Bruins on the Ballot
From the U.S. Senate to local school boards, many Bruins are seeking office in this week’s general election. The UCLA Alumni Association has compiled a list of alumni who will be on ballots from New York to California. Although this is not an endorsement of any candidate or political party, it is a call for everyone to make their voices heard and VOTE!
UCLA compiled essential tips, resources, and event information to keep the community informed and engaged through the 2024 election. Initiatives such as Dialogue across Difference
led by Professor David Myers and Maia Ferdman, encourage individuals to engage in constructive political discussions about the candidates and ideas in this election. To help you understand your ballot, UCLA recently provided expert, nonpartisan explanations of local and state ballet measures as well as a forum series
on the Electoral College, public confidence in results, and foreign interference. For more resources, explore UCLA’s
Elections 2024 website, which features research and commentary on key issues.
For those looking to vote on campus or near campus, UCLA is hosting multiple vote centers and invites the community to participate in election-related events. These include a watch party on November 5 and a post-election reflection event on November 6, creating a supportive environment during this important electoral period.
As Election Day nears, Angelenos prepare to vote on important ballot measures. To shed some light on these issues, UCLA recently held a civic engagement event featuring UCLA Luskin experts Michael Lens, Gary Segura, and Zev Yaroslavsky to discuss LA County Measure G on government accountability Measure A on homelessness and affordable housing, a the City of LA Charter Amendment DD to create an independent redistricting commission. Former state senator Dean Florez and housing affordability researcher Shane Phillips from UCLA’s Lewis Center, participated in an earlier discussion on state propositions related to rent control and drug trafficking penalties. You can watch these briefings here.
UCLA recently received the designation of an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI), joining over 200 institutions nationwide. Seventeen years ago, Congress established this designation to help institutions with enrollments of at least 10% Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) undergraduate students. UCLA’s AANHPI student population is over 35%. The university is now eligible to access federal resources to address the unique challenges of this student population. This funding will help UCLA enhance research, develop programs, and improve student services, especially for low-income and first-generation college students. Interim Chancellor Darnell Hunt and Vice Provost David Yoo, who chaired the AANAPISI
advisory committee, emphasize that this designation supports UCLA's strategic vision of creating a welcoming ecosystem for AANHPI students and their communities.
V. Kelly Turner, associate director of the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation (LCI), participated in the first-ever White House Summit on Extreme Heat. The summit gathered more than 100 professionals, including heat-vulnerable workers and emergency responders, to explore how the federal government can support local heat action. Turner highlighted the growing coalition of dedicated professionals tackling heat dangers and emphasized the urgent need for resources. Presentations revealed challenges in funding and highlighted there is no clear federal agency responsible for addressing extreme heat, which complicates community preparedness. To address this gap, LCI received a federal grant to launch the Center of Excellence for Heat Resilient Communities, which actively engages in
community heat planning and collects data to inform equitable heat policies and solutions.
UCLA Samueli School of Engineering has launched the Center for Education of Microchip Designers (CEMiD) with $11.5 million in funding from the National Semiconductor Technology Center, under the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act. This initiative directly addresses workforce challenges in the U.S. semiconductor industry by providing comprehensive training in analog and digital chip design to students and engineers. Professor Behzad Razavi leads the center, which collaborates with several universities to create a skilled talent pool and fosters industry connections to support a sustainable workforce in the microchip sector.
According to a study by UCLA's Institute for Democracy, Education and Access, districts across the United States allocated an estimated $3.2 billion in 2023–24 to address conflicts related to culturally divisive topics, such as book bans and discussions on race and LGBTQ issues. The survey of 467 public school superintendents found that nearly 66% of districts faced moderate to high levels of conflict, which often led to harassment, misinformation, vandalism, and threats. These issues drained financial resources for security, legal work, and staff redeployments, harming the well-being of educators and students and resulting in increased turnover and absenteeism.
The evolving Latino vote and its political implications
The Latino vote, historically a cornerstone for Democrats, is shifting as more Latinos gravitate toward the right, a trend highlighted in Paola Ramos' book "Defectors: The Rise of the Latino Far Right and What It Means for America." During a recent UCLA event hosted by the Latino Policy and Politics Institute, Ramos discussed the effects of disillusionment with the Democratic Party and a strategic Republican focus on immigration. Research shows that in 2020, as many as one in four Latinos voted for Donald Trump for president in several key states, a significant increase from 2016. Ramos argues that the shift reflects deep-seated emotions tied to identity and historical experiences, making it essential for both political parties to engage with Latino voters in a more nuanced
manner.
UCLA Health and distinguished guests, including Chancellor-designate Julio Frenk, his wife Dr. Felicia Knaul, State Assemblymember Jackie Irwin, State Senator Ben Allen, and L.A. Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Rape Treatment Center and Stuart House on October 27. Both programs serve the needs of survivors of sexual abuse and their families and have gained international recognition for their exceptional services. Victims can access specialized emergency medical care, forensic services, counseling, advocacy, and information about their rights and options. These services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at no cost.
Adolescence is a dynamic period during which young people are influenced by their surroundings while simultaneously shaping those environments as they grow. This interconnectedness provides a significant opportunity for policymakers, community leaders, and youth organizations to support adolescent development effectively. The UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescent recently introduced a tool known as STEPS for Youth (Science to Enhance Policy Success for Youth) to help stakeholders assess and enhance their understanding of adolescent needs based on ongoing research.
Discover how UCLA's students, staff, and faculty are enhancing the well-being of Greater Los Angeles through UCLA Community Partnerships.
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
UCLA Center X has grown into a community of more than 100 educators working across multiple programs to transform public schooling to create a more just, equitable, and humane society.
