Photo Blog: Sent My Voided Check, UCLA Gear & Letter to Chancellor Block
by tazmiami on Nov 28, 2011 10:45 AM PST
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PrintBumped. This is how it's done. An example of what UCLA alums who want a wholesale regime change at UCLA athletics to reestablish our football and basketball programs could be doing to send Chancellor Gene Block a message. GO BRUINS. - BN Eds.
Thanksgiving was terrific. We had friends over, had a terrific spread and great conversation. I ate - entered food coma - repeated as necessary. Then Saturday night came along. I knew it would be a challenge for the Bruins having listened to ill-advised comments from CRN saying "we closed the gap" and knowing $UC was going to use that as bulletin board material (See Barkley's post-game comments - THANKS RICK!). Then the 2X4 to the head. 50 to fricken 0 followed by more benign and idiotic comments from Morgan Center.
After puking up 3 days of Thanksgiving gluttony, we (my wife is also a Bruin) felt we needed to do something to show our disgust and weariness of the humiliation that currently comes from the revenue generating athletics at UCLA.
First - I re-opened the outgoing mail from Friday which contained our quarterly check for the UCLA Fund. I voided the check but didn't throw it away. It isn't a lot of money compared to Guerrero's salary but its what we can afford to give back for each of our educations at UCLA:
I voided the check because it is a fallacy to think that academics and athletics at major universities are somehow separate or unrelated entities. Money from donations, TV, tickets, etc. go to pay for non-revenue sports and academic programs. If there were no football or basketball at UCLA - we'd be a community college.
These athletic programs help with the visibility of UCLA everywhere else outside of LA (Do a search on the internet and see what comes up when you type UCLA). I sent the voided check to Chancellor Block. I am sending few other things back. After the jump ...
You may think people on the east coast don't watch the late games from Cali - but you'd be wrong (Miami - dinner is at 11 pm and clubbing til 5am). But when they see 50-0 they dismiss UCLA as well as the rest of the PAC-12 as a joke. Well - from here - we cannot picket Morgan Center or be vocal at UCLA - but I can hold back money until the regime is changed. Does that hurt UCLA students....maybe...but then they should get up off their asses and be vocal for change and demand that BOTH academic and athletic programs are held to excellence. Apathy is exactly what DG wants as it will allow him to keep his job and mediocrity.
I also sent back my UCLA gear (modified my "champions are made here" shirt) to Chancellor Block:
There is no need to have pride in UCLA by wearing their gear. The leadership has no pride or value in our school other than a egomanical meal ticket - so why should I continue to be humiliated every year. Block can have my gear and I don't care what he does with it:
Finally - I included a letter to Block asking him to do the right thing and fire Guerrero as well as his cronies at Morgan Center.
I included some personal views such as the wine tasting trip by our UCLA AD while underage athletes and students are dying of alcohol-related accidents. Is that the image we deserve and want our AD to portray? Kind of hypocritical and plain stupid. I also included how thankful I was that Coach is no longer alive to see this debacle. I cannot imagine how difficult it was for Coach to be in the same room with someone as vile and self-centered as Guerrero. I also let him know that we will no longer make the yearly trek for homecoming where we spend thousands of dollars at ASUCLA and for tickets. Regardless - the letter was cathartic and I recommend writing for others in the BN who are angry and fed up. We are shipping this today:
You can criticize me for turning my back on UCLA. Again - you'd be wrong. I love UCLA and would not trade my education or experiences from there for anything. Ask yourself this - would you stand around and watch your mother get used, humiliated and beat up by a drunken scumbag? I wouldn't and UCLA, who has given me so many tools to succeed, is like a mother to me. What is happening to her, by a former Bruin no less, is unthinkable. Mediocrity and irrelevance is now acceptable? Since when? I bleed blue and gold. My 2 year old can do the UCLA fight song and punctuates it with $C sucks. I sat through more than 3 hours of complete destruction on Saturday night as did many of you. Those are 3 hours of our lives we can never get back. But you can do something about it.
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.
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Great job, tazmiami
Thanks for sharing. We’re all doing things we would rather not have to. I know it hurts, but we have to get Block to act.
I hate punishing my kids, but sometimes (and not too often) it is necessary, and they are better off in the long run for it.
greg in denver, U.C.L.A. guy for life - BruinsNation.com
50-0 .....
…I can handle that pain. Its a game and bad things can spiral out of control. But then the responses from CRN and DG. Just a total loss of reality. I cannot think of another occupation where someone could BS their way through a series of catastrophies. Had enough.
he gone
multiple sources reporting Rick has been told he wont be back but will coach the Pac-12 title game ….
No need to justify your actions
It is obvious to me that you bleed blue and gold. That’s quite a statement and an excellent example of what we can do.
by Geronimo21 on Nov 28, 2011 10:57 AM PST via mobile reply actions
This. Is. Freaking. Awesome.
If this does not convey the feeling of the greater Bruns Nation, I cannot imagine what it would take.
Oh to be a fly on the wall when Block gets to open this package…
What you did is absolutely amazing!!!!!
I removed all of my gear from within my home, to a plastic bag out in my garage, just yesterday morning. My daughter is 18 months and when I say, “UCLA”, she replies, “Fight Fight Fight”. She sees the script logos on any of my shirts and she says, “Fight Fight Fight” (thank you My Baby Can Read Program)…she has been to five home games since last year, two fall scrimmages, and one spring scrimmage…and she made the trip up to Stanford this year, with me, and for the first time, wore her full cheerleader outift to the Bruin Bash, as Chianti Dan walked past us at the bash, wearing a tan suit, and white baseball cap, with UCLA on the front…what an ass, way to embrace our school colors.
And I thought I bled blue and gold, but you Sir win the title, with this action. Funny your check is to the UCLA Fund, since they had the audacity to task a student with calling me last night, less than twenty four hours removed from the debacle, soliciting donations!!! Out of their mind, as I like you will always be proud of my degree and for what UCLA did for me…but I cannot be proud of this current administration, nor do they deserve me or my daughter to be a source of advertising those historic four letters…and God, work is absolutely brutal today with all the ridiculous comments and I am flat out embarrassed to be here, but am trying to remain proud.
Not to get to far off topic.....
…our son did the My Baby Can Read" thing to. He is all over anything and everything that is UCLA. That is what makes it hard. We dream of sending our kids to UCLA and that gets tainted with poor leadership and indifference. It will get better – it is on us to make it so.
I agree it will get better...
but props to you for doing this…my daughter is the same…has blue and gold pom-poms and started picking them up last week, and saying, “Fight Fight Fight”, so this has been really tough…and My Baby Can Read is a great program(my opinion, sorry if off topic). These times are painful, and as proud as I am to be associated with UCLA, it is hard to continue to enable the current leadership. But even if Rick is fired, my opinion the problem is much bigger and it is cool you went straight to Block with your protest. Never could have imagined our major sports would become this.
OT as well...
My daughter is 18 months old and, when considering my own mid-90’s years in Westwood, it is so easy to imagine her having a great time in Pauley, Easton Stadium, Drake, Jackie Robinson Stadium, the Rose Bowl and our other venues seeing our Bruins win with class. The past few years have presented dark days in the two big revenue generating sports, but with enough pressure, maybe our next football hire will be that home run we need in order to take advantage of the scholarship reductions at suc.
What brings me back to reality is working with the little one to say “Go” and “Bruins” in a way that even the blackest souled trojie would appreciate.
Every Alum Needs to Do This
GREAT MOVE TAZ….THIS WEEK…..EVERY Alum should send Block at least one article of their UCLA clothing with a note that states he/she is not wearing those letters anymore until we have an AD that is committed to fielding a football and basketball team worthy of wearing those four special letters. 50,000 UCLA well-worn sweatshirts sitting in Block’s office may get him to reconsider his AD choice. For me, I’m sending in the one I wore on Saturday (unwashed…I want Block to smell the anger that was in my sweat that day :)
CALL THE OFFICE 310-825-2151
They are answering the phones!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love you man!
This is freaking awesome. keep up the pressure! Donut Dan must go
GO BRUINS!
This is now a national story Taz
You are on EDSBS … this is everywhere. Powerful.
by Nestor on Nov 28, 2011 1:33 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
From the UCLA Fund
My name is Sirinya and I’m a 2009 MA graduate of UCLA. I’m also a current donor who works for the UCLA Fund. UCLA Fund donors support academic programs, research, and service initiatives across campus.
It pains me to hear that Tazmiami is rescinding his annual support to the UCLA Fund because of the performance of our athletics program. Private support for UCLA Athletics is raised separately from the UCLA Fund, and goes toward paying the operating costs of UCLA’s athletics program as well as scholarships for scholar-athletes.
Tazmiami – I would love to chat with you here or offline at uclafund@support.ucla.edu. I think that the message you’re trying to send is a bit obfuscated. I know you’re frustrated with the state of the football program – no one is denying that – but rescinding your gift to the UCLA Fund is taking away from how well UCLA can meet the academic needs of our students, and that ultimately hurts them. And I don’t think that is your intention at all.
I really hope you reconsider your decision, and I encourage you to get in touch with us.
I will call you but.....
……athletics and academics are not exclusive of one another. You can try to put them in silos – but they are intertwined on many levels including the UCLA brand that is known globally.
Of course I do not want to hurt students. That said – you want my money – don’t be apathetic about mediocrity and irrelevance whether it be in academics or athletics. If we had a Dean of Medicine that was incompetent and destroying our program – I would be just as active and vocal if not more.
by tazmiami on Nov 28, 2011 6:02 PM PST up reply actions 3 recs
I am sorry
But both athletics and academics are intertwined. There is no separating that at this point. It’s something you guys have gotten away with years and as result we have had the effect of Murphy Hall completely ignoring our major revenue programs. We are not going to let that happen any more.
Thanks for checking in though.
Btw....
….you can have a new cheque by talking to Block rather than me and having DG removed. All you have to do is make your case to the Chancellor by stating " we could have had these funds but the presence and actions of DG are working against our best efforts". He will listen to you.
Tazmiami is far from the only one
I know the UCLA fund lost donations when Harlan was lying through his teeth and stealing student seats at Pauley. I know you are lost more when Guerrerror failed to act after the Arizona game. Tazmiami did an amazing job showing that you are losing even more now because Chianti is still getting several hundred thousand dollars from the state to destroy our athletics.
I sincerely appreciate and respect you coming on here to discuss this with us. The thing to realize is that UCLA is about those 4 letters. We do not distinguish between academics and athletics like the accountants do. From the perspective of an alum, and it was the same way as a student, academics and athletics are part of the same whole. UCLA does not exist without both, as well as numerous other components of campus life. When one suffers, the whole suffers, and we are all worse off.
We will not tolerate an ineffective and apathetic admin thinking it can ignore part of the whole. Tazmiami’s sacrifice, and your presence here are proof that some are starting to listen. When the rest do too, then our donations will be on the way.
greg in denver, U.C.L.A. guy for life - BruinsNation.com
by gbruin on Nov 29, 2011 5:59 AM PST up reply actions 7 recs
KUDOS
Very well done, and brilliantly done so as well. He can continue to ignore mail, but let’s see him ignore packages
Bravo!!
I have sent a few emails to Guerrero to voice my disgust with his performance. I take that back, he would have to accomplish something in order for it be called a performance. I digress, I have voiced my displeasure with what he has done. I will ship out my sweatshirt to Block’s office tomorrow.
by PasadenaBruin on Nov 28, 2011 7:13 PM PST via mobile reply actions
Nice Letter
Nice letter, but why say that USC, a school much better than UCLA in both academics and athletics is better referred to as “$UC”??
Not don’t start blabbing like other UCLA students and alumni saying “USC cheated”, etc., when it was ONE football player and his family that caused all this crap … off the field, and 120 miles away in San Diego. Personally, as a USC aluminum I think Reggie Bush is a damn coward and should burn in hell. If he would only have the courage, and decency to formally apologize to USC….
Vic
Much better than UCLA at both academics and athletics??
Umm, no.
Never mind the inherent flaws in rankings, don’t cite the flawed USN&WR U.S. rankings that are biased by endowment (hence the $ in $UC) when virtually every other ranking system that focuses on academics, including USN&WR’s world rankings, put U.C.L.A. far ahead of Southern Cal. And while no one will argue football, I would ask how your water polo team is doing, or soccer, or basketball, or baseball teams are doing.
And as for Reggie, I didn’t know that cheating has a geographic statute of limitations. Also, let’s not forget OJ2 and his contribution to your sanctions, as well as the $c long distance calling plan. Surely you don’t believe that your sanctions were simply due to ONE player when it was your own athletic administration that let these things happen.
You are welcome here anytime, aluminum Vic. Just don’t come with a rebuttal that is almost entirely wrong.
greg in denver, U.C.L.A. guy for life - BruinsNation.com
Academics??
By US News…..lets just take the big three – the money makers of academics….(something a trogan may understand – its ok – you can use your toes to count as well).
Medical School – UCLA #13 and $UC #36.
Law School- UCLA #16 and $UC #18.
Business School – UCLA #14 and $UC #21.
$UC has become one dimensional. A football school. Just like the real “U” here in Miami. Pay attention to what has happened to the U and your beloved $UC Trogans will soon follow. There is no price high enough and no slime low enough for your crew. Bush was only scratching the surface.
Nice letter, stupid comment
Where do I begin?
You’re a U$C aluminum? Holy crap, that is the funniest thing I have ever heard. U$C ALUMINUM. Is that what you have on your license plate? And you wonder why we make fun of you guys?
U$C is an institutional cheater. Fuck, even your tennis team cheated! You think Bush has to apologize to U$C? Why? They’re the ones who let agents in to see him…in the freaking locker room! What an arrogant ass you are. Blissfully ignorant.
Enjoy eternal stupidity.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Are you a member of the USC Aluminum Association?
I commend you on your organization’s efforts to promote recycling in South Central. Good for you!
As a member of the USC Aluminum Association, you should also know that Reggie Bush (another USC aluminum) was not the only reason USC was finally busted. I doubt that you and your fellow aluminums (or is it alumina?) are capable of acknowledging as much. Don’t you discuss these things during your annual aluminum meetings?
Should Peter Carroll and the Dogfighter Todd McNair formally apologize for their actions (and failure to act)? I’m not sure why you’d want to protect them since they didn’t graduate from USC like you making them mere non-aluminums.
by Ajax on Nov 29, 2011 1:28 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
I am pretty sure that...
…the United States China Aluminum Association is manipulating the commodities market as we speak.
UPDATE....
…According to FedEx – package has left Memphis and is on way to LA. Will be delivered December 1 in the afternoon.
What do you think will happen to the UCLA gear?
Can you picture a homeless dude in Santa Monica rummaging around in the hoodie?
Maybe Block will just RTS and never open it.
Regardless – doesn’t look like DG will be fired anytime soon. Pathetic.
If you haven't watched Dan's presser from yesterday, you should.
It’s obvious that he is feeling the heat. It’s coming from inside and out.
Your contribution is only going to emphasize our point.
I wonder if you'll even get a letter in response.
UCLA has never been good in alumni relations other than calling asking for donations.
slightly OT
Where do you watch the games in Miami? I used to spend quite a bit of time at the Ale house on 163rd in NMB, but lately it’s been only Duffy’s
Nestor and Ajaz
You both say that Guerrerror is feeling heat (and A said it was evident from the press conference.) I didn’t see the presser and don’t really have the ability to do so (I’m on a road trip seeing new grandson.) What happened that makes you think Guerrerror is feeling anything?
He just looked very nervous
at the presser, sweating and constantly licking his lips. But mostly, it seems the decision to fire Rick was made over his head, and the effort to go after Petersen is not being led by him either. It could just be a perception, but he is not looking his best…
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Some good news this morning.....
Barkley filed his papers for the NFL draft…guess he is excited to become a Trogan aluminum.
I agree.
Long time reader, first time poster. I’m a UCLA alum, graduated in 1992. Was a member of the marching band for 3 of my 4 years. Bled blue and gold long before I enrolled as a freshman. I am a lifetime member of the alumni association and have donated thousands of dollars to UCLA over the last 20 years.
In a coincidence of bad timing, I received my UCLA Fund request in November a couple of days before the USC debacle. After the game I went and dumped the request in the shredder. Now almost a week later, I have no regrets about it.
I love my school. I received a fantastic, very reasonably priced education there. But part of UCLA’s identity, and the main face of UCLA to the public IS the athletic department and specifically the football and basketball teams. While it makes me sad to withhold my usual donation to this fine school, I have to agree with tazmiami and others that this may be the only way to affect change, to get Chancellor Block’s attention. I’m sick of coming into work every year after the USC game to e-mails from my current and former USC-alum colleagues mocking me for yet another dismal performance in this game. I’m sick of seeing the basketball squad underperform year in and year out. This is UCLA: it boggles my mind that we can’t field more competitive squads than the mediocre ones we’ve seen for the last 5 years. We are 1-12 vs. USC over the last 13 years. ONE AND TWELVE! My graduate school alma mater, Michigan, even cut the great Lloyd Carr loose for losing to Ohio State. Rich Rodriguez went 0-3 vs. Ohio State and was gone despite showing gradual improvement each season. Michigan doesn’t settle for mediocrity. Why does UCLA?
I can only speak with my pocketbook. UCLA Fund people are right in that the university needs the donations. However they are wrong in separating the academics from the athletics. Both are integral parts of UCLA’s identity, image, and brand. I still feel pride in my school. I’d like to feel more. My donations will resume when I see some real change and progress in the athletic department.
Glad to have you posting, GoBruins88
Sorry that it’s come to this. Hopefully, the admin is listening to its constituents, since it isn’t watching how Chianti Guerrerror is killing the athletic department
greg in denver, U.C.L.A. guy for life - BruinsNation.com
So, got a call from the UCLA fund last night.
During the ******* first quarter of the game. Now, my wife got the phone and politely to get lost until DG and the rest of the athletic fix their issues. If I had picked up the call, that junior on the other side of the phone would probably have PTSD by the time I was done.
1) This is how little respect our program gets, they call during the game!!
2) Of course we’re not donating and buying season tickets again until DG is gone, maybe even Block.
3) At the time of the call, it was still a “close” game. Although 90% of that was Oregon not being focused in the first half.
Geesh
They were calling during the game? Unreal.
Your wife told them to get lost until DG [...]?
You married a true Blue Bruin didn’t you? =)
Dump Dan!
by bruinclassof10 on Dec 5, 2011 9:50 PM PST up reply actions
Update
I called the Chancellor’s office today and confirmed that he received my letter, canceled check and my gear.
The nice person on the other end said he did.
I then asked if there would be a forthcoming response from Dr. Block.
She did not know but took my name and office phone number for reply.
That is the latest.
I wonder which will happen first?
Chianti Dan announces our new coach or Block the Schlock had one of his aides send a sincere “Dear Sir or Madam: Your letter/email/other communication was received and is being reviewed carefully by the involved departments. Have you considered increasing your monthly donation, or increasing your endowment? Thank you. Sincerely, …”
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