▁at ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁California , ▁Los ▁Angeles ▁( U CLA ) ▁for ▁ 1 7 ▁years ▁where ▁he ▁was ▁known ▁as ▁an ▁out standing ▁and ▁brilliant ▁teacher . ▁ ▁He ▁believed ▁that ▁the ▁corner stone ▁of ▁teaching ▁science ▁is ▁to ▁present ▁how ▁and ▁why ▁the ▁facts ▁are ▁known ▁to ▁be ▁facts ; ▁and ▁not ▁in ▁the ▁mere ▁presentation ▁of ▁facts ▁that ▁might ▁amaz e , ▁sens ational ize , ▁entertain ▁but ▁not ▁en light en ▁the ▁listener . ▁ ▁Ab ell ▁cha ired ▁the ▁U CLA ▁Astronom y ▁Department ▁for ▁seven ▁years ▁ 1 9 6 8 ▁to ▁ 1 9 7 5 . ▁ ▁He ▁also ▁served ▁on ▁several ▁university ▁comm itte es ▁and ▁comm issions , ▁such ▁as , ▁ ▁Fac ulty ▁Senate ▁ ▁Committee ▁on ▁Park ing ▁and ▁Transport ation ▁( 1 9 5 9 ) ▁ ▁Chair man ▁of ▁the ▁Gr adu ate ▁Council ▁( 1 9 6 4 - 1 9 6 5 ) ▁ ▁Chair man ▁of ▁the ▁Committee ▁on ▁Athletics ▁( 1 9 6 8 - 1 9 6 9 ) ▁ ▁Chair man ▁of ▁the ▁Los ▁Angeles ▁Division ▁( 1 9 7 2 - 1 9 7 3 ) ▁ ▁During ▁the ▁period ▁of ▁student ▁un rest ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 6 0 s ▁Ab ell ▁was ▁an ▁active ▁member ▁and ▁organ izer ▁of ▁the ▁uno fficial ▁Committee ▁for ▁Res p ons ible ▁University ▁Government . ▁ ▁This ▁was ▁due ▁to ▁his ▁belief ▁that ▁fac ulty ▁and ▁administration ▁standards ▁were ▁weak ening ▁as