The opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities at UCLA are virtually unlimited. Though it is impossible to list all the activities here, the following are just a few of the many ways you can get involved in campus life and expand your horizons beyond classroom learning.
In addition to its Services and Enterprises division, which is responsible for the services described above, ASUCLA includes the Undergraduate Students Association, the Graduate Students Association, and the Communications Board, which publishes the Daily Bruin and other campus student publications. Governed by a student-majority Board of Directors, ASUCLA operates and manages Ackerman Union, Kerckhoff Hall, North Campus Student Center, and Lu Valle Commons.
Many facets of student life at UCLA are sponsored or organized in some way by student government. Getting involved in the decision-making process can be extremely rewarding and can offer avenues of expression you may not find in other aspects of your university experience.
Undergraduate Student Government -- The Undergraduate Students Association (USA), with offices in Kerckhoff Hall (310-825-7068), is governed by the Undergraduate Students Association Council. USAC administers the association's operating budget through a network of six officers (president, internal vice president, external vice president, three general representatives) and seven student commissions (Academic Affairs, Campus Events, Community Service, Cultural Affairs, Facilities, Financial Supports, and Student Welfare).
Many student government programs benefit both campus and community. The Community Service Commission (310-825-2333) serves Los Angeles through more than 20 programs such as Amigos del Barrio, offering academic and emotional support for Latina/Latino students; the UCLA Prison Coalition, providing tutoring for inmates of juvenile correctional institutions; and the UCLA Special Olympics, to name just a few. More than 2,500 students offer their services on a volunteer basis.
Student government also supports approximately 20 student advocacy groups on campus, such as the African Student Union, American Indian Students Association, Asian Pacific Coalition, Gay and Lesbian Association, International Students Association, MEChA, UCLA Jewish Student Union, Samahang Pilipino, and the Union of Students with Disabilities.
The Campus Events Commission (CEC, 310-825-1958) and the Cultural Affairs Commission (CAC, 310-825-6564) provide the campus with free and low-cost cultural and entertainment programming, as well as opportunities for student involvement. CEC is responsible for the Speakers and Concert Programs, the Ackerman Film Program, and Mardi Gras. CAC sponsors WorldFest, a celebration of campus diversity, and the Jazz/Reggae Festival.
The ASUCLA Library (304D Kerckhoff Hall, 310-206-7997; email: library@asucla.ucla.edu) houses materials related to students and campus governance and aims to enhance understanding among students about University issues and to increase student involvement within the UCLA community.
Graduate Student Government -- The Graduate Students Association is the official organization representing the interests of UCLA graduate students in academic, administrative, campus, and statewide areas. GSA appoints or elects graduate student members to important campus organizations and committees, including the ASUCLA Board of Directors and the Student Fee Advisory Committee, as well as to departmental student organizations and committees of the Academic Senate. In addition, GSA sponsors various graduate student journals, programs, and social events, including Melnitz Movies (UCLA student film program). GSA also maintains an electronic mail listserver for graduate student government bulletins, agendas, and general graduate student information. The GSA Office is located in 301 Kerckhoff Hall (310-206-8512; email: gsa@asucla.ucla.edu).
Joining a club or organization is a wonderful way to become involved on campus. UCLA currently has about 600 different registered organizations -- more than you will find on almost any other university campus in the country. Political, recreational, community service, cultural, academic, religious, and residential clubs can be found at UCLA. And it only takes three people to start your own if you can't find one that suits your interests.
Clubs focusing on sports and recreation are listed in the Department of Cultural and Recreational Affairs, located in the Wooden Center (310-825-3701). For a full listing of registered organizations, contact the Center for Student Programming (CSP), 337 Plaza Building (310-825-7041). This office can help you start a club or join an existing one, and serves as the official registry for all campus organizations. CSP assists students with program and leadership development and fund-raising, interprets and enforces University rules and regulations, and administers official and general purpose bulletin boards on campus.
All student organizations are eligible to use the services of Student Event Management (SEM), located in 337 Plaza Building (310-825-6690). SEM offers technical and logistical consulting for student events, including cost estimates and event management.
Complaints of misconduct against officially recognized student organizations may be made at the Center for Student Programming (337 Plaza Building), Student and Campus Life (1104 Murphy Hall), or the Office of the Dean Students (1206 Murphy Hall).
The 45 Greek letter social organizations and their four governing councils -- Asian Greek Council (AGC, 310-206-1285), Interfraternity Council (IFC, 310-825-7878), National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC, 310-206-1868), and Panhellenic Council (PHC, 310-206-5499) -- are sponsored by a component of the Center for Student Programming -- Fraternity and Sorority Relations (FSR), 118 Men's Gym (310-825-6322).
Greek letter social organizations registered and officially recognized by FSR are eligible to participate in programs such as the Greek Leadership Conference, Membership Recruitment, Greek Week, New Member Forums, Dating Expectations Programs, intramural tournaments, and all University-sponsored programs. Individual student members of IFC and Panhellenic Council are eligible for scholarships offered by the Intersorority Mothers' Club, Los Angeles Alumnae Panhellenic, and their own governing councils. The FSR staff assists organizations in campus and community programming, fund raising, membership recruitment and development, training, and philanthropic activity.
FSR is also a designated campus Harassment Information Center available to all UCLA students (see Harassment in the Appendix for more information).
Fraternities and sororities provide the security of friendship and academic support while encouraging personal development and expansion. Members have group and individual responsibilities related to their particular interests and talents, and all take part in the group's programs and support networks. "Greeks" follow their founding principles of service, scholarship, and friendship. There is a place for anyone who will contribute to a group experience, and the cost to live in a chapter house is no more than living in a campus residence hall, although many members "live out" (not all chapters have houses). More than 3,000 UCLA students participate in "Greek life."
UCLA's annual Mardi Gras is the world's largest student-operated collegiate activity. Each Spring Quarter more than 5,000 Bruins from all types of campus organizations help to prepare and present this carnival. Students design and operate more than 70 booths featuring games, food, and live entertainment. There are celebrity judges, carnival rides, clowns, balloons, fireworks, and much more. Mardi Gras is open to the campus community on Friday evening; the public is invited on Saturday and Sunday.
The event generates about $50,000 annually for UCLA's official charity, UniCamp, a summer camp for underprivileged Los Angeles children. For more information, contact the Mardi Gras Committee in 346 Plaza Building (310-825-8001) or the Campus Events Commission in 300A Kerckhoff Hall (310-825-1958).
The Speakers Program, now over 25 years old, brings the world's foremost entertainers, politicians, and literary figures to campus. It also presents two annual awards programs -- the Jack Benny Award for comedic excellence and the Spencer Tracy Award for outstanding screen performance. Speakers and awardees have included Johnny Carson, David Letterman, Whoopie Goldberg, John Cleese, Robin Williams, Jessica Lange, James Stewart, Spike Lee, William Hurt, Patricia Schroeder, Jesse Jackson, Matt Groening, Studs Terkel, Shimon Peres, Walter Cronkite, Dustin Hoffman, Candice Bergen, Tom Hanks, and Denzel Washington.
The Concert Program brings new and name performing artists like the Talking Heads, Guns N' Roses, 10,000 Maniacs, Public Enemy, and Hammer to UCLA for free and affordably priced concerts at noon in Westwood Plaza and at night in the Cooperage and Ackerman Grand Ballroom.
UCLA's publications and broadcast media, operated by the ASUCLA Communications Board, provide excellent training ground for aspiring writers, journalists, photographers, and radio announcers while serving the communication needs of the campus community. The following are the major student-operated sources of information on campus:
The Daily Bruin, with a circulation of 20,000, is one of the largest daily newspapers in Los Angeles. As the principal outlet for campus news, the Bruin is published each weekday of the regular academic year (once a week during the summer) and is distributed free from kiosks around campus and in Westwood and Brentwood. Students work as reporters, editors, designers, photographers, and advertising sales representatives; new staff members are always welcome. Bruin offices are located in the Alumni Lounge (225 Kerckhoff Hall, 310-825-9898).
Seven newsmagazines reflecting the diversity of the campus community are published twice each term. Al-Talib is a publication devoted to Muslim issues; Ha'Am deals with Jewish issues; La Gente treats Chicano, Latino, and Native American issues; Nommo explores African issues; Pacific Ties is devoted to Asian issues; TenPercent covers gay, lesbian, and bisexual issues; and Together reports on women's issues. Each includes news and features on political and cultural affairs both on and off campus. Prospective staffers are welcome. The offices of these newsmagazines are located in 210 Kerckhoff Hall.
The UCLA yearbook, BruinLife, is one of the largest student publication efforts on campus. Available each spring, it contains photographs and information on undergraduate students, graduating seniors, athletic teams, fraternities and sororities, and campus activities. A separate publication, the Freshman Record, is produced for new UCLA students. If you would like to participate, contact the yearbook staff in 212K Kerckhoff Hall (310-825-2640).
Like many other large universities, UCLA has its own radio station. KLA Radio provides music, news, public service programming, and sports coverage during the academic year. The carrier current signal is sent to the residence halls and parts of Ackerman Union and Kerckhoff Hall on 530 AM and to many parts of the Los Angeles area on 99.9 Century Cable FM. The studios are located at the rear of the Grand Ballroom in 2400A Ackerman Union (310-825-9107; request line: 310-825-9999). All positions, including on-air, news staff, and advertising representatives, are open to students.
UCLA offers a rich variety of concerts, dance recitals, and theater productions as an integral part of University life. A full calendar of exceptional programs by the Music, Ethnomusicology and Systematic Musicology, and World Arts and Cultures Departments of the School of the Arts and Architecture and the Theater and Film and Television Departments of the School of Theater, Film, and Television provides opportunities for student involvement and personal growth.
The Music Department offers more than 15 performance organizations. Instrumentalists are invited to play with one of seven different bands and orchestras. Campus choral organizations include the UCLA Chorale, Chamber Singers, Women's Chorus, Men's Glee Club, and the Collegiate Chorus which, with 120 members, is the largest of the groups.
The Ethnomusicology and Systematic Musicology Department provides students with the opportunity to perform in various non-Western and ethnic groups.
The World Arts and Cultures Department presents afternoon and evening modern dance concerts and demonstrations both on and off campus, and folk and ethnic performing groups meet regularly. Students concentrating in dance have the opportunity to design and choreograph as well as perform.
Each year the Theater Department presents a series of major productions to the general public, and the Film and Television Department produces approximately 100 student-directed films and 50 television programs. Professionals appearing on campus frequently visit classes to share their skills, and many have established awards and scholarships in the performing arts at UCLA.
Since its founding in 1936, the UCLA Center for the Performing Arts has served as the premier West Coast showcase for world-class performers and innovative new work in dance, music, theater, and performance art. The center stages more than 250 public concerts and events each year, often sponsoring debut performances of new works by major artists. Through the center, UCLA hosts a varied and active performance program, ranging from regular concerts by the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra to special appearances by Luciano Pavarotti, Marcel Marceau, Isaac Stern, performance artist Karen Finley, Kathleen Battle, Bella Lewitzky Dance, and Branford Marsalis. Discount tickets for students, faculty, and staff are available to all events.
Athletics play a major role in the University's mission to provide a well-rounded education both in and out of the classroom. UCLA continues to live up to its reputation as a national leader in intercollegiate sports. In 1994-95 the UCLA athletic programs (men and women) placed third in the Sears Directors Cup national all-around excellence survey. In the 23-year history of the former USA Today survey, the men's program placed first 11 times, while the women's program placed first five times in the past nine years. UCLA is the only university in the country to win five National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men's and women's championships in a single year (1981-82).
UCLA is a member of the Pacific-10 Conference, which includes Arizona State University; University of Arizona; University of California, Berkeley; Stanford University; University of Southern California; University of Oregon; Oregon State University; Washington State University; and the University of Washington. UCLA teams have won an overall total of 58 NCAA men's championships -- second highest in the nation -- including 15 in tennis, 15 in volleyball, 11 in basketball, eight in track and field, and one in soccer. You can participate on the varsity level in football, basketball, track, baseball, tennis, volleyball, water polo, golf, soccer, and cross-country. For more information, contact the Athletic Office at (310) 825-8699.
With 11 different varsity sports, the UCLA women's program is one of the most extensive in the country, and UCLA has played an important role in establishing women's sports as part of the NCAA. Women's teams have won an overall total of 14 NCAA titles -- third highest in the nation -- including eight in softball, two in track and field, three in volleyball, and one in golf. Other nationally ranked teams are those in basketball, swimming, tennis, cross-country, soccer, gymnastics, and water polo. For more information, contact the Athletic Office at (310) 825-8699.
UCLA's major indoor arena is the famed Pauley Pavilion, which seats 12,800 for UCLA basketball, volleyball, and gymnastics events. It was the site of the 1984 Summer Olympics gymnastics competition. Immediately adjacent, Drake Stadium is the home of UCLA track and field competitions and site of many outdoor events, including the U.S. Olympic Festival '91. The Los Angeles Tennis Center, a 5,800-seat outdoor tennis stadium and clubhouse, was the site of the 1984 Olympic tennis competition. Easton Softball Stadium, which seats 1,050, is the home of the championship women's softball team. The Morgan Intercollegiate Athletics Center houses the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame. Off-campus facilities include Robinson Stadium for varsity baseball and the renowned Rose Bowl in Pasadena, home of the UCLA football team.
UCLA offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities to meet the needs of the campus community. The Department of Cultural and Recreational Affairs (CRA), 2131 Wooden Center (310-825-3701), serves as the administrative center for the coordination of programming, facilities, and equipment and supervision of campus recreational activities and services.
The Intramural Sports Program consists of team, dual, and individual sports competition in tournament or league play. More than 40 activities, ranging from basketball and badminton to volleyball and water polo, are offered in men's, women's, and coed divisions. Varying skill levels are available in almost all activities, and the emphasis is on friendly competition. In order to maintain the quality of service to Intramural Sports participants, nominal individual and team entry fees have been established. The Club Sports Program offers you the chance to organize, coach, or participate in sports that fall beyond the scope of intramurals but are not offered at the varsity level. Annually over 18 club teams participate in a competitive schedule of league and tournament play with other college, university, and local area teams. Recognized teams exist in ice hockey, men's and women's rugby and lacrosse, cycling, martial arts, rowing, waterskiing, sailing, snow skiing, and surfing.
Students with special interests in activities that are primarily instructional or social in nature have the opportunity to pursue their interests through clubs such as amateur radio, chess, snow skiing, and martial arts.
A broad range of noncredit recreation classes is available in aquatics, dance, fine arts, martial arts, outdoor studies, tennis, and sports skills. Most classes are designed for beginning and intermediate skill levels. Private lessons in tennis, fitness activities, swimming, racquetball, and golf are also available. You can also participate in cultural events through art exhibitions, the poetry reading program, museum tours, and theater in Los Angeles outings.
Fitness is offered either as a recreation class or on a drop-in basis. A Fitness Pass must be purchased ($25 for a four-quarter pass; $10 for a one-quarter pass) to participate in drop-in fitness classes.
Youth and Family Programs (formerly Bruin Kids) is an exciting schedule of year-round activities for children 18 months to 17 years is offered. Summer programs include Bruin Kids Day Camp (ages 5 to 12), Camp Explore (ages 12 to 14), UCLA Summer Programs for High School Students, group and private lessons, and special events. Year-round classes are also offered on Saturday mornings. Activities combine play with skill development and deepen the fun in learning.
A popular attraction of CRA is the opportunity for independent recreation and exercise. UCLA students with appropriate identification have several major facilities in which to practice and play. The Wooden Recreation and Sports Center is a comprehensive student activities building with multiple gymnasia, 10 racquetball/handball courts, two squash courts, a weight training facility, exercise/dance and martial arts rooms, and a games lounge. The Sunset Canyon Recreation Center offers year-round activities in an outdoor park setting and features a 50-meter swimming pool, 25-yard family pool, picnic/barbecue areas, multipurpose play fields, an outdoor amphitheater, 10 lighted tennis courts, and various meeting rooms and lounges. The UCLA Marina Aquatic Center in Marina del Rey offers sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing, and rowing classes and activities, as well as the opportunity to sail, kayak, canoe, or row on your own. The competitive sailing and rowing club teams are administered through the center. Students also have the use of Pauley Pavilion, Drake Stadium, Sycamore Tennis Courts, Los Angeles Tennis Center, Intramural Fields, Men's Gym, and Dance Building for recreational sports and activities.