Patricia Gándara said given LA’s large Latino population, it is distressing that UCLA has not yet become an HSI. “Los Angeles (has) the second-largest Latino or Mexican-origin population in the world, after Mexico City,” Gándara said. “(The Latino community is) obviously a very large and important part of the population area that UCLA serves.”

Second-year public affairs student Hector De Leon said the Hispanic community at UCLA must be part of the decision-making process.“There have to be Hispanic people from all parts of the community because the Hispanic community is largely diverse,” De Leon said. “There have to be people at the decision-making table … not just the administration that picks and chooses where the money goes to.”