” then poured paint on it
The student apathy will end
The biggest evidence that student apathy will end was the bonfire, with the majority of students being freshmen and sophomores. Remember juniors and seniors also went through the Dorrell era, and are probably conditioned to be nonchalant about the week. Do I think its pathetic? Of course I do. And the bear thing is embarrassing but like someone already said we had it coming. We did it to the trojan last year! This has been going of for YEARS!
If anything I hope this fires up the current students even more.
I hope you're right
I hope that the younger underclassmen Bruins see this and realize the need to be proactive and organized. I know better than anyone else the pain of the KD era: I was there for each of his underachieving years. I’ve seen and felt the lethargy his uninspiring teams produced. Really at this point I don’t care about reasons and excuses. I just want solutions, and if that’s going to happen, then the underclassmen are going to have to be every bit as enthusiastic as you say and then some.
I will give the students this: The chants at the Pepperdine game seemed very lively and crisp on TV. Need to keep that up throughout the season.
Nestor, I apologize
I didn’t mean to offend you. I see you deleted my latest post and have issued me a warning, but honestly all I am trying to do is give you a voice for the students. I am kind of shocked at the warning I received, I’ll be sure to monitor what I have to say more. I hope you understand that at my core that this incident does upset me, I do bleed blue and gold, I have my entire four years at UCLA , and am just trying to find an alternative solution to this event.
Here is the deal
Write something up … imploring your fellow students to come out. Get them fired up. Offer them info. on where they can get tickets. Then try to get all your friends to blast that post around. As you can see we have no problem bumping well written thoughts up on the home page and give it more eyeballs.
Get your colleagues out. Use our tools (just can’t attack any of the moderators on BN no matter what).
I didn't mean to attack you or any moderators at all
Like I said, I have nothing but respect for you all. I trust your in depth analysis of our games more than what I read over at ESPN, and follow this blog religiously. But understand that I also felt personally attacked. Maybe it was just miscommunication on both our parts.
I do all of those things, and as I said, I hold a lot of leadership positions on campus and I’ve used those positions to spread the one greatest love I have of this school, and that’s the spirit. With that being said, this is kind of like political organization, in that you need to be involved in particular institutions in order to get specific things across.
For example, when it comes to school spirit, what organizations influence those? SAA, The Den, and Yell Crew. Now we can’t just tell everyone to get involved in those organizations, it’s just statistically impossible. What we CAN do however is let those organizations know that more needs to be done in order to unearth the student spirit that I honestly feel is there, but isn’t being given the appropriate encouragement for it to foster. And I don’t think we can just expect our students to be naturally fired up. Look at other schools, their mascots, yell crew, everything is way more enigmatic and fired up than ours. It’s something I’ve noticed the last four years at UCLA, and that’s what needs to change. Step by step, and the students will come out.
As BNers, I think the most appropriate thing would be to write some sort of mass letter to those organizations and let them know that more needs to be done as far as encouraging student participation, and I think there are enough followers of this blog for that type of a message to get across to the Den, SAA, etc. Those are the institutions which makes things happen for the students. And while they do a great job of planning events, their grassroots organization of getting students fired up isn’t cutting it.
by Aces-UCLA on Nov 25, 2009 11:54 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
And admonishment from you
to fellow students and get them even more fired up … IMHO will be even more powerful. I think it should be clear by now how alums feels about this.
I hope im right too
One positive of this is that it will get the students fired up, if this doesn’t piss them off then nothing will. However I’m of the thinking taht revenge is currently already in the planning stages…=)
Calm down everyone
we have something that should cheer everyone up
There's no one in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than _______.
This sucks...
Oil based paint goes way beyond rivalry week messing around. This is vandalism. I’d send the repair bill to SC.
I may work with the Waves, but I'm still a Bruin!
that’d kill the rivalry
There's no one in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than _______.
by ucla13_usc9 on Nov 25, 2009 11:45 AM PST up reply actions
True. Plus the fact that we have done more severe damage to tommy trOJ in the past.
In 1953, UCLA students sawed off Tommy Trojan’s sword-wielding arm and welded the arm back on, making it appear as if Tommy was stabbing himself in the back.
by bruinhoo on Nov 25, 2009 11:55 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Makes me feel better already
Ya see! that’s what I’m talking about! that took some effort, planning, & creativity!!!
class of '99
My personal hope out of this
is that it energizes the current student body to not let this happen again, and that the Security Force will be stepped up in the following years.
It’s a teaching moment.
I honestly feel like it will
Right now the pulse around the camps is already embarrassment that this happened. If anything this could be the thing that finally wakes up the student body.
no excuses here
I’m ashamed of my fellow students (myself included). I thought we had a damn group to guard the Bruin. Instead, we have this embarassment. Pathetic. I’m so angry right now, I can’t even try to excuse my classmates this time.
Isn't there normally a giant box around the Bear during USC/UCLA week with a sign
that says the Bear is hibernating? Am I missing something? Were people so non-chalant during this whole escapade that someone had the time TO REMOVE THE FRICKEN’ BOX?
Fucking Disgraceful!!
Sorry, I just logged on and found out about this absolutely shameful, disgraceful, embarrassing failure of Bruin Pride on campus. I am so angry that there is no way, I can repsond without properly venting my anger through profanity. So sorry BN. What the FUCK happened here? Are you fucking kidding me? Bleeding blue and gold is more than yelling a few “rah rahs” and doing an 8-clap. Being Bruin, means that UCLA is part of your identity, your DNA, the community in which you represent at any given moment. An honor that cannot be taken lightly. This is some bullshit!
This may sound overly dramatic to some, but to this Bruin, that’s how I feel. This university has provided me so much on so many levels. Opportunities, personal growth, wonderful memories, unbelieveable camraderie, education,brothers, sisters, mentors, the list goes on and on. We used to bring beer in our backpaks to the REAL security force (94-98) late at night just to hang out with them and show our support. Hell, I’ve thrown down and scrapped with wack-ass wannabe trojie thugs that got all bark and no bite. I’ve proudly bore bruises, scrapes,and fat-lips when dealing with ignorant rival schools who have no clue about competitive friendly bantering, and decided to act like a wannabe tough guy. I can assure you me and a few fellow Bruins handled business with them too(and I bet a few BNrs here have too). I just can’t believe this lack of pride. My disappointment is so immense that it hurts!!!
Sorry for the ramble guys. Just so much shit going through my head regarding this. And BTW, in no way am I encouraging antagonizing and inciting violence (I never instigated a fight ever) as that would not be showing the class and greatness of UCLA. But, back in the day, if other dudes started it, then we would have to finish it.
Oh, and even worse
Don’t count on that many students at the game. Despite myself being there and four of my friends, it seems like UCLA has had a hard time getting students who won the raffle to get SUC tickets (purchased 6 months ago) to skip going home for the weekend. The university has sent out multiple emails urging people who have vouchers to go pick up their tickets, which indicates to me that many haven’t.
This is my senior year. Excuse me while I go throw up a little.
LETS TURN THIS BRUIN FORCE INTO A RALLY TONIGHT!!!
nestor, what do you say…lead, follow, or get out of the way!
class of '99
So we won't be seeing you at the game...
sounds a lot like an excuse…related perhaps to the holiday…almost like there are sometimes circumstances beyond your control that cause you to drop your guard…
class of '99
by ungalan on Nov 25, 2009 11:51 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Lame!!! Whiney!!! Embarrassing!!!
Sorry, don’t buy it.
And, another thing I won’t buy? Your tuition. You want alum’s — out of a sense of school spirit to donate to scholarship funds?
In the words of a famous man “No aid for you!” Next.
sjh
I like where your head is at Fauxshow
pitch fork? check
tar? check
feathers? check
class of '99
I am down
I was thinking of going myself next year, strapped with a paintball gun loaded with blue and gold.
Missing my student days when I used to run off the TrOJies who showed up on campus during Beat SC week.
The worst thing about being a classics major at UCLA is having to hear about the #@*#$@*&% Trojans every damn day.
by Thetis on Nov 25, 2009 1:38 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
It’s too bad facilities let that picture get out… I would have erected a barrier while cleaning work took place. All the credit to the pranksters for pulling it off, but we didn’t have to give them the satisfaction of pictures…
Keep your eye on the prize...
Creativity is the operative word here.
Paint? Child’s play.
Manure dropped from a helicopter. Been there, done that.
Welding a bronze dildo to tommy toejams ass? Now we’re talking.
class of '99
Well here is a new thread
If you want to offer up “solutions,” and get people fired up, DO IT RIGHT HERE.
Taking a step back
As bad as this looks for us Bruins, as a whole I think this is good for the rivalry, good for the city, and good for both student bodies as a whole. UCLA-U$C as a rivalry has been falling off the national map for a while, I think this is a step in the right direction. Hopefully our team’s play ends up getting the final word this weekend. I’m cautiously optimistic.
Just Sad
How can a student body change SO MUCH in the two years since I was a student there?? There is no excuse for this. Embarrassing…
Soooo
What’s wrong with blaming the vandals? Is the security force supposed to fight these guys if they show up or something? The only people to blame are the assholes who did this. But hey, leave the students out to dry; it’s not like these pranks have gone back and forth the entire history of our rivalry with SC.
RIP #34
by linkbruin on Nov 25, 2009 12:23 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Agreed
I agree that the people bearing the responsibility for this are the USC people that pulled it off. I don’t want to assign blame without knowing everything that happened. Hopefully in the future there will be a security camera trained on the Bruin in case something like this happened.
And based on what I imagine the cost of repairing the statue will be, I certainly hope the university treats this as a crime, and tries to get some restitution for the cost of the repairs.
by Westwood Wizard on Nov 25, 2009 12:35 PM PST up reply actions
well yes.
Is the security force supposed to fight these guys if they show up or something?
What’s wrong with a little fisticuffs now and then? I remember a classic photo of Trojans that got caught, tied to the flag pole and were tarred and feathered. That wasn’t accomplished without some physical altercation. I remember in ’97 when a large group of Trojan Frat boys walked down from Powell down Bruin Walk and to the quad, clearly looking for a fight. That no one obliged them chaps my hide to this day.
In the very least the students can interfere until UCPD showed up. They seem willing enough to tase vocal students, they might as well use those tasers on the Trojans that did this.
A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. John Wooden
You're right
they should eat cheese and surrender like monkeys. Good post!!
by Seanny Rotten on Nov 25, 2009 12:48 PM PST up reply actions
I mean, where were you?
All alumni are as much to blame as any students there. You can’t expect an unpaid and untrained security force to really do much of anything.
RIP #34
say what?
as alumni, we paid our dues and earned our bones when we were in school! How come the unpaid and untrained security force back then didn’t fuck up? Are we assuming that the current security force at $uc is made up of mercenaries or something? So current students hold no accountability at all? It has to be shared with alumni? What bullshit is that?
This kind of thing has happened in the past
And that’s the hypocrisy in all of this. And we did the same exact thing to them last year; it’s just a simple case of revenge.
RIP #34
I'm simply saying we all share in this repsonsibilty
And we can’t really get that angry when stuff like this happens. It just goes along with the rivalry.
RIP #34
I mean
What’s so wrong with that? Other universities do this exact thing. It really should be a shared Bruin responsibility.
RIP #34
Bullshit
wasn’t shared back then, why should it be shared now? cuz some students failed to do their job?
More people
Greater accountability. Could be a rallying event. We’re already severely lacking in said department.
RIP #34
Seriously
Since when has it been the alums responsibility to guard the Bruin?
Answer: Never.
by Tydides on Nov 25, 2009 1:14 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I still think the assholes who did this are the ones to blame
But yes, I think it’s as much the alums responsibility as it is the students. The Bruin bear is our mascot, not just the students’. I don’t expect to convince you of this, but it’s my opinion.
RIP #34
Sure, it's the alums responsibility NOW
Great timing on that one, right after the major F up, now everyone gets the blame, not the group that was tasked with not letting it happen in the first place.
Umm
The only blame is for the assholes who did this. The responsibility of guarding the bear should be shared among students and alumni.
RIP #34
Doesn't matter if it should or should not
That’s future tense. That’s not how it IS or WAS. Past and present tense. The assholes who did this are vandals, but the students get the blame for letting it happen.
Agree to disagree
I don’t think an unpaid, untrained security force really has any accountability to begin with.
RIP #34
When someone F's up at work
The boss doesn’t ask “who should have been responsible for this”? The boss asks “who was/is responsible for this”?
Apparently the current students share your view
That of a lack of a sense of duty. Now we know why this happened.
I usually worked 30-40 hours a week while I went to school
UCLA and job were two very different things to me.
RIP #34
Oh cool
I guess we couldn’t find 3-4 students out of tens of thousands who didn’t work 30-40 hours a week.
Sick of all this BS dancing around the obvious: Whoever signed up to guard the Bruin F’d up, and it’s the students responsibility to make sure it didn’t happen and it did. That’s it. Everything else is a BS excuse.
You have said "unpaid, untrained" about dozen times
I’m ashamed for you.
You think you should be paid to guard the Bruin statue for one measly week? What “training” is needed? Did the ’SC students pictured camping out by the statue strike you as well trained??
by Seanny Rotten on Nov 25, 2009 2:50 PM PST up reply actions
Please stop
This is getting beyond ridiculous.
Thousands of students live on campus. Alums are spread throughout the country and most of them have families and kids, etc.
It’s easier and more practical for 3-4 students to camp out for a few nights, taking turns, working in shifts, whatever, to protect the Bear.
No one is arguing that the vandals are not responsible for the actual vandalism. That’s a strawman argument.
I’m 40 fucking years old and don’t live in LA and I have a small child but if a few 18-21 year old students can’t handle the task during Rivalry Week, then by God, I’ll do it.
Totally, totally ridiculous.
Amen brother!
I’m 35, and I’d do the sme damn things. These punks have no heart! Just saw picture on the LA Slimes showing UCLA students taking pictures of the defaced Bruin and SMILING! FUCKING SMILING!!! Are you kidding me?
Enough blame to go around
Whoever signed up to guard the Bruin F’d up and deserves blame for letting it happen. That’s the bottom line and my last word on the issue.
I mean we don't really have the whole story
If they all fell asleep at their posts, ok then what the hell guys. Or if it was something that could have became violent or they were vastly outnumbered, then no it isn’t the fault of the security force. I don’t know the whole story.
RIP #34
seriously? more excuses?
you couldn’t call for some back-up if you were out numbered? I had a fucking pager and a calling card in 94!
Are you kidding me?
They could at least stall while someone dials the cops. What do you mean “blame the vandals”? This is rivalry week. I’ve been reading your posts and you seem to have the IQ of an gnat. Tydides is exactly right, and one of the best young alum posters on here. When i went to UCLA in 04-08, I never heard anyone complaining that alum should be doing the job instead of students.
by BruinTrouble on Nov 25, 2009 2:09 PM PST up reply actions
Way to not read what I said
I said the responsibility should be shared among students and alumni. But your knee-jerk reactions are best, you’re right.
RIP #34
We need to think 4th generation warfare.
The fake ’SC commercial put on by Bruins a few years back was an excellent shot.
How about we paint Tommy Trojan pink, blue & gold in support of breast cancer awareness week and Mother’s Day? That way we spread the word about breast cancer & provide a dig about UCLA. Win / win! Who says we have to confine ourselves to the last week in November or the first week in December? We need to put our enemies in a constant state of fear and anxiety. We need to take pages from the great warriors of history and fight unconventionally.
The note about reconfiguring Tommy Trojan’s arm so it looked like he was stabbing himself was spot on. I’m not at all surprised it was the War Baby Generation who had such a “Will Do” attitude.
This Bruin Security force is a joke. We need 4 paintball snipers watching the bear 24/7 starting the Saturday BEFORE the USC/UCLA game. Anyone who gets too close to the Bruin gets pelted with Blue & Gold!! And it’s taped for posterity and immediately sent to YouTube so that the whole world can see the pwnage!!! C’MON people, it’s not this tough.
Looks like
a few of us on BN will have to organize to defend the Bear next year because there aren’t a handful of students on campus who will do it. That’s what I’m hearing here.
Pa-the-tic.
Like Ty, I’m over this. Out.
Lame Reasoning
So the students are saying “Well, we did it to them last year so it’s ok that they did it to us this year.”
No, the idea is that we do it to them every year and that they NEVER get a chance to pay us back.
This isn’t a round robin tournament — it’s fucking warfare.
And the fact that some of the students here expect the alums to come in and clean their rooms is pathetic. For 4 years, this is your base to care for nurture and protect. Do you really need to cry for your mom’s and dad’s to come take care of you?
Down here in Texas we have a saying “Cowboy up!”. It fits this situation perfectly.
sjh
PS. Uh, also, you may want to take note of how passionate the alum’s here are about our school, it’s traditions, and the campus. I graduated 40 years ago. Think I’ve mellowed about being a Bruin? Think again.
I really wonder if some of you whiners have the initial passion for all things Blue and Gold that we have. And, if you don’t, you are really missing something. That passion unites the many diverse people in this nation.
sjh
by Class of 66 on Nov 25, 2009 2:01 PM PST reply actions 2 recs
Lost in the accusations of students toward alumni
is that this occurred ONE day after the Beat $C Rally. BTW… that rally is funded by ALUMNI!!! We do our part! I guarded the Bear when I was a student, and there is NO excuse for this. It is 2 weeks from finals in a 10 week quarter!! WE ALL STUDIED TOO!! We all know that, if there is ANY time when students tend to make excessive free time for themselves, it is the week before they have to REALLY start studying for finals.
I’ve said it all week. This student body has no connection to the history of their University. SAA is failing them. All alumni need to start calling up old dorm-mates, classmates, frat brothers, sorority sisters and Bruin co-workers. I lamented as a student the lack of alumni visibility, and that clearly needs to change. This proud Bruin family needs to put it’s foot down and be heard. It’s time to tell these ladies they’re coming to church and there’s no way in hell they are wearing that skirt!
Dustball!
From the Daily TOEJAM . . .
Mark Wynohradnyk, a Trojan Knight and a sophomore majoring in business administration and cinematic arts, said he’s glad to be spending Thanksgiving on campus if it means serving the USC community.
"I’m all the way from the East Coast, so I’m definitely excited to be doing this on Thanksgiving," Wynohradnyk said. "Protecting Tommy Trojan comes first — if that means not seeing my family, that’s what I’ll do."
BTW, the prank pulled on Tommy Trojan that everyone keeps bringing up did not happen during Rivalry Week.
to be honest
I admire his school spirit. I really do. And apparently the Bruins did not have one single current student with that kind of school spirit.
Sad, really.
by Seanny Rotten on Nov 25, 2009 2:52 PM PST up reply actions
WEAK RESPONSE on Facebook...
http://www.facebook.com/notes/elaine-daneshrad/response-to-bruin-bear-vandalism/190198766466
The incident that occurred with the Bruin Bear is extremely unfortunate. However, due to the combination of finals week, Thanksgiving weekend, and the UC regents’ tuition increase, our committee decided that the purpose of Bruin Bear Security Force would be best served this year as a celebratory event rather than defense mechanism. Given the fact that the Bruin Bear was not vandalized last year, when Bruin Bear Security Force did not happen at all, we felt that not only was it was unrealistic to ask students to camp out all night, but that this new theme would be more beneficial to them during this time of financial struggle. Furthermore, because Blue and Gold week was cut down to Blue and Gold Day, the need for a spirited event was even greater.
Ultimately, we believe that this was the best decision. Our event had the best turnout in years, with over a thousand students coming in throughout the night, and we received extremely positive feedback. Although investing late hours of the night to vandalize our Bruin Bear is important to certain USC students, we believe that our student constituency has more important priorities such as trying to find means to pay for college, doing well academically, and trying to balance the many responsibilities in their lives.
Thank you to those that came out to show their dedication and pride to UCLA.
- Elaine Daneshrad, Bruin Bear Security Force Co Director
by PrinceLucRichardMbahAMoute on Nov 25, 2009 2:13 PM PST reply actions
Nuff' Said...
This sums up entirely what most of us here at BN have been saying about the state of Bruin Pride among the current students and that this proves without a doubt that last night"s miserable embarrassment lies with the students. No heart, no pride.
You must be kidding. Is that all you have?
Sorry, don’t buy it.
And, another thing I won’t buy? Your tuition. You want alum’s — out of a sense of school spirit to donate to scholarship funds?
In the words of a famous man “No aid for you!” Next.
sjh
I give
but directly to student groups I support. These organizations that wastefully spend funds to produce pc, pacifist, non-competitive, non-spirited, history/tradition devoid social events to serve as a resume boost for some students will never see a cent from me.
Dustball!
UH
“The incident is… extremely unfortunate.” Wrong. Luck had nothing to do with it.
“…the purpose of Bruin Bear Security Force would be best served this year as a celebratory event rather than defense mechanism.” So, the purpose of a security force is not to provide security? Why not call it the Bruin Bear Celebration Force instead? Am I missing something?
“…our student constituency has more important priorities such as trying to find means to pay for college, doing well academically, and trying to balance the many responsibilities in their lives.” Gimme a break – this has been the case forever. And if the students I see in Lot H before football games is any indication, getting passed-out drunk is still pretty high on our student constituency’s list of priorities.
Weak.
by haywood nighttrain on Nov 25, 2009 2:38 PM PST up reply actions
Ridiculous
in too many ways to count. I would say more, but I have more important priorities than responding further to this drivel.
I mean I can write another blogpost
Ripping her to shreds but I just want to let this go at this point. So freaking weak and pathetic.
Well this changes my opinion
There was no one. Yeah, what the hell guys? I still think this could be an all ages Bruin event, but many people seem hostile to this idea.
RIP #34
What the fucking fuck?
I swore that my last word would be above but DAMN. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? Oh yeah, you guys are so above it all…I can’t even muster a sarcastic response to this.
I gave back to the school this year despite being fresh out of college. It’s a drop in the bucket. I’m not rich. But it still makes me sick to think that this is the kind of garbage bullshit my money is going to, especially since they played on my pride as a Bruin to get me to give back. If this group is in any way directed to the one that hit me up for money, then I want my money back you spineless fucks.
This Elaine Daneshrad ...person
She should just start dating Taylor Mays and they can discuss how UCLA-U$C* is “not that big of a deal” over dinner.
Not a student or alum...
…just a lifelong fan and I find the spirit of the student section pathetic. From no-shows to games to only about a 1/3 of the students in the lowers section against Pepperdine Monday night actively cheering and jumping up and down. These students go to the greatest university in the country that also is THE STANDARD for athletic success and they can’t get up for a basketball game and cheer their team on? And the BS excuses for not making it to the Rose Bowl for weekly games is just that, EXCUSES!
UCLA - Champions Made Here
the bear is almost clean again
I’ll post a pic as soon as I figure out how
by ositosfan on Nov 25, 2009 2:23 PM PST via mobile reply actions
This is ridiculous.
I’m an alum, and I’ve earned by UCLA cred in ways that most haven’t by (gladly) serving at dozens and dozens of events as Joe Bruin himself. And this incident is really awful. And I want to see retaliation (because rivalry prank wars are actually kind of fun). But what bothers me is all of this finger pointing. Alums blaming students. Students blaming alums. Alums getting on students for not caring more. Students opting to focus on other things. Fingers going every which way. It’s ridiculous!
I view Bruins Nation as a top notch site to come to get information about our great athletic program and to follow and engage in great discussions with other fans. For the last several years, living overseas, it was my only real source of UCLA info. Far too often, though, there is so much negativity flowing all around and it’s awful. Honestly, it makes me sad to see Bruin fans going at it against one another. It’s not what being a Bruin is about. Let’s stop finger pointing and just focus on what’s important — WINNING (which Red Sanders would remind you, is not everything, but the only thing). And this week, BEATING SC. There will be no revenge better than beating that other team, no matter what pranks SC manages to pull.
painting the bell
is the ultimate revenge. However, I think most alumni just want students to own up and say “we fucked up” and “I’m sorry. It’ll never happen again!” Instead we hear, “You could have been there, too!” or “I have a job!” Guess what… We had jobs too! We had to study too! We aren’t unsympathetic to student issues, but we expect that, with thousands of students within a mile of the Bear, someone will step up and take pride in their school the same way generations before them have. And if they don’t, they will own that and not make excuses, just as generations before them have as well.
Dustball!
by dustball on Nov 25, 2009 2:47 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Dude
for a second I thought YOU posted that . . . I realize you just copied from facebook. haha.
by Seanny Rotten on Nov 25, 2009 2:56 PM PST up reply actions
IMHO
As a student, I will say that the statement given on facebook is GARBAGE. Fee hikes have nothing to do with this neither does paying for college or finals or anything.
The notion that because nothing happened last year, nothing would happen this year is foolish (I’m being polite). To be honest participation in the bruin security force wasn’t even publicized on campus. Little if anything in the Daily Bruin (I might be mistaken but nothing I remember), or facebook, email, or any other medium which students could have been informed. (Not making excuses,just stating facts).
In my opnion this is more a sign of LAZINESS on our part as students rather than lack of school pride
thank you.
And I mean it. Finally, someone with spine. Maybe not all hope is lost. Ball is now in your court kid.
I mean it's almost as bad as Jamie McCourt
saying they can’t spend any money on free agents because building baseball diamonds in poor parts of LA is more important to the Dodgers.
New sport
Between us and the Enemy bloggers: MMA
Oh please let me beat the shit out of a Trojan! In particular, so.cal.what’s.his.fuck.
Troy will fall...again, again, and AGAIN!
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bruins Nation
Related FanShots on Bruins Nation
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
