New UC President Greets Students Via Internet

The advertisement in the college newspapers promised University of California students an experience “as real as it gets”--a real-time, on-line computer conversation with new UC President Richard C. Atkinson.

“Ask questions,” the ad said, “and get answers right from the top.”

On Wednesday night, for about 60 minutes, dozens attempted to do just that, signing on to the World Wide Web and querying Atkinson on everything from affirmative action to O.J. Simpson.

They didn’t all get answers. But most of those who participated--among them students from seven of the nine UC campuses as well as at least one Stanford student--seemed pleased that the 66-year-old administrator had dared to tread into the realm of cyberspace.

A UCLA student named Steve thanked Atkinson, saying, “It’s the first time I’ve ever had direct communication with a UC president!” Thuon, a UC Berkeley senior, agreed: “You certainly didn’t have to do this. I applaud you.”

The on-line chat was one of several activities Atkinson scheduled this week to introduce himself to the various constituencies of UC. During his first three days as president, Atkinson has met with UC chancellors and administrative staff, reporters and editorial writers. He has sent letters to the Board of Regents and will meet tonight with business leaders in the Silicon Valley.

On Wednesday, it was the students’ turn, and Atkinson gamely began the computerized conversation with a cheerful, “Let’s chat!”

Within moments, he fielded a query about student fees. Were they going up? Before Atkinson could respond (with a reassurance that while a 10% hike was expected next year, he would work to keep UC affordable), several more questions popped up.

What were his views on student activism? What about cutbacks in student services? Would the UC Board of Regents’ recent decision to prohibit the consideration of race in UC’s admissions decisions make the system less diverse?

“To many, affirmative action IS dead despite what [UC Regent Ward] Connerly will have everyone believe,” wrote someone named Roy.

Then came Chris at UCLA: “Do you feel that there will be any backlash among white students because of the O.J. Simpson verdict?”

Atkinson, who was aided by a typist who entered his responses, steered clear of Simpson. But on education-related topics, he seemed to be answering as fast as he could.

Affirmative action is not dead at UC, he said, explaining that several task forces had been formed to find ways to preserve a diverse student body despite the new restrictions.

Asked if he was aware of planned campus protests next week, Atkinson said he was, and that he hoped “the activities will prove to be constructive . . . and make the public aware [of] the importance of diversity on the campuses.”

Was he planning to participate in a planned walkout on the day of the protests, one student asked him? Atkinson replied simply, “No.”

Atkinson himself put one question to the students, asking whether they liked the idea of getting academic credit to volunteer in the public schools. He received an enthusiastic response.

“I think it would be great to . . . [be] united with, not apart from the communities we live in,” said one student.

There were moments of levity. When a UC Berkeley student asked Atkinson if he planned on further computerizing the UC system, Atkinson replied, “The answer is probably yes. But I must admit that I am already exhausted!!!”

Someone at UCLA offered these words of encouragement, “Mr. Atkinson--After a while, you get used to it.”

This was the first on-line chat attempted between UC administrators and students, and at times there were glitches. The system moved slowly and when the hour was up, Atkinson suddenly was gone.

“Are we through chatting?” someone identified only as Tolstoy inquired.

“I think Atkinson has left the building . . . No goodbye’s?” asked someone from UC San Diego.

Nearly half an hour later, after a reporter contacted the UC headquarters, Atkinson’s final communique finally appeared, having apparently been lost in the earlier transmission. The new UC leader said he had enjoyed the “experiment” and was willing to have more such chats in the future.

“I’m sure I’ll wake up in the middle of the night and think of something I should have said but didn’t,” he wrote. “You are students of the finest university in the world. Good night and study hard.”