Join in-person or online to learn more about key state and local ballot measures in the November 2024 election. Jim Newton, a veteran journalist and the editor of Blueprint
magazine, will lead conversations with UCLA experts to provide valuable insights about upcoming propositions and measures. The first event, on October 9, will cover Proposition 33 and Proposition 36 at the state level, focusing on rent control and penalties for theft and drug trafficking. The second event, on October 15, will cover L.A. City Charter Amendment DD and L.A. County Measures G and A at the local level, addressing topics such as government structure, ethics and accountability, independent redistricting, and a tax increase to pay for homeless services.
UCLA has acquired a 62-unit apartment building in West Los Angeles, adding 142 beds to accommodate graduate students. The Canfield Apartments provide a range of modern amenities and include five deed-restricted affordable housing units. In 2022, UCLA became the first UC campus to provide housing for all undergraduates, offering four years for first-year students and two years for transfers. Move-in at the Canfield Apartments began last week.
A 2024 report found that nearly a quarter of college students in the U.S. face food insecurity. In response, California members of Congress, Senator Alex Padilla and Representative Norma Torres, introduced the BASIC Act which would establish a $1 billion competitive grant program to help higher education institutions support students' basic needs. The bill would prioritize institutions serving low-income students and address challenges such as food and housing insecurity. The University of California supports this initiative and has already made progress in providing basic needs support to its students.
The latest UCLA Anderson Forecast analysis indicates that California is expected to experience a year of subpar growth in 2024, with a slowdown in GDP growth to 2.8% in the second quarter. The Forecast attributes this to weaknesses in specific sectors of the economy and a high unemployment rate of 5.3%. However, the analysis suggests that these issues should resolve by the end of 2025, with the state's economy potentially experiencing faster growth in 2025 and 2026, driven by the technology and aerospace industries. The U.S. economy overall faces headwinds due to factors such as labor strikes, election uncertainty, and the impact of natural disasters, but economists expect stronger GDP growth in 2025 and 2026, conditional on the
resolution of these challenges.
In preparation for the 2024 general election, the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute's "Key Facts About Latino Voters" state briefs provide valuable insights into the growing and diverse Latino electorate. The research, based on data from the Latino Data Hub, highlights the unique needs and priorities of Latino voters, emphasizing variations in educational attainment, language proficiency, and demographics across different states. With an estimated 36.2 million eligible voters in 2024, the increasing political influence of Latino voters underscores the importance of targeted engagement and outreach efforts. Effective voter mobilization strategies addressing language barriers, educational disparities, and economic
inequalities are crucial for ensuring the full participation of this growing population in the democratic process.
In a recent Q&A session, UCLA sociology professor Cecilia Menjivar and USC assistant professor Deisy Del Real discussed the critical thinking needed to address the threat of autocracy. The conversation centered around the 2024 presidential election as a battle between democracy and autocracy. The discussion highlighted the ways in which autocrats worldwide have exploited democratic institutions to consolidate power. The professors delved into the methods used by dictators to steer societies into autocracies, including the use of fear, spreading misinformation, manipulating democratic systems, corrupting the legal system, and mobilizing hate groups.
Japanese executive and philanthropist Tadashi Yanai donated $31 million to the UCLA College Division of Humanities, marking the largest gift ever to the division. The gift will support the Yanai Initiative for Globalizing Japanese Humanities, a collaboration between UCLA and Waseda University in Tokyo. The majority of the funds will be allocated to the Japan Past & Present initiative, aimed at elevating UCLA's standing as a leading center for Japanese humanities and fostering global collaboration among scholars in the field. This initiative will establish a web-based hub to facilitate access to research and teaching resources, promoting greater collaboration among scholars worldwide.
Two UCLA alumni, visual artist Wendy Red Star and poet and educator Juan Felipe Herrera, have been honored with 2024 MacArthur Fellowships for their exceptional creativity and dedication in their respective fields. The fellowships, also known as "genius grants," come with an $800,000, five-year stipend and are awarded to individuals who show the potential for innovative advances in the future. Red Star and Herrera are part of a new class of 22 fellows, joining others in fields such as art, writing, science, history, activism, and education. The director of the program, Marlies Carruth, emphasized the rigorous inquiry and purpose-driven work of the 2024 MacArthur Fellows, highlighting their contributions to humanity. This
recognition adds to the list of UCLA alumni and faculty who have received MacArthur Fellowships, underscoring the university's commitment to fostering exceptional talent.
On September 22, University of California President Michael Drake conferred the university system’s most prestigious honor to UCLA alumnus Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, recognizing his exceptional achievements in basketball, cultural and political commentary, and advocacy for human rights and social justice. The evening showcased heartfelt speeches and emphasized Abdul-Jabbar's work on and off the basketball court. Guests expressed admiration for his investment in education and its transformative impact. Abdul-Jabbar expressed gratitude for the award, emphasizing the University of California’s commitment to learning as a means to light the way, not just for its students, but for the country, emphasizing the importance of education in
promoting critical thinking and uncensored learning.
Researchers at UCLA, including distinguished psychology professor Keith Holyoak, are investigating the inner workings of large artificial neural networks, such as ChatGPT, to understand their potential impact on artificial intelligence (AI). Recent studies have shown that AI performs comparably to college students in solving logic problems, raising questions about whether AI is replicating human reasoning or developing entirely new cognitive processes. While recognizing the potential risks posed by AI, Holyoak also sees its benefits. In an upcoming lecture, he is expected to discuss the implications of large language models such as ChatGPT, AI's potential for achieving human intelligence, and the prospect of AI demonstrating
"authentic" creativity and consciousness.
UCLA is part of a $62.5-million grant to study next-generation batteries using water-based chemistry as an alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries. This research, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, aims to develop better energy storage for renewable sources such as solar and wind. The team's focus is on creating safe, affordable, and high-capacity batteries capable of efficiently storing renewable energy. If successful, their work could help integrate more renewable energy into the grid and support the goal of achieving net-zero carbon emission.
Check out the BruinsVote website for important information about the upcoming election. BruinsVote promotes civic learning and democratic engagement through voter registration, voter education, and voter mobilization.
Researchers have for the first time identified degeneration-associated “molecular markers” shared by different types of dementia, offering new insights into the causes and potential treatments for these conditions. The study found changes specific to Alzheimer’s disease and revealed surprising findings in brain cells across different forms of dementia. This work has created a valuable resource for identifying new therapeutic candidates and may inspire further research in this area.
Dr. Roger Lo, a professor at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, has been awarded a $2-million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The grant will support his research into innovative strategies to prevent drug resistance in melanoma treatment and to enhance the effectiveness of therapies. NIH funding is vital for advancing research to address the challenges of drug resistance in melanoma treatment and for developing new strategies to combat this aggressive form of skin cancer.
The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research's California Health Interview Survey recently revealed that differences in race, income, sexual orientation, and gender identity were associated with inequitable health experiences among Californians. The survey also highlighted housing discrimination as a significant issue. This year, the survey included new questions on topics such as gambling, sexual orientation, and unintended pregnancy, providing valuable data to inform advocacy and policy. Additionally, while the overall proportion of individuals reporting serious psychological distress was returning to pre-pandemic levels, disparities among different racial and ethnic groups persisted.
