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.
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.
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.
UCLA student Zach Helder chats with legislative staff member Tiffany Mok during an advocacy trip on Tuesday.
UCLA student Trent Kajikawa woke up to a 6 a.m. alarm Tuesday morning, scrambled to LAX, flew to Sacramento, dashed between discussions with as many legislative influencers as possible and flew back home before the night was done – a whirlwind day of advocacy for UCLA and the UC system.
Was it a worthy time investment? To Kajikawa, absolutely, who said he felt his and fellow student Zach Helder’s visit to Sacramento actually made a difference in the state budget conversation. They were heard.
“We’re hitting the nail and really addressing something that can help students succeed,” he said. “We moved the needle a little bit. That, to me, is really something. We just have to continue to stress this.”
Blueprint hit the ground running Wednesday night with a rousing example of what it can do and what it can be.
Hosted by Chancellor Gene Block at his official university residence, some 150 elected officials, journalists, judges, academics and students gathered to celebrate Blueprint, discuss its first issue and consider the challenges it examines – notably, the marshalling of research and data in pursuit of public safety. Continue reading