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Todd Cheney UCLA Photography
L.A.'s mayor charms guests at a campus reception held
in his honor. |
Mayor gets warm welcome
by ajay singh
today staff wrtier
His speech was brief but had all the hallmarks of leadership and personal conviction that have earned Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a UCLA alumnus, accolades in recent months.
“We are facing a great dilemma and a great challenge in this city,” the mayor told nearly 400 dignitaries and guests July 27 at the residence of Chancellor Albert Carnesale and his wife, Robin. “What we do to educate our city’s kids will go a long way to determine what kind of future this city is going to have.”
It was Villaraigosa’s first visit to campus since he became mayor last month, and his speech focused on education, one of his passions. “Some people would say I came in through the back door,” he said, referring to the fact that affirmative action was in place when he entered UCLA. “But one thing’s for sure,” he added, evoking laughter and applause. “I came out the front.”
UCLA gave him a great education, the mayor said, but the year he graduated from Roosevelt High School in Los Angeles, 74% of his classmates had dropped out. The school’s drop-out rate today is 64%, still abysmal, he added.
Chancellor Carnesale assured the mayor that UCLA wishes to “sustain and expand” its relationship with the city. “It’s not just our responsibility,” Carnesale said. “It really is our opportunity.”
Said Keith Parker, assistant vice chancellor of UCLA Government and Community Relations, which organized the event: “He’s somebody who wants to make Los Angeles a better place, and so do we.” |
