Dear Editor,
With regards to Julie Kim’s article on May 7 titled, “Annual athlete turnover a trend in ULV sports,” the reaction was somewhat disappointing in that it did not tell the entire story. One could, without knowing the essential facts, conclude from the article that students dropping off of athletic teams is both an epidemic and an isolated phenomenon on the University of La Verne campus.
The facts bear otherwise. All Miss Kim needed to do was simply research the retention rates to discover the truth – that retention among student-athletes is more a reflection of the retention rate at the University of La Verne. Financial aid, time constraints, etc., are issues facing several students at ULV as a whole, which is why close to 50 percent of entering freshmen will not make it to graduation. That said, the retention rate for student-athletes at La Verne has historically been higher than that of their classmates who don’t participate in intercollegiate athletics.
Despite the 50 percent institutional retention rate, ULV athletics has not only endured but has thrived. Over the past 10 years we have had three national championships in team sports as well as three individual national champions, four national players of the year and over 20 athletes in various sports named All-American. Despite all this recent success, it is discouraging to find the Campus Times focusing on students dropping off teams as opposed to devoting coverage to one of the more exciting times in ULV athletic history. This spring we have witnessed three SCIAC Conference championships in baseball, softball and golf, with each of these teams competing in postseason play. In addition, La Verne boasts the 2004 Conference Players of the Year in golf (Joey Murray), softball (Kelley Silagyi) and women’s track and field (Lakia Sims). Outside of earning All-American honors, being named the SCIAC Player of the Year is arguably the most prestigious honor that a La Verne student-athlete can achieve. Unfortunately, the Campus Times has made no mention of the remarkable and historic accomplishments of the respective athletes. We would also add that ULV baseball player James Ortega was named SCIAC Player of the Year on May 10.
Moreover, there was no coverage in the Campus Times of our Scholar-Athlete Luncheon (April 29), in which more than 80 student-athletes were honored for achieving a 3.5 grade point average. This was a high-profile event on our campus, as several invited faculty and staff were on hand to celebrate and share in the tremendous accomplishments of our student-athletes.
The responsibility of any newspaper – professional or otherwise – should be to report the news rather than try to create it. We do appreciate the coverage that the Campus Times has afforded us in the past and we will continue to expect more of the same in the future. We do, however, expect the Campus Times to present the events and stories in a factual and balanced manner.
University of La Verne Athletic Department
Dear Editor,
Our own perceptions have become all too common. First there were many perceptions and misconceptions with regard to the editorial on the University’s fundraising efforts [“Fundraising needs to begin,” May 7]. For one thing, if you are going to have an opinion that is fine, but it is another to not know anything or any facts about current fundraising efforts and University Relation’s duties. It was a mistake to believe that not enough is being done to fundraise for ULV than is possible, and also compare ULV to the Claremont Colleges, which is a much richer consortium of institutions. They have more money because their students and families have more money. Not to mention, their “friend-raising” is still fundraising when you come right down to it. In addition, there is unfairness and inconsistency in the editorial: University Relations has annual giving, telethons, and keeps in touch with those who donate. ULV has work-study students working in University Relations during the week on fundraising projects. It seems as though that editorial shows what limited facts are known because even the author only has possible solutions to fundraise. I’ll concede that there are more ways to save money, and raise money, which are two different things, but it isn’t fair to claim whatever is being done is not enough. Right now, many know that the University is raising money more than ever for the master plan, the new plans for development in the coming years that you did not know about.
On another note, it seems that some professors are playing politicians being partisan just as the Campus Times wrote [“Dreier denied honorary degree,” May 14]. USC allowed Sen. John McCain to speak and receive a degree. I thought higher education was about welcoming a diversity of ideas, understanding and respecting each other intellectually. According to the University guidelines from the article, Dreier fulfills the credentials for an honorary degree, but because there are guidelines to “keeping with the ideals of the University of La Verne,” well that’s also interesting. It basically says that no matter how someone like David Dreier helps the University even in crisis, he must cater to the ideals – vague ideals of a fragment of the La Verne population. I hope we did not lose a valuable friend and partner such as Congressman David Dreier after last Monday’s decision. Why should what one individual does as a profession, or what they believe, or what political ideas they stand for, discriminate them just as it should not discriminate the other side. If David Dreier doesn’t get a degree for what he does, then what about Miss Morrison? She does because she supports your ideals? Isn’t that a little biased, when the purpose of having these two speakers was to create balance? This is how we thank an individual and national leader who has tremendously helped our institution. I wonder. It will be interesting who will speak at commencement next year assuming anyone would want to after this.
Rich Uranga
Senior
Editor’s Note: Anthony Ireland is a ward of the California Youth Authority and a University of La Verne student through the Educational Programs in Corrections. He is the Editor in Chief of The Voice, the student newspaper at the Heman G. Stark Youth Correctional Facility in Chino. Associate editor of The Voice, Jose Garcia, contributed to this letter about the EPIC program.
Dear Editor,
When students and faculty around this “Golden State” began or returned to the classrooms this summer, it wasn’t so “golden.” They faced a new rule governing the educational services that would be provided. It’s a rule that, for the majority, is a devastating blow to the pocket book or grants that the economically disadvantaged receives.
Students, faculty and staff rallied all over California recently to try and deter Gov. Schwarzenegger’s proposed $311 million in cuts to the CSU system’s budget next year. The proposed cuts would translate to greater student fees, faculty layoffs, reductions in state financial aid and the end of support programs for the economically disadvantaged.
Many students attending the California Youth Authority’s (CYA) Heman G. Stark Youth Correctional Facility (HGSYCF) college program in Chino are pessimistic and weary from what is taking place and being talked about concerning the cuts, and how it will affect them. They have good reasons, being that a lot of these young men have been lied to over and over again, kicked and bounced in and out of foster homes all of their lives and raised in abusive and violent conditions.
EPIC director and facilitator David R. Werner had a rather upbeat outlook. When asked if he thought the EPIC could be in jeopardy, he responded, “I sure hope not. I started teaching here in 1976, and I love it. I fell in love with this program, my job, and it has helped me feel like I’m fulfilling purpose in my life.” The same can be said for many EPIC students within the facility.
Sadly, from a statistical standpoint, 3 out of 4 wards in CYA will spend the rest of their lives incarcerated. However, wards that go through the college program are dramatically less likely to remain incarcerated. The EPIC students who seek to become productive members of society once they leave here, face many jailhouse “politics” in doing so, and often have to endure being called names and getting badgered for seeking an education in our world, by the wards who chose not to attend college or seek a better life.
I say “our world,” because it is constructed dramatically different from the world outside of these prison fences. In here, “politics” say you have to run with your own race, talk to only certain people, and live in a façade of hatred. EPIC students go to college facing many pressures and fears that one day soon, our futures along with the ULV’s EPIC might be destroyed.
The concentration for this story is not for sympathy or to portray that the EPIC is in a possible condition of detriment, but to offer the “free” students a hope and to voice our appreciation of their outcries against cuts that will affect us incarcerated youth. We encourage all of you who have been law-abiding citizens and leaders in society to stay strong and pursue your dreams. Even if it’s hard, press toward the mark. Fight for your education that you earnestly deserve. For the sun never shined on a cause of greater worth. We encourage you to use your voices in what you have worked for.
Anthony Ireland
Freshman
Dear Editor,
I read with dismay the article entitled, “Dreier denied honorary degree” [May 14]. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you!
This is clearly a politically motivated turn of events, and I could not agree more with Professor Don Pollock, who stated, “Dreier is not only our representative, but arguably the most powerful member of the House of Representatives and the University had a chance to forge an alliance. Other faculty let their politics color their judgment.”
As a former Dreier staff member and ULV student, I can tell you quite frankly that he has always been proud to represent ULV, even though he is an alumnus of Claremont McKenna College. Further, contrary to the actions of the faculty, I can only assume that Chairman Dreier will continue to represent the University well as he does all educational institutions in his district.
Once again, ULV has demonstrated a complete lack of foresight. The entire community should be ashamed.
Michael DiRienzo
Washington, D.C.
Dear Editor,
The alumni grapevine has been buzzing lately over the story written May 14, regarding the denial of an honorary degree to Congressman David Dreier. While some of the buzz would concur with your appraisal that the decision by the faculty assembly is a “public relations” blunder, there are others, myself included,who find the decision of the assembly a principled, if somewhat unfortunately timed, decision.
It would appear that the provost responsible for putting forth the nomination would have been best served to exercise some of the political acumen the faculty is accused of lacking by not anticipating that the denial was within the realm of possibility and protecting both his faculty and the University from such a zealous and poorly timed proposal.
Apart from that, it hardly seems fair to attack the faculty as blundering and short-sighted. I doubt the “most powerful” member of Congress “needs” an honorary doctorate from ULV but more than that, does either party need to appear to be engaging in the buying and selling of honorary degrees? Is $6.9 million the going price these days? Is it possible that the congressman did the right thing by helping ULV without any expectation that he would be paid off with an honorary degree? Or given the immoral and unprincipled state of the reigning cartel in the White House (whose chief occupant is rumored to have “purchased” his degree, as well), was there indeed a quid pro quo that the provost neglected to tell the faculty they were supposed to rubberstamp?
Cynthia Lopez Elwell
BA ’86 and MEd ’94
Dear Editor,
I just read Kenneth Ruiz’s “Dreier denied honorary degree” article. I am appalled by, and disappointed in, the lack of vision that appears to exist within ULV’s faculty. The university really should rethink its position and extend the degree to the Congressman. David Dreier has been a friend to ULV, not to mention an important ally for many years.
It would appear that the faculty does not want to be viewed as supporting one candidate over another. All the while, they have forgotten that the bestowment of a degree is an educational endorsement, not a political statement. Nevertheless, if the University was to take a political position, who else has the track record and/or accomplishments of Congressman Dreier and would be a better candidate to endorse?
His 1995 congressional reform package alone shows his commitment to the people by attempting to set necessary standards which promote good government and opening committee meetings to the public and press. Dreier has 100 percent approval ratings from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers. Dreier has one of the largest carry over vote ratios for both Republicans and Democrats besides receiving 10 successive Golden Bulldog awards. The Sierra Club has presented him with the Clean Air Award and Dreier chaired Gov. Schwarzenegger’s transition team while still serving as Chairman of the House Rules Committee.
A doctorate degree represents a university award of the highest recognition in subject study and comprehension. The degree’s purpose is to recognize the individuals understanding and grasp of the chosen subject. In light of this I ask, has Congressman Dreier not achieved this level of knowledge by his work experience alone? If he was a ULV alumnus, would the vote outcome have been any different? I think the answers to these questions are obvious. If nothing else, think of these two words… “strategic alliance.” I challenge ULV to reverse this travesty and issue the honorary doctorate. Not only does the congressman qualify for it, he deserves it!
Furthermore, I think the names of the entire faculty, and how they voted, should be published and be held accountable to public opinion. On a daily basis the congressman’s actions are open to scrutiny by his constituents and I see no reason that the voting staff be treated any different!
Signed in disgust,
Steven Stepanian
Class of 1988
Dear Editor,
It has been brought to my attention that the Faculty Assembly recently voted to deny a motion that would have conferred an honorary doctorate to Congressman David Dreier.
As an alumnus of this University, I am saddened and disappointed that the faculty has decided to take this action. The University of La Verne has never known a greater ally than Congressman Dreier. His support of the University is well documented. Rather than expressing its thanks, the faculty is proving to be ungrateful by slapping Congressman Dreier with this insult. Political views should be put to rest, if only for a moment, as you are honoring a man for what he has done for the University, not to mention his constituents in and around La Verne. No one can reasonably associate such a noble gesture as a political endorsement.
Public relations nightmare? Hardly. This is a mistake of unknown consequences that the University will have to deal with for years to come. That’s not to say that the congressman would be spiteful. That’s not in his nature. It’s the fallout that the University is going to have to deal with from alumni. If Congressman Dreier does not meet the qualification of a candidate “whose lives and records of service are in keeping with the ideals of the University of La Verne,” I would like to know what those “ideals” are. Clearly those “ideals” are not the same that first brought me to ULV and are not the ones that I wish to be further associated with.
Steve Marquez
Class of 1987
ULV Athletic Department
Richard Uranga
Anthony Ireland
Michael DiRienzo
Cynthia Lopez Elwell
Steven Stepanian
