[Forwarded by Randol as a followup to his previously distributed open
 letter to the UCLA Regents.  -Dave]

Ostin Hall will become Schoenberg once again
University regrets error, Carnesale says; family glad to see auditorium
re-redesignated

By Timothy Kudo
Daily Bruin Senior Staff

Ostin Hall will be renamed back to Schoenberg Hall, Chancellor Albert
Carnesale announced Thursday.

"It's just the greatest thing," said Randol Schoenberg, grandson of Arnold
Schoenberg, the late composer and UCLA professor who is the building's and
auditorium's namesake.

Controversy arose when UCLA officials decided to rename the auditorium
inside the Schoenberg music building after receiving a $5 million donation
from record producer Mo Ostin and his wife.  The Ostins could not
immediately be reached for comment.

UCLA officials recently renamed the auditorium with the belief that since
the building itself was named after Arnold Schoenberg, the auditorium was
still available for naming.  But both the hall and the building were, in
fact, officially named after the late composer, according to university
documents.

"Regrettably, the decision to rename the auditorium was made based
on incorrect and incomplete information," Carnesale said in a public
statement.

The original decision to rename the auditorium was made after reviewing
related documents, none of which indicated it was named after Arnold
Schoenberg, said Daniel Neuman, dean of the School of Arts and
Architecture, in a past interview.

Yet, after learning that the auditorium had in fact been officially named
after Schoenberg, Neuman said the renaming would have been recommended
anyway, because the entire building was named after Schoenberg.

A similar situation exists with Royce Hall, in which the auditorium and
building carry the same name.  Neuman said in the past that the Royce
auditorium could technically be renamed as well.

Michael Eicher, vice chancellor of external affairs, had defended the
university's decision to rename the building by saying that the naming
was thoroughly reviewed."

In a statement to the Schoenberg family, Carnesale said, "I deeply regret
the errors that occurred internally at UCLA that resulted in the decision
to remove (Schoenberg's) name from the auditorium of the Schoenberg Music
Building."

UCLA officials have yet to determine what to do with the Ostins' donation.

"UCLA is working to find a suitable way to recognize the exceptional
generosity of the Ostins," Robak said.

When the university originally decided to rename the hall, they did so
without notifying Schoenberg's family.  In response, relatives met with
Neuman and Eicher to express their concerns.  They were also planning on
taking their case to the next meeting of the UC Board of Regents.

"The names are the things that go from the past to the present to the
future," said Lawrence Schoenberg, the composer's son.  "The faculty
change, the students change, but UCLA needs to retain the names; these
are the things that last."

Members of the family said they are grateful to whomever made the decision
and do not feel there are bad feelings between them and the university.

"If you really fight for what's right and for what you believe in,
sometimes you can win," Randol Schoenberg said.  "I guess I learned that
from my grandfather."

E. Randol Schoenberg
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http://www.primenet.com/~randols