By Hemesh Patel
Daily Bruin Reporter
For the past 71 years, UCLA and USC have been in a rivalry
involving practical jokes and school spirit.
While many students gladly participate in the competition, some
are concerned that the rivalry can lead to negative energy, hatred
and violence.
Saul Santell, a third-year theater student, was passing by
Westwood Plaza when he came across the Student Alumni
Association’s car smash event, which was part of Beat
‘SC week.
“My main concern was that there were second or
third-graders cheering on the event with every blow of the sledge
hammer,” Santell said.
He said organizers of the event were indifferent to the group of
children.
But Shannon Davis, executive director of the SAA Student Spirit
Committee, which organized the car smash, said it was just part of
the tradition.
“We are a college campus that caters to college community.
I don’t think (Santell) really understands the
rivalry,” she said.
Santell said he approached Davis at the event but his concerns
were not addressed.
“Who knows what the children thought? They may think,
“˜When I get to college it will be cool to smash up
cars,'” he said. “One kid is all it takes to
smash up her car.”
The teacher of the group of children participated in the event,
according to Russel Heskin, adviser for the Student Alumni
Association who saw the car smash as more of a positive
experience.
“I think it promotes Bruin spirit, and pride in our
school. It unites people because everyone loves UCLA and everyone
hates USC to an extent,” he said. “I think as far as
the UCLA population is concerned, everyone has a good time Trojan
bashing.”
Many students agreed that the rivalry in general evokes a sense
of unity.
“This rivalry brings our school together, especially
because we have such a diverse group of people,” said Daren
Schlecter, second-year psychobiology student.
Chair of the Cesar Chavez Center for Chicano and Chicana
Studies, Reynaldo F. Macias, agreed that the rivalry can be healthy
to an extent.
“In general, competition can be healthy, but to the
extreme, it could be very negative, violent and destructive,”
Macias said.
Along with promoting school unity, organizers said the events
have other positive effects.
“The car smashing gets people pumped up, it can serve as a
stress relief for midterms, its a way to get aggression out,”
Heskin said.
Psychology Professor Jacqueline Goodchilds said she
doesn’t recall any instances of violence breaking out in all
the years she has been here.
“A school rivalry usually maintains a placid
approach,” Goodchilds said. “Its always possible to
have something accidentally spill over because emotions are
charged.”
But Santell saw the particular event of the car smash as leading
to potential acts of violence.
“I heard two days after the car smash event, some guys
coming up with schemes and ideas to destroy and vandalize property
(at UCLA) ““ this has nothing to do with winning the
game,” he said.
Other students thought the car smash event was unnecessary.
“I think its stupid and pointless,” said Poonam
Somani, a third-year psychobiology student. “It creates a
wrong type of spirit and builds animosity between the two groups.
There is no reason to destroy property.”
Santell said the rivalry doesn’t have to be so negative.
Events like this week’s blood drive with its theme of
“get the red out,” showed it can be healthy and
positive.
Events such as the car smash, however, can lead to the
“downfall of society,” he said.
In an open letter to the two universities, USC President Steven
Sample and Chancellor Albert Carnesale expressed their concern for
safety with the rivalry occurring this week.
“As with all intense rivalries, emotions are high and
sometimes unfortunate incidents occur on both of our campuses or at
the game itself,” the letter read. “It would be a shame
to mar this event with actions that would spoil the true meaning of
the game.”