UC-Santa Barbara is having Oprah Winfrey as its keynote commencement speaker this coming Saturday.* In anticipation of that event, the UC-SB student newspaper - the Daily Nexus - published a satirical letter related to the UC/UCLA practice of redirecting students rejected for admission by UCLA to other campuses:** [Excerpt]
Dear Oprah Winfrey,
After careful consideration of your potential as a commencement speaker, we regret to inform you that we will not be asking you to speak at UCLA’s 2021 commencement. While your files showed evidence of unparalleled business acumen and personal warmth, your high school UC GPA was only 4.10; well below the 4.12 we expect for success at UCLA.
We understand that this message may cause some confusion, as you did not apply for this position. To be clear, the primary purpose of this letter is not to update you about the status of any application, but to inform you that you are not worthy to set foot on our esteemed campus.
With warmest regards, get fucked.
Gary Clark
UCLA Director of Undergraduate Admission
...
When asked if he knew about Winfrey’s recent rejection, Chancellor Henry T. Yang positively beamed. “Yes, we were well aware of the unfortunate news, but we are proud to continue a long-standing Gaucho tradition of embracing UCLA rejects. UCLA may be handsome, charming and funny, but when UCLA rejects you, UCSB will always be a shoulder to cry on — and, with time, maybe something more. My wife Dilling Yang and I are grateful for the rejection and excited for the wisdom that Oprah will impart to the many, many Gauchos that have preceded her.”
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The thing is, Winfrey DID speak at a UCLA graduation this year, that of the new Geffen Academy:***
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*https://chancellor.ucsb.edu/memos/2021-04-23-oprah-winfrey-deliver-keynote-address-2021-commencement
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