(Updated) UCLA Athletics Official Denigrates #SFatPauley As A Pointless Exercise
by MexiBruin on Apr 23, 2011 11:27 PM PDT
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As I sit at my computer and reminisce about our annual Spring Scrimmage today, my mind is on matters far more important than the state of UCLA Football.
UCLA grad and author Carlos Castaneda in his series of semi anthropological books introduced the notion of ‘Controlled Folly.’ My personal interpretation of this idea is that it is something you do knowing full well that your actions are meaningless. For example, I personally believe voting has become a pointless exercise, but I vote every election anyway. That is my controlled folly.
Today I embarked on a controlled folly with a small number of current students at UCLA. We attended the UCLA Spring Scrimmage to directly approach Students, Alumni and Fans with petitions demanding the return to the original seating assignments for the renovated Pauley Pavilion as originally published in the Campaign of Champions.
Our pitch was simple, "Can you spare a minute to sign a petition that directly affects UCLA students?" If we got a bite we would move on, "are you aware that when the Pauley Pavilion renovation is complete, the students are going to be completely removed from their sideline seats and placed behind one of the baskets?
Reactions varied widely. The overwhelming majority of people were in too big a hurry to get to their seats to get past the opening statement. I would guess 10% said, "I really don’t care." Approximately 50-60% of those who stopped long enough to hear our purpose had no idea the students were being removed. Approximately 20-30% of those people said, "That is just wrong" in some form or another when they found out. And finally an approximate 20% already knew what was going on and were only too happy to sign the petition. I would say that of all the people that I stopped long enough to inform of our purpose and the student banishment 85-90% signed the petition.
These are my approximations and in no way are they meant to hold mathematical water.
I myself filled a couple of pages of signatures. I can only wonder what more students with more time to approach alumni and fans could have accomplished.
The most interesting part of my day occurred when Ken Weiner, the Senior Associate Athletic Director, stopped one student and myself. He was clearly unhappy with what we were doing and repeatedly stated, "This is not the time or place for this." He repeatedly encouraged us to follow the proper channels and discuss this with . . . and at this point he would at different times suggest different officials; at one point even suggesting we talk to Dan Guerrero. When that was clearly not going to work he insinuated that what we were doing was pointless in hopes that we would see the light and stop bothering these people.
We then entered into a long and heated discussion about the state of Bruin Pride. He repeatedly reiterated the party line that the Student Body wanted this move, that USAC approved this move; but we weren’t going to have that. I spoke my belief that he was simply using delaying tactics to keep us from speaking to as many people as we could.
As antagonistic as our meeting was, I did feel his sense of frustration with sagging student attendance at games; the frustration of getting the student body behind Bruin Sports. However, when I mentioned the need to build School Spirit, and what a poor job the Morgan Center was doing, he again backed himself into a corner by stating that that was the responsibility of USAC. This illustrates the failure of the Morgan Center to realize their roles in shaping student life, and in my mind underscores their mentality of running a business wherein students, alumni, and fans are customers as opposed to family members that have to be embraced and invested into in order to build the long lasting bonds of school pride.
The highlight of my day came when I found a woman who knew all about our plight and stated she had read all about it on Bruins Nation. It was our very own UclaLuv, and the hug she gave me was as heartfelt an expression of family as any hug I’ve received by friend or family member.
Therefore, while Ken Weiner and others at the Morgan Center may believe we have embarked on a meaningless crusade, we will continue in our controlled folly because we care deeply about our school. We will continue because we found that the more people we talk to, the more people that knew nothing about what is going on. This is what the Morgan Center wants as expressed by a comment made by Mr. Weiner. When informed with this piece of information his response was "well they should read the web, the emails . . .it’s all there." Again, a complete lack of accountability and a comment which spoke to their complete lack of desire to actually go out and inform their public what they are doing.
The petition will soon be made available online and the focus placed on spreading the word electronically. We will ask for your help to spread the word and enlist others to sign the petition.
[UPDATE]
The online petition is up and running. You can find it here.
The first step is obvious: if you agree with us, sign the petition; then do everything you can to gather signatures. This is one of those opportunities where everyone of us can do something for the greater good. Everyone of us can reach out to old classmates and encourage them to get on board. If they know nothing about this; this is your opportunity to inform them about what's going on. There is an email function that will allow you to email up to five friends at once. You will have the ability to 'like' it on facebook. Do not rest once you have informed your friends and classmates. Check in with them later.
If you prefer the cut and past method, the full URL is: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/enduclastudentsbanishment/
Continue to speak out on the UCLA Athletics Facebook page.
Do more than you think you are able to do. STUDENTS FIRST!
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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Hard.
This is the up front and honest communication Morgan Center should have been doing from the beginning. You are doing their work for them. Rather than dismissing your concerns, they should be paying you.
Mexi, you make us proud.
This is awesome! I really applaud the efforts that you and those students took today! Did you get any sense that any other students you met wanted to help/join in future efforts?
One pair of guys I talked to said point blank "I don't care."
But most of the students I talked to really do care about what is happening. I also got a sense of helplessness about their state, and unfortunately I did not get any that jumped out and said, “how can I help?”
That would take another kind of recruiting.
The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden
Fighting the Truth Instead of Finding the Truth
You would think that Morgan Center would want to get it right. But, it is clear that they don’t.
You would think that they might want to see that they made a mistake. But, it is clear that they don’t.
You would think that they would understand that their one job is to serve their base — which is the STUDENTS. But, it is clear that they don’t.
Somewhere, the athletic department has lost sight of the fact that student athletics exist as a PART of the student experience — that they are supposed to round it out, create an outlet for the pressure inherent in going to college and create a strong bond with ones peers and university.
This athletic department is running UCLA sports as though it were unrelated to the university and the students it is supposed to serve. People like Weiner just don’t get it. His job exists to work for the students, not against them.
Funny, when Morgan Center wants my money — it knows how to find me. It does not rely on my stumbling upon a message to donate. To put the burden on the students and alum’s to know the truth about the land grab through independent research — made more difficult by the “misinformation” campaign created by Morgan Center — is disingenuous at best and downright dishonest at worst.
Yes, we should all know about the land grab, even though it was presented as a decision reached at the behest of the students and never communicated to us in a way that sought feedback.
Hector, it is not folly to speak truth to power.
I am proud to know you.
sjh
by Class of 66 on Apr 24, 2011 6:39 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I really think it goes deeper than that, 66.
They don’t care about the “truth”, e.g. that every student knew what this change was going to be before they responded to the survey. They have created their OWN truth. The truth they’ve created is that a) A survey was put out (a misleading, Morgan-Center-will-fill-in-the-blanks survey), b) the students responded (without the full picture of what was going to happen) c) they moved the students (without actually asking them). The parenthesis is the reality, but everything else is what the Morgan center made “the truth”. They are going to use that from now on, and just shout that because at the absolute most technical level, this is in fact what happened. Never mind that it was completely manipulative and dishonest. Never mind the impact it will have on our already shoddy home-court advantage. The Morgan Center has made this push, seized their “Sudetenland” (and hell, Chekoslovakia as well) and they’re moving on to Poland. We must fight this. Students must know about this.
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
Great job, man
As demoralizing as it may have seemed when the majority of the people you came across either didn’t care, didn’t know, or didn’t even want to be bothered, rest assured that your exercise was not pointless. You are making an impact, and it is a step in the right direction. What guys like Weiner and others like him don’t get is that apathy in the fan base is worse than protest, and rather hamper efforts such as yours, he should be applauding it, and be doing everything possible to facilitate further discussion and cooperation. Rest assured that your actions will inspire others. You are a great Bruin.
Thanks Blue
Ken Weiner did in fact offer several times to facilitate a discussion with Morgan Center officials. I suppose this was his idea of the proper place and time. I may still take him up on this offer, but I get the feeling that this is their way of “containing the spill.” They would rather talk us down than address the real issues.
The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden
They want this discussed behind closed doors
It’s just a way to railroad you where you aren’t in public, inflaming the issue.
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
I agree. They want to keep this out of public eyes.
The reality is very few know what is happening. They will simple re-up on their season tickets, although, from what I hear those numbers are dwindling, with nary a thought to what is actually happening.
If we can’t get the word out to them, they’ll never know.
The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden
Which, in and of itself,
speaks more about their conduct and its lack of morality than anything else. You don’t hide something that’s on the up-and-up. You obfuscate (see: survey), misdirect (facebook banishment), and discredit (your lovely discussion at the scrimmage). When you commit a crime, you destroy the evidence. They’re doing their best.
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
by OswegoBruin on Apr 25, 2011 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions
Remember to take a recorder
If there is a meeting, make sure it’s recorded. The last thing a liar wants is a good record. The best thing would be to have more than one person at the meeting, and someone have a video recorder and tell them that the whole thing is going to be recorded (don’t ask them if it’s OK to record.) The meeting will then end, because no one from Morgan Off-Center is going to be willing to go on the record knowing the lies will be laid out for all to see.
Rec'd
A thousand times. Awesome effort! I knew you would take the initiative, and I wish there were more out there like you. Hopefully your example will inspire others to do the same.
Turning a number around, when you say that 10% said “I don’t care”, we could argue that 90% DO care. And whether Morgan Center wants to listen or not, those people will have to be heard and acknowledged. You can’t ignore 90% of your fan base and survive.
As for Mr Weiner’s assertion that that was “not the time or place”, did he offer any concrete times or places that would work better for him or Guerrero? Or is his preferred time and place never and nowhere? Having spoken with you, I’d pay to watch you sit down with any one of them.
Keep up the good fight, MB. That’s right. You’re initialed in my book.
greg in denver, UCLA guy for life - BruinsNation.com
Moron Center out of touch and clueless? CHECK!
Wait a second…it’s USAC’s job to engage the student body? Funny, I thought USAC was student government, which, during my time at UCLA, never had anything to do with student engagement with athletics. They were, and seemingly always have been, about getting administrative tasks done with the university.
How absolutely hysterical that the Moron Center thinks they have no obligation to engage students and promote their attendance, particularly because Ben Howland seemingly doesn’t agree with that. If he did, he would never have row walked to encourage student support.
What’s more, Weiner shows his absolute cluelessness by first telling you that what you’re doing is pointless. He seems to not understand that those who show up to spring scrimmage are likely to be some of the most ardent Bruin fans. If the overwhelming majority of those people signed the petition, then while it’s a small-ish sample, it should show him how strongly those people who actually fill seats feel about this move—people who otherwise have no stake in seats moving except they know it will kill the atmosphere in Pauley. Second, if it’s just a matter of what the students want, students have an obligation to get together and petition/rally around this. The excuse that the student body wanted this needs to be broken and revealed as false.
You have taken a great first step in going this far. I hope that the rest of the student body picks up the reins.
by Black Betty on Apr 24, 2011 9:29 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
What is going on with our "student body"?
I don’t want to turn this into a subthread … where folks attack students (in fact people … please don’t). I am surprise by total inaction or lack of initiatives from students. We know there are many who read this blog. The folks here know what is going on. But we have not seen any initiatives at all. I just don’t want students here complain about bad view as excuses for not showing up to game in 2-3 years. There is still time for them to get moving on this.
by Achilles on Apr 24, 2011 9:34 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I am no expert, I'm just a guy.
but, I would break student in action into two groups:
Those who care but feel powerless to do anything, and therefore cannot imagine an action that can create a change.
Those who have other issues far more pressing than where the students will be sitting after the Pauley Pavilion renovation is complete.
Something one of the students told me yesterday that has really stuck with me; he described UCLA as a commuter school. When I went to school here, I knew some people who commuted but it was largely an exception to the rule. If living on or near campus has become the exception to the rule, you can easily see how this would lead to a host of problems like poor attendance and sagging school spirit.
The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden
That's how it was described to me when I first started there
And my understanding was the buildup of the new dorms was part of the plan to change that. I moved into the apartments before the new buildings were complete, so I can’t say whether it has succeeded, but your account suggests it has not.
I can’t help but think that because the buildup on the hill is not run by the bumbling myopic fools at Morgan Center, that someone had the foresight to anticipate the current budget cuts, the subsequent increase in out-of-state students, and the housing needs of those students who cannot commute.
It was a commuter school when I was there (class of '81).
Just Dykstra, Sproul, Reiber and Hedrick. But we had a lot of school spirit. We also sat on the 40-yard line at football games, packed the student section at basketball games and showed up in force for track meets.
But then again, it didn’t take a 4.3 GPA in high school to get in and we had nothing like the financial pressures students have today.
by Seth Chandler on Apr 24, 2011 11:08 AM PDT up reply actions
Not a commuter school when I was there
Class of 08; I only knew 1-2 people who commuted. Maybe I just didn’t have enough friends.
It's not really a commuter school now
and the intent by the Housing department is to make it even LESS of one. They’re doing a bunch of construction with the intent of being able to guarantee 4 years of on-campus housing to all incoming freshmen and 2 years to transfers students.
I actually find it really odd that any current student would describe UCLA as a commuter school, unless that student was referring more towards culture & mindset than to the “normal” definition of a commuter school. Unlike other schools that have dorms & such scattered around campus, we have all of ours in one place, separate from where classes are. So in a sense, you do “commute” to class. I’ve never really given that any thought as far as how that might impact sports or school spirit.
One other thing – even though the Moron Center is not in charge of the construction on the hill, I think you give Housing too much credit. They have their own share of dysfunction too – just ask any student from last year about the 6 month delay to reopen one of the dining facilities (Puzzles, which is now Cafe 1919), or the equivalent delay to open a simple walkway between De Neve Quad and the Sproul area.
My stomach hurts just thinking about it.
Curly fries with a side of curly fries. Ouch.
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
That's what happens your first few weeks
Then you figure out you can have them slather the fries with chili and cheese, and Freshman 15 suddenly seems like a lowball estimate.
I remember a friend saying:
“Doesn’t ‘freshman 15’ seem low to you?”
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
"15"
That may have been accurate in lets say the 70’s/early 80’s, but from a public health view of our ever increasing weight/size of the general population. That number needs to get adjusted, much like the value of the dollar with inflation over time.
Lets throw out some numbers, “Freshman 25”?
That buzzing noise you hear is the "Generation Gap Alert" sounding
Freshman 15 was a phrase unheard of in my time. BN moderators, I’m generally don’t try to tell you your business, but I think will this time. Will anyone step up and volunteer to write subtitles to some of the posts by the youngsters so we Geezers can understand.
(And speaking of subtitles, or actually sur-titles, La Traviata opens this Friday, with our 94 year old maestro who is sharp as a tack, I know my words and my notes, but I’m still nervous. And to translate for you younger guys, what I just said was “La Traviata. Duuuuuude.”)
"The Freshman 15"
is referred to as a general rule for incoming college freshman. You get to college, see all the delcious food, and eat all of it, thus gaining 15 pounds.
Or alternatively, you are too broke to afford the delicious food, so you eat nothing but ramen… and gain 15 pounds. Thus, the freshman “15”.
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
by OswegoBruin on Apr 26, 2011 12:55 PM PDT up reply actions
Ahh
That stat wasn’t tracked back in my day. But I do remember vividly that beer and cake was the friday evening dinner many times. I’m sure I gained much more than 15 pounds.
"Other pressing issues"
I hate to get snippy because I can totally identify with the other issues that students have going on, but they need to get upset about this. The Pauley renovation is being funded, in part, with student fees. The fact that the Moron Center thinks it’s OK to take student fees and then crap on that very same group of people is LOLworthy foolishness.
I understand that students have other stuff going on (like worrying about the huge tuition increases with the budget crisis), but this is yet another thing for which students are paying and they are not seeing any benefit. Hell, they’re in an even worse position. I would hope that’s enough to motivate some people into protesting.
From what I understand...
the idea for having a petition was started by a student who was out there collecting signatures along with MexiBruin.
This is true.
My idea all along was doing our own survey. Some of the students contacted me based on that fanpost and asked if I would be willing to help, which I was very happy to do. So the students should get the credit for this one.
The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden
"It's USAC's job..."
is akin to Steve Jobs saying it’s up to Consumer Reports to promote Apple products. How incredibly short sighted.
greg in denver, UCLA guy for life - BruinsNation.com
A comment about the "I don't care" responses
I doubt that most of those people really do not care about what is happening to the student section. If they took the time to listen, I’ll betcha they’d be just like those who did listen.
To be fair to them, it is tough to stop and actually listen to a person when you’re in a hurry to get somewhere… which is wh we need to raise the profile of this student exile.
Awesome!
Thanks for fighting the good fight over there. Amazing, but not surprising, to hear that they just don’t care…
They care.
Two things I took away from my brief talk with Ken Weiner was that they are very aware that people are unhappy about this change, and that they are extremely frustrated by the lack of student by in on UCLA sports: the drop in attendance.
Unfortunately, they do cannot see themselves as part of the problem. They really do believe building school spirit is somebody else’s responsibility and do not see how their decades of poor marketing has contributed to the current malaise in School Spirit.
The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden
Wow. That is so discouraging
How do you get in a leadership position anywhere if you are pointing the finger at other people?
by silverlakebruin on Apr 24, 2011 11:41 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I think you just described our entire political system
No wonder this country is so messed up. They’re taking tips from Morgan Center.
You know we're having a bad run
when it’s insinuated that the Morgan Center is the model for the U.S. Political system.
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
Thanks for the insight
You got an insight into Morgan Center thinking of which I was unaware. I did not know that AD staffers were “extremely frustrated” by the student drop in attendance. To me that is good news; well it’s news. I assumed they were comfortable with or at least would tolerate student disinterest in the revenue sports. I have read no newspaper pieces about such frustration. Nor can I remember any opinion, rumors or speculation appearing on this, the center of the UCLA universe, Bruins Nation.
The first step in getting off the ground is to realize you have a problem. I hope the “extreme[] frustration” is genuine and it is the first step to acceptance of responsibility and a more persuasive effort to get students to show up for games. All of this with the caveat that students, alumni and hangers-on will show up for games if we win regularly.
They had a promotion...
over Winter break for the Washington games where if a student could come to at least one of the Washington or Washington State basketball games in Pauley right around the New Year, they’d be entered into a lottery to win a brand new Vizio flat screen TV. Everyone with season tickets was e-mailed this information a few days in advance.
Oh, it's news, definitely
It takes a special group of morons to be concerned about student attendance and then turn around and give the students the worst seats in the house. That sounds like a great plan.
T--I wuz serious
I wondered if they even understood how the job isn’t getting done. They are so ineffectual (or changing student tastes (and that nonsense about how students are smarter now—spare me) mean fewer kids want to watch revenue sports), I assumed they had no clue about how bad things were.
Institutions (public or private) tend to strive mightily every waking hour to avoid transparency (hence the misleading press release about how the students are beating down the doors of Morgan Center to get lousy seats). And I have never heard any UCLA employee express the slightest frustration about the often lousy student attendance. The silence left one with the impression that Morgan Center staff thought things were just keen. And the alumni and hanger on attendance ain’t so good either and not a word out of Morgan Center about that.
I'm not suggesting you weren't serious
It was news to me as well. I’m saying that if we take their frustration as their acknowledgment of a problem, then the decision to go ahead with the Pauley Landgrab is even more perplexing. That they would go ahead and execute a plan that can only dampen student enthusiasm when it’s the very thing they’re frustrated about is, like so many things Morgan Center does, illogical. I guess according to them, it’s up to USAC to get the students excited about their brand new seats in Siberia, but at least they’ll all freeze together.
petition
Could you possibly send out a online petition so people who are not able to sign it by hand would still be able to sign it and be able to participate.
We are doing what we can with limited means.
For now the best you can do is to spread the word to other students and make them aware that the petition is coming.
Current Students that wish to help contribute basic manpower can contact me at: Hectorcam01@gmail.com
The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden
I'm a brand new alumni
But when I see the petition online I’ll send it to all my UCLA friends and current students via FB. That should reach a couple hundred in that way alone.
by TheNewBruinPrototype on Apr 24, 2011 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions
Unfortunately I'm traveling for easter
So wasn’t at the spring game, but did get my email today from the Morgan Center saying they were releasing my football tickets because I didn’t renew I replied that I was renewing neither my tickets nor my wooden fund membership and would not do so until Dan Guerrero was replaced
by silverlakebruin on Apr 24, 2011 11:39 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Tough Love
I know it must have been hard, but I think you did the right thing.
It makes us no less loyal or diminishes our fan status.
There does not seem to be any way to get them to listen to us.
I’ve done the same thing with solicitations for funds. I know the school needs them, but I’m not shelling out until the communications go both ways.
sjh
by Class of 66 on Apr 24, 2011 12:43 PM PDT up reply actions
UGH
I did the exact SAME THING AND I FEEL SICK. This is coming from someone that went to Tennessee and Austin to watch football. I can’t support this administration. It hurts guys…bad.
I was at tennesse and texas as well
and will be going to Houston and Utah this year, but not one dime from me to the Morgan Center until they change things.
I will still give to the art and history departments.
by silverlakebruin on Apr 25, 2011 4:39 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm a current student
When I was picking schools, people always described UCLA as a place where there are immense resources, but that you needed to be the one pursuing them. It was, and is, a place for self-starters, and that’s something I love about our school.
It’s a shame that our administrative officials — who could tap into that same potential far, far easier than I ever could — simply refuse to do it. In any case, keep on keepin’ on: There are students who care (not enough mind you, but we’re here).
This is amazing, I applaud you
Why the students haven’t began a process like this on their own is beyond me. Action needs to be taken NOW.
by TheNewBruinPrototype on Apr 24, 2011 12:34 PM PDT reply actions
Mexi that is awesome
and it is great of you to take the initiative, well done!
I think a big sign would have helped you a lot, along with a picture. It would give people a quick visual connection and for those who didn’t want to bother listening, they would have gotten it right away. Just a thought if someone decides to do this again (like students…hint hint).
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Dear Associate AD Weiner....
Go directly to the UCLA Law Library, ask the librarian for a copy of the U.S. Constitution, open to the part that says “First Amendment”……..
Thanks Mexi for taking this on. We’re proud of you.
I may work with the Waves, but I'm still a Bruin!
(Formerly "HoozierDaddy")
Weiner
wasn’t trying to silence him, he was more just a smoke screen to keep the public away from our dear Mexi.
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
I've unsubscribed to all UCLA emails
And I told the UCLA fund why. The only way this will change is if the university as a whole loses more money than the athletic department gains from this.
It was a true joy meeting you Mexi.
I think we’ve met before. When I spoke with my friends there what was going on, they had all bought into the morgan center party line that is being given at the Pauley info meetings, that the students were the ones who came to them and wanted this change. When I filled them in, they were also upset. They are season ticket holders and can see the lack of energy and consistency the season ticket holders bring.
Again, meeting you was the highlight of my afternoon. Hoping to see you again. Also, a lot of my former students attend UCLA or are now alumni. So if we get an online petition (which I don’t know how to do), I can get them helping to “pass it around”.
Karen
Go Bruins!
And thank YOU for that heartfelt hug!
Bruin Luv is alive and real. It’s to bad the Morgan Center has no concept of how to harness it.
The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden
You're my new favorite Bruin, Mexi.
Can’t rec this as many times as it deserves.
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
Present & Signed
I have to say I appreciate the initiative you took with putting together that petition. It was a pleasure meeting you. Your perspective and attitude exemplifies the Bruin tradition. Your actions reaffirmed my pride in our great family. Any help I can lend to the effort (as a lawyer, Bruin alumni, or just a social media conduit) – please let me know!
You're a true Bruin, Mexi!
… and you have the huevos to take on confront “the system” when very few would. I love you, man! :)
Parallel Universes...
Although I live in the extreme northern wilds of California, I follow my alma mater here on BN and also online in the fish wrap and other media outlets. I was a season ticket holder for twenty years prior to moving to NoCal.
What I see going on is not dissimilar to what the Dodgers are experiencing. Management, either the McCourts or Morgan Center, has taken the fan, and students and alumni for granted. They have become complacent.
As a former season ticket holder and lifetime member of the Alumni Assoc., I rearely receive any informaton concerning UCLA athletics. I never receive any information concerning Alumni road trips to away games. In short I receive little in the way of information. The only reason I receive any information is because I make donations and I must be on somebody’s list.
To say that the Morgan Center does a poor job of marketing UCLA athletics is an understatement. The second largest media market and metropolitan area, without a pro football franchise, U$C excluded, should be fertile grounds for UCLA to sell it’s athletic programs.
Morgan Center has the “Open the Doors and they will come” attitude. Morgan Center has the McCourt philosophy that says we don’t have to do anything to woo our fan base. We can give the fans an inferior product and they’ll line up for the screwing we’ll give them.
Just like it’s time to run the McCourts out of town it’s time to run DG and his staff of lackies out of Westwood!
We can only protest
with our wallets. Don’t attend…ugh.
Mexibruin,
I am, all at once, troubled by your reporting on the wagon-circling mindset of the Morgan Center, encouraged by your efforts to ignite a grass roots fire, and inspired by your obvious Bruin passion.
Harking back to my student-protest days in the 1960s, I believe that the only effective way to speak truth to power is to take to the streets. Put another way, if enough people get mad, all at once, about injustices, abusive power will fold like cooked spaghetti. Statements like “This is not the time or place” are hobgoblins of those who know the truth but fear it.
Thank you for standing up to Mr. Weiner on behalf of me and all loyal Bruins. Thank you for circulating petitions that shed light. Thank you, sincerely, for not doing what most would do—nothing. Rec’d, Inspir’d, and Lov’d.
Thank you
for the petition. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to catch the petition on campus, but I am currently sending the link to my fellow students. Thanks again.
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