Posted on 05/11/2003 8:36:42 PM PDT by tnovak
Edward A. Dickson Alumnus of the Year: This award has been bestowed annually since 1946 upon a distinguished son or daughter of UCLA in recognition of exceptional merit. Alumnus of the Year Wall.
Tim Robbins '82
(Excerpt) Read more at uclalumni.net ...
This blatant challenge to patriots and enlightened civilization should no longer go unchallenged.
The UCLA chancellor can be e-mailed at: chancellor@conet.ucla.edu
IT MIGHT MAKE A FINE SATURDAY EVENING OUT TO EXPRESS OUR FEELINGS ABOUT THESE 60'S THROWBACKS INDULGING THEMSELVES AT TAXPAYER EXPENSE ON THE 17th AT THE EVENT.
I have done some research on the award, e-mailed my feelings and recieved a canned response. Here are some excerpts:
The Alumus of the Year Award was created by the late Regent Edward A. Dickson to recognize UCLA alumni of exceptional merit. Regent Dickson specified that the recipient of the award should be an individual who has rendered "a special and outstanding service to UCLA; or who, by personal achievement, has brought great honor and distinction to the University" (http://www.uclalumni.net/Involvement/awards/awards.cfm#EdwardADickson).
I made the point that "nothing in [Robbins'] biography and nothing of which I am aware notes any 'outstanding service to UCLA.' This leaves the second condition to satisfy. I agree that as an actor he has been successful. This alone should not satisfy the requirement of brining 'great honor and distinction to the University' (the ability to emote and pretend, while a viable profession, is a specious reason for 'great honor and distinction'). Even if it was, it cannot be considered in isolation. The totality of Mr. Robbins' activities must be considered. [Robbins'] other 'personal achievements' include providing aid and comfort to the enemy in time of war, disparaging our president, the commander in chief, and by extension, the honorable warriors defending our freedom and lives and attempting to shield a tyrant. No rational argument can be made for separating what a person may feel is a favorable characteristic from other odious characteristics when considering the merit of an individual. Assuming that the award is based on Mr. Robbins' acting career, it belittles UCLA considerably if such a prestigious award is given for such trite 'achievements.' When his other actions are considered, UCLA has called into question its own character, reputation and judgment when it feels that such actions bring 'great honor' to the university.
ULCA responded to my concerns by noting: "UCLA has a long tradition of encouraging tolerance and civility. As such, Mr. Robbins' views should not disqualify him as a nominee for this award."
In response, I noted that: "This tradition certainly doesn't square with its giving Mr. Robbins this award. Recently, Mr. Robbins threatened to '(expletive deleted) hurt' a journalist who wrote a story with which Mr. Robbins disagreed. How does awarding an individual who would threaten physical harm to a person because that person held views that didn't correspond to his own further this long tradition of encouraging tolerance and civility?"
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