2017 New Student Welcome

Speech

Chancellor’s prepared remarks:

Good afternoon! Welcome to UCLA and congratulations!

Every one of you should be very proud. You are part of the most gifted, talented and diverse class in UCLA’s nearly 100-year history.

I’d like to share with you some stats about how truly remarkable you are:

First, with 102,000 freshman applicants and 22,000 transfer applicants, you were accepted to the most-applied-to school in the nation!

Of our 9,200 enrolled students, 7,000 are from California.

You also represent all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and 93 other countries.

About one third are, like me, the first generation in their families to attend college. o And some of you have served in our military, or grown up in foster care, or are parents yourselves.

The diversity and perspectives you bring have made UCLA what we are: a top public university and one of the very best in the world.

UCLA is lucky to have you.

You now join a campus that’s been home to Olympians, Nobel laureates and Oscar winners.

This is a place where presidents debate, superstars perform, athletes break records and scientists save lives, where more than 40 languages are spoken on any given day and where we get to call the extraordinary, multicultural city of Los Angeles our home.

There are opportunities and benefits everywhere you look. Take advantage of all that UCLA and L.A. have to offer.

Much of the college experience lies outside of the classroom. Your social interactions, relationships and community activities may be just as important as your studies.

We have more than 1,000 clubs and student organizations — so no matter what your interests, chances are, there’s a place for you. And if there isn’t, you can create one! Be bold. Be imaginative.

When you traverse Bruin Walk over the next few weeks, you’ll see groups of all kinds asking you to join and trying to inspire your passion.

That passion is a big part of what makes our community exciting. But for a community to thrive, passion must walk hand in hand with compassion.

At UCLA we value free speech as a core principle, but with it we value mutual respect, we value facts and we value the principles and all the people who have made this country, this city and this campus so fantastic.

I’d like to give a quick shout-out to all of the DREAMers — I know many of you are worried, but I’m here to tell you: We care for you deeply and we are PROUD to have you here. So let there be no doubt when I tell you: We are here for you.

As Bruins, I ask that all of you aspire to create a community that will help each of you grow and achieve all that you want while you’re here. It will not be a community where everyone agrees. And that’s OK.

But like any community, UCLA will suffer if we are unfair, if we give in to anger and meanness. And UCLA will thrive when we commit ourselves to goodwill, kindness, understanding and curiosity.

I know we were all deeply troubled this summer, by the events in Charlottesville — a place Carol and I called home for 29 years and where we raised our family.

The hatred, racism and anti-Semitism America witnessed reminds us all that intolerance and racism are continuing issues in our society. As Bruins, please strive for fairness and respectfulness in our community. You will surely encounter people on this campus with whom you strongly disagree, whether they are your fellow students, or teachers or invited speakers.

At those times, we must remember that protecting our freedom of speech and thought, means protecting others’ freedom of speech and thought. That can be uncomfortable at times, indeed frustrating at times, but remember: sometimes being uncomfortable is part of learning.

I ask that you engage over critical issues, even controversial ones, with integrity and respect. There will be several formal opportunities throughout the year to participate in discussions of important issues facing our campus and beyond.

Over the week of Oct. 16, our Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Jerry Kang, will host a series of events centered on Free Speech. I encourage you to participate.

This year’s Common Book is another opportunity. Thi Bui’s The Best We Could Do is an illustrated memoir about immigration and identity in America. The Common Book is an opportunity to share and understand diverse perspectives with your peers, and to explore our roles in creating a just society.

You are destined to be our next leaders, whether it’s by conquering climate change, or erasing income inequality or curing diseases. We want you to become leaders who succeed by examining facts, who understand complexity and who work to bridge differences.

I also want to mention another challenge that needs commitment from each and every one of you — that is ending sexual violence. At UCLA, there is zero — zero — tolerance for sexual violence. Sexual assault, relationship violence and stalking are crimes against the dignity and safety of an individual, and they are totally against the values of our community. They will be treated as such. UCLA is a community built on dignity, respect and empathy. In this community, even one incident of sexual assault is too many.

I urge you to learn the Student Code of Conduct and the University of California’s Policy on Sexual Violence. o Understand what “consent” means. Know your own boundaries and respect the boundaries of others. And if you are a survivor of sexual violence or misconduct, please report it immediately to authorities on or off campus.

UCLA has many resources to assist you, no matter what concerns or problems you might have. For example, we just announced free mental health screening and treatment for all of our incoming students — a service we will soon expand to the entire campus community. So reach out to a resident assistant or anyone in Residential Life if you have concerns about anything. They are here to support you and we’ve given them the tools to do that. My administration, and our staff and faculty, are also here to support you in all of your endeavors. We want to help you make these years among the best of your lives!

Finally, remember that being a Bruin means being committed to the community beyond our campus. That’s why we’re looking forward to Volunteer Day on October 7. It’s a great way to contribute to our city, a fun way to make friends and always an inspiring way to start the year. I hope that day is but the first of many when you give back to your community.

And I hope, like many Bruins before you, you will make service a core value in your future careers. Embrace the thrill and the joy of making a difference, both locally and globally.

I want you to be as excited as I am about this new adventure, about all that you are about to learn and about all the gifts you’ll share with your new community at UCLA. Today is a great day for you, and a great day for our campus! You and your classmates will have an indelible impact on this campus.

We are so glad to have you here.

As with all things, you’ll get out of this experience what you put into it. So, give it all you’ve got.

Once again, welcome! GO BRUINS! Now, it is my pleasure to turn the stage over to your USAC President Arielle Mokhtarzadeh.