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Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Now You See It...

We previously posted about the recent lawsuit filed against the UCLA hotel project based on the university's failure to pay taxes on its various existing hotel facilities, although non-UCLA usage is allowed.  Above, for example, is a screenshot of what yours truly found on the website of the UCLA Lake Arrowhead facility this morning [click on the image to enlarge]:
http://www.lakearrowheadmeetings.com/contact/index.cfm

The text reads:
WHO CAN MEET AT THE UCLA LAKE ARROWHEAD CONFERENCE CENTER?
Groups that meet at the Conference Center include Universities, Schools, Government Agencies, Hospitals, Private Companies, and Boards from all types of organizations and institutions.  A Learning Purpose is required to meet at the UCLA Lake Arrowhead Conference Center.

Note that a "learning purpose" would include just about any corporate retreat.

The only restriction is listed later on the same page:

DO YOU BOOK WEDDINGS OR OTHER PRIVATE EVENTS?
The UCLA Lake Arrowhead Conference Center is primarily for conferences only.  The Conference Center does not book weddings, receptions, graduations, etc. 
Even neglecting the qualifying word "primarily," the limit does not relate to university affiliation.  Presumably, a UCLA faculty member's wedding would be barred by this restriction.

One of the exhibits provided in the lawsuit is a brochure from the Arrowhead website that explicitly said that no university affiliation was required to rent the facility.  That language was apparently removed after the filing of the lawsuit but you can read it at the link below. If it is really UCLA's position that there is no problem with the manner in which it runs its hotels, why remove that language?  Why is it, now-you-see-it, now-you-don't?  Just asking!

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