#SFatPauley – A Crushing & Historic Victory for UCLA Students on Behalf of the Bruin Nation
by Achilles on May 6, 2011 6:25 AM PDT
in Pauley Restoration
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On Monday gbruin set up this week's historic student vote as an opportunity for "Bruin redemption." Last night's vote was a chance for latest generation of Bruins not only to make up for the disappointing on campus stadium vote from 40+ years ago, but also to protect something very special for the basketball program built by Coach John R. Wooden.
Holy Cow - our students delivered. The result was a smashing victory for current Bruin students, who won it for the entire Bruin Nation. For 37 days we had been subjected to relentless propaganda from UCLA athletic department officials and its sympathizers that the decision to banish our students behind the baseline was done with the support of current students. We have been relentless on our pushback methodically making the point how they were full of lies and contradictions. Now we have a crushing mandate from our student body.
Let this sink in for moment. Thousands of students - over 9000 - voted last night in delivering this win stopping a Morgan Center effort to steal take away their sideline seats based on a cooked survey with just few hundred respondents. Only 8 percent of students supported Morgan Center's land grab. 8 percent! On the other hand, as pointed out by gbruin, while 69% No vote is pretty overwhelming on its own, if you only look at the students with preference 89% of UCLA students voted to preserve our decade long tradition of sideline students. This is simply a smashing victory for students, alums and fans who have organized in last 5 weeks. On the flip side, this nothing short of humiliation and utter embarrassment for the likes of Dan Guerrero and Mark Harlan.
Ryan put up a post last night thanking some special Bruins who have led the charge to get us this win. I want to add another name to the mix. The entire BruinsNation is grateful to the efforts of UCLA14. From his username, I assume he is going to be a member of class of 2014, which would make him a freshman at UCLA right now. A super freshman. It was UCLA14 who took the initiatives to organize the students on Facebook and translate his online activism into offline one by getting the word out on the Bruin Walk. The results of his efforts were astonishing as his Facebook group signed up well over 1,000 attendees and played a massive role in this huge win.
Thank you to UCLA14 and all his colleagues who came out and voted yesterday. We are not done yet though.
The Daily Bruin sports reporters, who have been disappointing through this whole ordeal, tweeted last night:
Vote contradicts student leaders RT @dailybruin Second advisory vote-students voted against moving Den student seating in Pauley Pavilion
Dan Guerrero said last Friday:
Last month, after extensive deliberation with student leadership, Athletics announced new plans for the student seating in renovated Pauley Pavilion. This week, the Undergraduate Student Association Council (USAC) decided to further explore the overall student body reaction to the seating adjustment by placing a question on the upcoming election ballot. I fully support USAC's engagement in this process and look forward to working with them as we examine the results of the question. If ultimately, a return to the previously established student section is the desire, then that is what we will do.
The message for Dan should be clear now. We expect quick action from him and his staff to reverse their embarrassing decision to rob sideline seating from students at Pauley. But when Morgan Center reverses their decision to steal sideline seating from students, they shouldn't expect a pat in the back for doing the right thing. They screwed this all up in the first place. They can expect that the scrutiny on Dan will only get more intense. We have been very supportive of Guerrero over the years. No more. We are not going to give him the benefit of doubt until we see our major revenue programs are back on track and performing up to UCLA standards.
I want to add another note before I close. Last night in overwhelming numbers the students contradicted their "leaders" on campus. Their leaders didn't know any better when instead of raising hell on behalf of their colleagues and alums, they simply went along with a very poor decision from the dysfunctional athletic department. We have offered a lot of tough words during the recent weeks to describe the actions of these leaders. We will not make any apologies for how we characterized the exposed maneuvering to shut students out of their sideline seats. But we do extend an olive branch.
We hope the Den Leadership will look at last few weeks and use it as an important lesson. We hope they can appreciate the power of real "unity" not the fake one written up Morgan Center press releases, can bring students on campus and thousands of alums scattered all around the country together into one Bruin Nation. We hope they will come back here and join with us in talking up UCLA sports, while vigilantly protecting our Bruin traditions and best interest of those four letters. We are all in this together. Onward.
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No no, wait wait wait!
“You promised us the student vote…You have failed me for the last time, Elan.”
Okay, I got it out of my system. I’ve been wanting to use that picture ever since I heard about the vote.
by Tydides on May 6, 2011 7:12 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
"Elan, I find your lack of faith disturbing..."
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
(Getting giddy here)
If ultimately, a return to the previously established student section is the desire, then that is what we will do.
I would hope that this is not the ultimate arrangement, but only one possibility.
If the seating arrangement is, indeed, not “cast in stone,” I would hope that unified sideline seating, floor to rafters, including the band, is also an option. These are smart people, presumably. Let them earn their salaries by finding a way to make this “financially viable.” And, for good measure, wrap student seating around an adjacent baseline.
my concern
is that DG/Morgan Center will simply return the one little sideline section to the students and split them up into 3 seperate student sections. After all, that is the currently established student section.
The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden
Ditto
I find the phrase “previously established student section” to be a ridiculously low setting of the bar. As though, that’s the best the students could hope for. As though, that’s the very best that can be done for UCLA.
Now that it has been shown that the voices won’t be quelled, I would hope that the MC would take this to heart, and expand their options. I think some creative thinking in mix with unrelenting focus on students-first could work for all concerns—students, team, crowd enthusiasm, and, yes, revenue.
The trouble with the MC’s plan to give all the prime seats to donors is that it assumes the unassumable (sell-out crowds) and completely fails to recognize the positive aspects of alternative arrangements. Seth Chandler has spelled out one such positive aspect sublimely well. Tell me that a rocking house like Seth describes wouldn’t result in team and recruiting success, crowds far more boisterous than with the donors-first plan, positive recognition for UCLA, and, gasp, increased revenue.
Come on, MC. Open the play book. Open your minds. Students first.
by Bruinut on May 6, 2011 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Thanks!
I think the other thing that Morgan Center misses is that they are trying to sell season tickets after one atrocious season and one mediocre one. Assuming Howland gets the program on track next year, it will be easier to get people to pay more for tickets.
by Seth Chandler on May 6, 2011 7:38 PM PDT up reply actions
UCLA is for leaders
and I think this processed showed that. I am very proud of Mexibruin and others on this site who stood up and made their voice known. And proud that the students stood up and made their voice heard.
Cudos all around.
Thank you very much
The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden
An important step.
But there is still a ways to go.
Until the Morgan Center lives up to the words of the AD and returns the students to the sideline, we can’t let up. And remember, the students also did want a united student section. So that is the end goal, a a loud and raucous and crazy – and united – student section that begins on the sidelines. That’s what our teams and our students deserve.
I also agree strongly with the olive branch offered to the Den leadership and other students and recent alums. Several long time and valued members here were treated pretty harshly recently. But the goal of BN in this entire issue was not to be the good guy – it was to get the sideline back for The Den. Sometimes leadership requires strong words and measures. Gen’l Patton wasn’t the nicest guy ever, but he got the job done. I also hope that Elan and his colleagues will see what our goal was here, and now that it’s within reach, will join us in finishing the mission. Go Bruins!!
greg in denver, UCLA guy for life - BruinsNation.com
Good Job!
I’m reminded of this:
One of my favorite speeches:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Voh3I2h6PBo&feature=related
Good luck getting Bigknife to accept the olive branch..
Here’s his quote in the daily bruin….
Den president Elan Bigknife, a fifth-year aerospace engineering student, said he was shocked by the decision to put the issue on the USAC ballot because students had shown little response to the proposal.
"There hadn’t been any student reaction other than online on one blog, so it was kind of unknown that student-backed petitions were going to be done," Bigknife said.
He’s just shocked that anyone other than BruinsNation could believe this is a bad idea!! I’m shocked to, but for a different reason…
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
Elan is also shocked to find gambling in this establishment.
by Fox 71 on May 6, 2011 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Disagree
but plus 1 to the entire thread! Play it! Play “As Time Goes By”!
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
He failed on so many levels
He uses the Den’s initial silence as evidence for his supporting of the morgan center’s attempted highway robbery, but as the leader of the Den isn’t he responsible for their intially muted response? Double fail.
Is he Den president because he cares about UCLA athetlics and the student experience, or did he just want another extra curricular line on his resume? I’m curious what he has to say now.
In his defense
The Morgan Center received less than 5 complaints from students. More like 2. They are definitely open for a change but when they didn’t receive any letters or complaints they figured the students were fine with it. Clearly with this vote shows the students don’t agree.
I have no doubt that they are going to give the students the 3 separate sections.
by lil eg not cs on May 6, 2011 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions
I guess we can safely assume that no one at Morgan Center reads the Bruins Nation
There were, as I recall, several complaints.
Real question – not rhetorical: How do you know the number of complaints Morgan Center got? Do you work there or have an inside source there? Can you give us any insights as to how Morgan Center is reacting to the vote? Will they actiually move the students back to the sideline? Any basis for your “no doubt” about three separate sections, or are you speculating like the rest of us.
All that aside, I disagree with the basic premise of your defense of Morgan Center. Sideline seats are better than endline seats. If it were otherwise, Morgan Center would be moving students from the end zone to the sideline, and selling the end zone seats for a premium. No feedback or complaints are necessary on that sort of move.
Well
I’m not trying to defend the Morgan Center. I have plenty connections inside the Den and the Morgan Center at the moment. My feelings on them are that they still did a terrible job. I’ve been told the received very few complaints. I can’t really remember many students coming on here complaining. From what I remember it was mostly alums. I could be wrong though.
I’m not really sure how the Morgan Center is reacting to the vote. I know that they cared about the student’s opinion more than the alums because the students are the ones that are directly affected by the move. Thats why when they only received 2 written complaints they didn’t do anything about it. They could completely ignore the alum outcry on this site.
I am speculating that they are going to have 3 separate sections. But from what I’ve heard they say its too hard or something to give the students the whole sideline. I think that is complete bullshit. I’d love to see a survey sent out to the people who’s seats would be affected by the students taking the whole sideline. If they are accepting then I say give them the whole sideline.
by lil eg not cs on May 6, 2011 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Morgan Center out of touch
assuming the MC received less that 5 complaints, it serves to illustrate they are completely out of touch with the student body.
imagine, MC damaging fan support for a gain in ticket sales $$, while having insider knowledge how much $$$$$ was in the pipeline as part of the Pac-12 broadcast deal
UCLA needs to clean house at the athletic department.
To redirect,
I would argue that the fact that the students are so overwhelmingly against this means they were not informed about it at all! The fact that they surveyed an extremely small group of ONLY den members, then made the decision with den leadership who refused to put out the word or complain, means that they made this decision pretty much in the dark. It’s a horrible way to do business and now they are paying the price for it.
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
To nitpick a bit
the students are not the only ones affected by the change. The pathetic game atmosphere that would have resulted from putting all the students behind the basket would have been terrible for everyone who cares about UCLA Basketball. I would hope the morgan center is capable of realizing that, and their claiming that proposed behind-the-basket seating plan was going to enhance the game atmosphere was truly nauseating.
Absolutely correct!
This was more than just the student section. This was about what’s best for U.C.L.A. Basketball.
greg in denver, UCLA guy for life - BruinsNation.com
Even further...
The alums are directly affected by it, as we’re the ones withholding donations until the change is reversed! If that’s not directly affected, I’m not sure what is.
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
"I’d love to see a survey sent out to the people who’s seats would be affected by the students taking the whole sideline."
That is an excellent idea. How would we go about identifying the people who would have their premium seats moved somewhere? If we can identify those people, there are plenty of smart people here who could get a survey question (a fair question, not a skewed one) sent to them to find out their reaction.
If those who spend to buy the premium seats have sentiments like those expressed by the fans here, I’m sure the overwhelming sentiment would be “sure, we’ll move, so that the students can have the entire sideline.” That should be enough to convince Morgan Center to make the change (or more accurately, to restore the students to where they belong).
My worry is...
if the top-level donors actually care. As for what Chris09 said, from my seat for the last several years, there were only a couple of familiar faces I saw in uber-donor courtside seats in front of the Den. The rest seemed to be bought by corporate sponsors, and I’d see different people in those seats almost every game. I’m wary of their allegiance to UCLA basketball.
Now for some Debbie Downer info. I did hear from a source that per someone in the Morgan Center, “most” (though I don’t know if that means 51% or 95%) of the top-level donors (we’re talking people who donate $5,000+ a year) were in favor of the plan to move all the students behind the basket. It’s great if the mid-level donors are hopping mad about it, but until the money they threaten to withhold exceeds the money the top-level people are bringing in…. Again, it all comes back to “money talks”.
But I think this needs to be the next step. The students have spoken. With the petition, a lot of alums have spoken. But now the big $$$$$ donors need to speak. Andy Hill speaking out is incredibly awesome, but he’s still just one donor. Does anyone know who these people are? They need to be speaking up now, and I don’t have the connections with them. You guys do. Get to work. :-)
We have the three wealthy and influential Alumni.
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
If they don't want to see or hear students yelling and cheering at a game, THEN WHY DO THEY BOTHER GOING?
Back in ‘95 or ’96, an older “fan” told me to sit down and be quiet when I was standing and yelling at my seats on the alum side. I think it was the Louisville game. I wasn’t using profanity, and I was in one of the front rows of that section, and she told me to sit and quiet down. Amazes and annoys me to this day.
M
"In this program your passion bucket must be full to play SC." -- CRN, to Dan Patrick, 1/2008
Unacceptable.
That’s not what live sports are about. That’s like asking people cheering at a parade to quiet down.
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
Unfortunately, this is all too common
I don’t sit in my assigned seats at the Rose Bowl because I can’t stand being told I’m standing too much or being too loud. Luckily my friends and I still have current looking BruinCards, so we just head into the student section.
Where is the DB coverage of the seating vote today?
Is it just me, or has the DB not yet covered the results of the seating vote? Looking at their FB page, there’s currently 3 stories about the voting for elected positions.
Obviously the DB is dependent on the athletic department for press access; makes you wonder if the DB got any incentives from Morgan Center to downplay the story?
There's already an article out
I quoted a piece of it above.
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
Here's the...
story they have up about the student seating vote.
I can see how the students would feel they don't have a say
But they need to realize they DO have a say. They just had a big one. When the students and alums work together on issues like these, change can happen.
And while you have no doubt they’ll try the 3 separate sections, I have no doubt that we will pound on them until we get the sideline and unified student sections, like the original L shaped plan they trotted out and sold from the beginning. No giving up now.
And I’m really glad to see you back here, lil eg.
greg in denver, UCLA guy for life - BruinsNation.com
Maybe now he'll know where to look for Bruins who care about these things.
greg in denver, UCLA guy for life - BruinsNation.com
Part of the problem is...
Den meetings are always advertised, with e-mail and Facebook messages sent out to the entire listserv and Facebook group. For that meeting back in January where we discussed the seating, even with the added incentive of raffle prizes being handed out, less than 20 students showed up for the meeting, which was basically just the diehards. Now, this was coming off the Montana loss and some lackluster wins, which may have had something to do with the attendance. But hundreds, if not thousands, of students knew exactly when and where the Den was meeting, and couldn’t be bothered to come. :-\
And while the poll shows most students think it’s a bad idea, when it first came out, the reaction was mostly one of disappointment, but not enough to rise to anger to write to the Morgan Center. As lil eg not cs points out above, even after finding out about it, almost no students took any action. Almost. ;-)
Thankfully, a few did take action
And we are truly grateful. BK, 14, and any others we should recognize. Thank you.
Now, let’s finish this. Let’s get the sidelines and unified student sections, and then get back to destroying anyone who comes to Pauley.
greg in denver, UCLA guy for life - BruinsNation.com
Culture
We have talked about it before. The matter of student interest is a classic chicken and egg issue. The culture has been a sedated one because the Morgan Center has nothing of substance to gin up student interest. We believe the interest is there. We think students are capable of being passionate and caring about UCLA related matters. We saw the fierce pushback against that much talked about YouTube video and now this. It’s there.
It’s a matter of students figuring out how to to talk to each other and us – alums – in an efficient and effective manner. You did it. UCLA14 did it. It’s a matter of getting other students to follow. This community can have an impact. That much is clear now. Let’s hope students take advantage of it instead of worrying too much about petty issues about the “meanness” of moderators.
Winning solves most problems.
With the same seats in the 3 Final Four runs, student attendance was rocking. When we started losing, not so much. But yes, Morgan Center could definitely do more to gin up interest when we’re not ranked #1 or #2 in the country.
I would also hope more students take advantage of what this site has to offer, but let’s remember we’re all diehards here. The casual fan doesn’t visit sports blogs. And it’s a bit difficult when the diehard students who do come here get warned or banned almost immediately just for not agreeing 100% with the tone of the moderators. Most of us are friends with each other in real life. Even if you disagree with your friend over an issue, you probably won’t like it when someone else starts calling your friend names. Petty or not, those actions have colored their view of this site.
And that’s too bad, because what I want this site to be known for is its acceptance for freedom of thought. BN needs to be a place for independent people with the confidence to express their personal views and visions, even when they choose to express differing viewpoints than the majority opinion here regarding an issue like student seating, or anything else for that matter. (Well, other than when it comes to USC.)
It's equally difficult
When the same people advance nonsensical arguments with little to no basis in facts and logic. Obstinately repeating the MC party line after all of their arguments have been debunked and inconsistencies exposed is not a matter of “freedom of thought” or “agreeing 100% with the tone of the moderators”, it is a matter of intellectual dishonesty.
I don’t deny that many of these students were in relatively tough positions here, and they may have felt the backlash unfair or harsh as they didn’t see themselves having many options, but the treatment of those who explained their positions thoroughly and those that instantly went into defensive/denial/outrage mode were quite different. We’ve posted your first response again a few times during this process as an example of what I’m talking about. Explaining the circumstances surrounding the initial decision with that dishonest survey went a long way to where we are now. Those that continued (and continue) to assert that this was the “will of the students” like Mark Harlan’s sockpuppet were rightfully savaged, because the facts simply don’t support that. When it becomes apparent that they are more interested in covering their asses and obfuscation than actual discussion, then we know it’s time for them to go, lest this become a platform for lies and excuses to propagate.
by Tydides on May 6, 2011 5:58 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Damn Good To Read (And See)!
Even though I wasn’t lucky enough to graduate from here, seeing this makes me awfully proud to be a Bruin!
Los Angeles Rams and the UCLA Bruins!!!!!
by Minnesota Bruinfan on May 6, 2011 10:46 AM PDT reply actions
Wow
First Veto Seto and now this. I’m impressed.
Instead of using a dart board
Guerrero should just make a BN account and put a poll up on this site whenever he has a decision to make.
L-Shaped Section
Are we getting that L-shaped student section we were promised or are we going to have to push again?
Congrats to students
Everyday is a great day to be a Bruin but today is better. The so-called apathetic students stood up and it is a great victory they have accomplished.
Fantastic news!
It really is a testament to how the students felt that so many voted.
if you only look at the students with preference 89% of UCLA students voted to preserve our decade long tradition of sideline students
This, especially when Bruins Nation is and has been the only outlet that was able to shed any light on the situation. If there actually had been transparency from the beginning and other media outlets actually covering this story in its entirety as BN has, it might have even been a bigger disparity. All the work that the moderators, Mexi and the students, and everyone on BN has put into this is amazing and hopefully the next step will be taken to actually take this new data and rectify the situation!
Especially after the Lakers had such a poor showing today… definitely made my day!
A few geezer comments
First, I have to express my surprise that the Den is an extracurricular activity. I somehow doubt that the Cameron Crazies need a “president” to organize them, nor do I recall anything but spontaneity in Bruin fandom during my student years and then my later years on campus as a season-ticket holder. The most startling result of the campaign and vote, then, is that it demonstrates what a fraud this fellow Elan is and that he clearly doesn’t represent very many of the students.
Second, I too extend my congratulations to Mexi for an incredible job.
Third, let me point out to those who criticize BN as merely alums that it it’s those of us who maintain out passion for Bruin athletics long beyond our Westwood years who provide continuity and strength to the program. I hope they’ll be around in 10, 20, 30 40 years devoting themselves to the support of the most storied athletic program at the greatest university in the US.
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