Assembly Member Tom Lackey Takes Stock Of UCLA

UCLA health economists, public policy experts, administrators, and members of the Bruin Republicans student group had the opportunity to have lunch and chat with Assembly Member Tom Lackey (R – Antelope Valley) at the Faculty Center on Tuesday, July 28th, as part of his day-long visit to the campus.

Lackey was peppered with questions from attendees on many topics including high-speed rail, depression, healthcare, Medicaid, and the state’s penal system. While well-informed, Lackey emphasized the complexity of many of the issues he was asked about and said he was in a listening-and-learning stage this past session as a freshman legislator.

 

Assembly Member Tom Lackey helped award medals to Special Olympics athletes on July 28 on campus.

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UCLA volunteers welcome Special Olympics

There’s one sure bet you can make during the Special Olympics World Games taking place at UCLA this week: Athletes, coaches and visitors from all over the world are going to feel the love wherever they go on campus.

As they navigate their way from the Hill to sports venues through Aug. 2, they will be seeing the smiling faces of UCLA volunteers at just about every corner and juncture along the way. That’s been the goal of staff members at the UCLA Volunteer Center, who have been working alongside their UCLA Campus Life colleagues and the world games staff since January 2014.    

 

UCLA volunteers, in their blue t-shirts, high-five delegates arriving at De Neve from Austria for the 2015 Special Olympics World Games. Assignments for volunteers range from translating to applying makeup at the Miss Amazing Pageant taking place tonight.

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UCLA Advocate In Action: Councilman Paul Koretz

Los Angeles Fifth District City Councilman Paul Koretz ’79, has felt a call to public service for just about all of his life, and to think others wouldn’t feel the same is rather “mystifying” to him.

The councilman has worn many political hats during his time in the public spotlight — including West Hollywood mayor, state assembly member and his current position as the de facto city steward for Westwood. And during that time, Koretz has never kept UCLA too far from his heart over the years.

“It is a mystery to me that it is even a fight to maintain a better education system for California,” he said.

 

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Special Olympics Take Over UCLA With Torch Run

The final leg of the 2015 Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics hit Westwood Thursday afternoon. Nearly 30 runners, representing law enforcement agencies from around the world, including Australia, Hong Kong, Holland, Canada and the United States, made their way down Westwood Boulevard, stopping at Broxton Avenue where they were greeted by an enthusiastic contingent of Bruins, including the UCLA pep band, the UCLA Spirit Squad and Joe and Josephine Bruin.

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Intern finds unifying message in advocacy

Graduate preps for the next step

Aurelia Friedman enjoys getting caught in the middle of a good debate.

The newly minted graduate, who will take part in three commencement ceremonies this month, made it a priority during her time at UCLA to help bridge the gap between disparate parties on a number of subjects, especially political hot-button issues involving students and UC administrators.

UCLA graduate Aurelia Friedman finished up her internship with the Government and Community Relations Office last week.

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UCLA staff celebrate program that taught them English, changed their lives

Third-year student Luzdelia Caballero (in floral dress) tutored Avelina Salcedo (blue T-shirt) in Project SPELL. They joined other participants at a graduation celebration on June 5.A

Although Avelina Salcedo came to this country from Mexico more than 30 years ago, she was not comfortable speaking in English at her job as a food service worker at UCLA’s Bruin Plate dining hall. “I was ashamed to talk, out of fear of saying something incorrect,” she admitted.

But all that has changed because of a campus program hosted by the UCLA Volunteer Center to help staff like Salcedo in Housing and Hospitality Services as well as in Facilities Management improve their English and computer literacy skills. “I am confident now,” Salcedo said proudly. And last Friday, June 5, she proved it by speaking in English in front of a crowd for the first time in her life.

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