Whodunit? Maybe it was Igor!

Yesterday, we posted about the chancellor's deflection by focusing on pursuit of the thugs who attacked the encampment rather than pursuing the Big Questions surrounding the responsibility for allowing a situation to get progressively out of hand over a period of a week, leading to an explosive conclusion.* In effect, the story becomes a whodunit rather than who was responsible for it. 

But you've got to give the PR folks credit. Deflections, diversions, sleights-of-hand often do work. For example, the LA Times is now breathlessly focused on the use of the latest technology to find the culprits. Images are being scanned!! Social media posts are being scrutinized!! Videos are being watched!! License plates are being read!!

It is shaping up to be perhaps the biggest case in the history of the UCLA Police Department: how to identify dozens of people who attacked a pro-Palestinian camp at the center of campus last week. The mob violence was captured on live television, but it took three hours for police to bring it to an end. Those involved left, and no arrests were made. [Underline added.]

But the trail is not cold.

UCLA detectives are now scanning hundreds of images in an attempt to identify the attackers. They intend to use technology that captures facial images and compares them to other photos on the internet and social media to put names to faces, according to law enforcement sources. The same technology has allowed police to identify suspects in smash-and-grab retail burglaries. It also was the heart of the Jan. 6 investigation, in which videos of those storming the U.S. Capitol helped the FBI identify many of the assailants and led federal prosecutors to charge more than 1,300 people. In those cases, investigators often were able to find social media images of the assailant wearing the same clothing as during the attack.

“Technology has made the entire community into the eyes of law enforcement,” said retired Los Angeles police Capt. Paul Vernon, who led an effort after a mini-riot following the Lakers’ NBA championship victory in 2010 that resulted in dozens of arrests based on videos, social media posts and security footage. “Photo recognition has gotten a lot easier.”

Vernon said an investigator also could gather cellphone data from the immediate area to prove an individual was there at the time of the incident. In some cases, assailants may have posted to their social media accounts, essentially bragging about their actions. Officers wearing body cameras may have also captured some of the behavior, he said. The attackers likely came in vehicles, so UCLA police will be examining data from license plate readers for movements near campus on May 1. Security cameras on streets neighboring the campus where they likely parked could yield more clues...

Full story at https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-05-07/ucla-police-use-high-tech-tactics-to-find-masked-mob-who-attacked-encampment.

Yours truly is reminded of the 1950s TV police drama "Dragnet" in which Sargeant Friday of the LAPD always got his man. (Younger folks can Google it or find old Dragnets on YouTube.) 

Or maybe it is like Cold War dramas in which the FBI relentlessly pursues Soviet agents using the latest technology:

Or direct to https://ia601509.us.archive.org/28/items/sacramento-city-at-risk/Finding%20Igor%20%28FBI%20purses%20Soviet%20spies%20in%20post-WW2%20Cold%20War-atomic%20era%29.mp4.

Igor sure isn't going to get far with these tech-savvy guys on his trail! 

Maybe the fact that the LA Times is fixated on finding the bat-wielding culprits isn't surprising. As they say, it sells newspapers. But yours truly is disappointed that the Academic Senate seemingly has focused on last Tuesday's thugs rather asking the many other questions that need answers:

https://senate.ucla.edu/news/message-academic-senate-leadership.

The Senate can do better.

===

*https://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2024/05/questions-and-deflections.html.

From Moore to More

Yesterday, a series of Bruin Alerts were sent out, first saying classes in Moore Hall should go to remote instruction due to a disturbance, then saying the directive to go to remote instruction would apply to the rest of the campus as well through Friday. From the LA Times:

Heightened and quick-moving police actions against protesters unfolded Monday at UCLA and other campuses, as university officials said there would be little tolerance for demonstrators who disrupted campus and violated laws and student conduct codes in the wake of last week’s violence and tensions at pro-Palestinian encampments.

At UCLA on Monday, campus police arrested 44 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in a parking structure — actions students called harassment and intimidation — as they assembled before a peaceful protest. Other protesters were ordered to disperse when they entered a campus building. Classes were moved online for the rest of the week as a security precaution.

The action came after UCLA officials vowed to improve security after a violent mob last week attacked a pro-Palestinian encampment that was later torn down by law enforcement. The UCLA police chief has come under intense criticism for the violence and failure to bring in police fast enough to quell the melee...

Initially, an unidentified UCLA police officer told some reporters and observers that those detained were being held for delaying an investigation when asked for identification to look into a possible curfew violation, according to a video posted on social media platform X from a KNX News reporter. Hours later, however, a UCLA police lieutenant told the Daily Bruin that the 43 individuals were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary. One student called this allegation false. The student shared a text sent Sunday about a low-key “sit-in style building occupation” with the rendezvous point at 6 a.m. Monday in the parking structure.

The LAPD and the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, both at the scene, declined to comment on the incident, saying UCLA’s Police Department is the lead agency. The Sheriff’s Department “is only involved in transporting,” said agency spokesperson Deputy Grace Medrano. UCLA officials did not respond to multiple questions about the nature of the arrests. Those who were arrested Monday, who all appeared zip-tied, were escorted from the parking garage to an L.A. County Sheriff’s Department bus...

Full story at https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-05-06/dozens-detained-at-ucla-early-monday.

Questions and Deflections

Blog readers will probably have seen the latest statement from the chancellor since the encampment was cleared - and now the campus is back to remote instruction for this week. The statement is reproduced below in case not. However, it is somewhat of a deflection at this point. The focus of the statement is entirely on identifying the thugs who came on campus a week ago and identifying them. But here's the thing: After a very prolonged delay, the police did intervene. Presumably, in such a situation - an encounter with men with bats - there would be arrests. And when someone is arrested, you find out quickly who they are. So, how can it be that a week later we are still talkiing about identifying them? It can only mean that there were no arrests. How is that even possible?

Moreover, the events of last Tuesday did not occur in a vacuum. There was a growing perception that things were out of control at UCLA, that confrontations would occur without consequences, and that there would be no interventions. Social media and conventional TV amplified that impression. So, as our previous posts have noted, we have a management reshuffle, we have a couple of officials thrown under the bus, but no apology for letting things get to that point.

And, by the way, if you are looking for culprits to identify, how about whoever did this (also on last Tuesday)? No statement about that attack has come from the chancellor. Why? Perhaps at least an apology to Eleanor is a week overdue.

Or direct to https://ia600307.us.archive.org/9/items/newsom-4-3-24-snow-survey/UCLA%20-%20Jewish%20student%20attacked%20at%20counterprotest%204-28-24%20interviewed%205-4-24.mp4.

And finally, there is that upcoming congressional hearing coming up. You know, the one at which the is-it-ok-to-call-for-Genocide question has been asked of previous university heads. Perhaps the chancellor, in prepping for that question, might consider a related question. Is it ok for the head of the USAC Cultural Affairs Commission - which is supported by student fees - to do so? See below:

Or direct to https://ia800307.us.archive.org/9/items/newsom-4-3-24-snow-survey/UCLA%20USAC%20Cultural%20Affairs%20TV%20statement%20at%20encampment.mp4.

We look forward to future statements from the chancellor. But here is the latest one:

May 6, 2024

Investigation into Tuesday, April 30 Attack on our Campus

Chancellor Block shared the following message with the UCLA campus community.

Dear Bruin Community:

Last Tuesday night, a group of instigators came to Royce Quad and violently attacked students, faculty and staff members who were encamped to advocate for Palestinian rights. This was a truly despicable act, and in my message to the campus the following day, I committed to finding those responsible and bringing them to justice.

This remains an important priority. To that end, inaugural Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Safety Officer Rick Braziel is leading a law enforcement investigation to identify the perpetrators of the violence and hold them to account. The LAPD has committed a detective to assist in our investigative efforts, and we have also connected with the FBI about possible assistance. We have spoken to Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón to solicit his help in ensuring that the instigators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

 

AVC Braziel and I have directed UCPD to invest whatever resources are needed to conduct a rapid and thorough investigation into the violent attack. UCPD is currently reviewing all available footage from last Tuesday night and speaking to witnesses who were present. We urge anyone who saw the violence firsthand or who has information about the attack to report it as soon as possible.

  

Our new Office of Campus Safety — under AVC Braziel’s leadership — is also conducting a careful review of UCPD’s response to the Tuesday night attack. In addition, we are conducting an analysis of UCLA’s security protocols and a broader assessment of all acts of violence over the last 12 days, including those against counter-protestors. AVC Braziel’s office will create a plan that puts in place key learnings and additional means of protecting the well-being of everyone on our campus.

Holding the instigators of this attack accountable and enhancing our campus safety operations are both critical. Our community members can only learn, work and thrive in an environment where they feel secure.

 

Sincerely,

Gene D. Block

Chancellor

Source: https://chancellor.ucla.edu/messages/investigation-into-tuesday-april-30-attack-on-our-campus/.

Wondering who got kicked under the bus on Sunday?

If you read yesterday's post on the blame game, you probably already know.* But in case you need guidance, we provide the handy chart above.

====

*https://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2024/05/the-blame-game-begins.html.

Reports of Disturbance at Moore Hall and Elsewhere

There are reports of disturbances at Moore Hall and possibly Dodd Hall.

A BruinAlert indicated classes in Moore would go back to remote instruction. 

A second alert indicated ALL classes would go back to remote instruction. 

Police are reported to be involved.

The Blame Game Begins

So the fault for recent events is the UCLA police chief's, or is UCLA "leadership's," or is UC's safety plan's, or is the overtime payroll system's. At least, those are the choiced listed in an LA Times article, that includes information from "three sources who were not authorized to speak publicly."

The UCLA police chief is facing growing scrutiny for what three sources told The Times was a string of serious security lapses before a mob attacked a pro-Palestinian student encampment this week. But the chief, John Thomas, late Friday rejected those allegations and said he did “everything I could” to provide security and keep students safe during a week of strife that left UCLA reeling.

On the morning before Tuesday night’s attack on the encampment, Thomas assured university leadership that he could mobilize law enforcement “in minutes,” acccording to the sources. It took three hours to actually bring in enough officers to quell the violence. Days earlier, campus leadership had directed Thomas to create a safety plan that would protect the UCLA community after the encampment was put up last week and began drawing agitators, the sources said. The chief was told to spare no expense to bring in other UC police officers, offer overtime and hire as many private security officers needed to keep the peace.

But Thomas did not provide a plan to senior UCLA leadership — even after he was again asked to provide one after skirmishes broke out between Israel supporters and pro-Palestinian advocates at dueling rallies Sunday.

The account of Thomas’ actions leading up to the attack was provided by Cpublicly. Internal calls are growing for the police chief to step aside as University of California President Michael V. Drake initiates an independent review of UCLA’s response, the sources said. Thomas, in an interview with The Times late Friday night, disputed the account as “just not true.”

He said he advised leadership from the beginning not to allow an encampment, since it violated campus rules against overnight camping and he feared it could lead to problems as he assessed other protests sweeping the country.

But university leadership, he said, decided to allow the tents “as an expression of students’ 1st Amendment rights” and directed that police not be included in any security plan. Under UC’s systemwide community safety plan, police are deployed as a last resort — guidance developed after UC Davis police pepper-sprayed peaceful protesters in 2011, setting off a firestorm of controversy and an internal review that changed campus practices.

As a result, Thomas said he developed a plan that relied on private security and made sure to alert the Los Angeles Police Department of the need to respond immediately should problems arise. The private security guards, who were not authorized to make arrests, were instructed to contact UCLA police if needed.

Thomas said he provided daily briefings to campus leadership on the latest situation, the number of resources, the response protocol and assigned roles for those deployed. However, sources said he was directed to provide a written safety strategy outlining the response and preparation for various scenarios, such as a rally, skirmishes or violence — with the direction to do what was needed to keep the community safe — and he failed to deliver.

He acknowledged that he did tell leadership that it would take just minutes to deploy police forces, but he was referring to a general response — not a force large enough to handle the size of the crowds that clashed that night. But three sources confirmed he was directly asked how long it would take for outside law enforcement to quell any violence.

The campus police chief reports to Administrative Vice Chancellor Michael Beck, who oversees the UCLA Police Department, the Office of Emergency Management and other campus operations. Beck did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

As altercations at the encampment began to increase, Thomas acknowledged that campus leadership changed direction and authorized him to supplement UCLA police and private security with increased external law enforcement, saying overtime would be paid. He could not recall exactly when that occurred, but he said he immediately contacted the LAPD and L.A. County Sheriff’s Department to secure their assistance. But he said the LAPD told him there was a problem with the payment system between the city and state, so the arrangements “couldn’t be done by the time of the attack.”

On the Tuesday night of the attack, Thomas said he was home watching the Dodgers game when he was alerted to the problems by Beck. He said he immediately called the LAPD’s West L.A. station and asked the watch commander to deploy resources. Then he called UCLA’s watch commander and instructed him to call in mutual aid assistance from law enforcement with the cities of Beverly Hills, Culver City and Santa Monica and sheriff’s deputies.

Thomas said he arrived on campus shortly before midnight and found that 19 officers from UCLA, the LAPD and three of the mutual aid agencies had arrived but had not moved in to quell the violence. When he asked why, he said an LAPD lieutenant told him the force was too small. Thomas said he asked why they couldn’t go in with the forces they had, and the lieutenant told him he was directed to wait. It took more than 90 minutes for sufficient forces to arrive and intervene. Thomas said it usually takes an hour or even two to amass “mobile field forces” large enough — 50 officers or more from all over the city — to handle situations like the melee at UCLA. “I did everything I could to increase the police presence that we couldn’t provide because of our small department,” he said, adding that he was not ready to step aside or resign.

UCLA declined to comment about Thomas’ account...

Full story at https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-05-03/before-mob-attack-ucla-police-chief-was-ordered-to-create-security-plan-but-didnt-sources-say.

Next Regents Agenda Available

May 14-16, 2024 UC-Merced

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

Noon: Investments Committee (open session - includes public comment session) 

Public Comment Period (30 minutes)

I-1 Discussion: Review of Performance for the Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2023–24 of UC Pension, Endowment, Blue and Gold Pool, Working Capital, and Retirement Savings

--

2:00 pm Special Committee on Athletics (closed session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of January 23, 2024

S1(X) Discussion: Student Athlete-Related Litigation and Legal Issues

--

Upon end of closed session:

Special Committee on Athletics (open session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of October 11, 2023 and January 23, 2024

S2 Action: UCLA and UC Berkeley Financial Contribution

S3 Discussion: Developments in College Athletics

S4 Discussion: Strategic Campus Athletics Overview: UC Merced

S5 Discussion: Student Athlete Perspectives: UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara 

===

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

8:30 am Board (open session - includes public comment session) 

Public Comment Period (30 minutes)

Remarks of the Chair of the Board

Remarks of the President of the University

Remarks of the Chair of the Academic Senate

Committee Report Including Approvals of Recommendations from Committee: Special Committee on Nominations (meeting of April 11, 2024)

--

9:30 am Compliance and Audit Committee (open session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of March 20, 2024

C1 Action: Consent item: Approval of the External Audit Plan for the Year Ending June 30, 2024

--

Upon end of open session:

Compliance and Audit Committee (closed session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of March 20, 2024

C2(X) Discussion: Review of University of California Cybersecurity Metrics 

C3(X) Action: Recommended Settlements for Board Action 

C4(X) Discussion: Appellate, Trial Court Developments and Updates

C5(X) Information: Settlements and Separation Agreements under Delegated Authority Reported from February 1, 2024 to March 31, 2024

Note: C3(X), C4(X) and C5(X) involve various legal cases that appear to cover such matters as People's Park, antisemitism, medical malpractice, employment discrimination, and other topics.

--

10:45 am Governance Committee (closed session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of March 20, 2024

G1(X) Discussion: Collective Bargaining Matters

G2(X) Discussion: 2024-25 Systemwide Salary Program Increases for Certain Level One Senior Management Group Members and an Employee in the Managers and Senior Professionals Program

G3(X) Discussion: Appointment of and Compensation for Interim Senior Vice President – External Relations and Communications, Office of the President

--

Upon end of closed session:

Governance Committee (open session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of January 24, 2024

G2 Action: Approval of 2024-25 Systemwide Salary Program Increases for Certain Level One Senior Management Group Members and an Employee in the Managers and Senior Professionals Program as Discussed in Closed Session

G3 Action: Approval of Appointment of and Compensation for Interim Senior Vice President – External Relations and Communications, Office of the President as Discussed in Closed Session

G4 Discussion: Investment Performance and Compensation Benchmarking Methodology for Office of the Chief Investment Officer, Office of the President 

--

12:30 pm Academic and Student Affairs Committee (closed session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of May 17, 2023

A1X Action: Appointment of Regents’ Professor, School of Theater, Film, and Television, Department of Theater, Los Angeles Campus

--

Upon end of closed session:

Academic and Student Affairs Committee (open session) 

Action :Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of March 20, 2024

A2 Action: Approval of Multi-Year Plans for Professional Degree Supplemental Tuition for Twelve Graduate Professional Degree Programs and OneYear Extensions of Multi-Year Plans for Eleven Graduate Professional Degree Programs

A3 Discussion: Astronomy at the University of California

Note: The Hawaiian telescope project - TMT - is likely to come up here.

A4 Discussion: STEM Peer Mentorship Programs at the University of California

--

3:00 pm Finance and Capital Strategies Committee (open session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of March 20, 2024

Consent Agenda:

F1A Action: Consent Item: Fiscal Year 2024-25 General Revenue Bond Issuance

F1B Action: Consent Item: Continuation of the Life Safety Fee, Berkeley Campus

F1C Action: Consent Item: Continuation of the Student Facilities Safety Fee, Davis Campus

F1D Action: Consent Item: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center Fourth Floor Patient Care Reconfiguration, UCLA Health, Los Angeles Campus: Budget, Scope, External Financing, and Design Following an Exemption Determination Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act

F1E Action: Consent Item: Hillcrest Multipurpose Clinical Research Building, San Diego Campus: Preliminary Plans Funding

F1F Action: Consent Item: Adoption of Endowment Administration Cost Recovery Rate

F2 Action: Adoption of Expenditure Rate for the General Endowment Pool

F3 Action: Berkeley Innovation Zone, Berkeley Campus: Budget and External Financing for Site Preparation; Scope; Site Preparation Work and South Building Design Following Certification of an Environmental Impact Report Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act; and Acceptance of Gift of Real Property for the South Building

F4 Action: Clean Energy Campus Project – Electrified Heating and Cooling Plant, Distribution Components, and Distributed Energy Resources Phase 1, Berkeley Campus: Budget and External Financing

F5 Action: Medical Campus Operating Room Integration Modernization Project, UC Davis Health, Sacramento Campus: Budget, Scope, and Design Following an Exemption Determination Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act

F6 Action: San Benito Student Housing, Santa Barbara Campus: Preliminary Plans Funding

F7 Action: Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget for the University of California Office of the President

F8 Discussion: Update on the Governor’s May Revision to the 2024-25 Budget

F9 Information: Pepper Canyon East District, San Diego Campus

--

Upon end of open session:

Finance and Capital Strategies Committee (closed session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of March 20, 2024

F10(X) Action: Off-Campus Housing, Santa Cruz Campus: Amendment of Business Terms for Lease Agreement with Purchase Option

===

Thursday, May 16, 2024

8:30 am Board (open session - includes public comment session) 

Public Comment Period (30 minutes)

Approval of the Minutes of the Meetings of March 20, 21, and April 10, 2024

Remarks from Student Associations

Resolutions

--

9:30 am Board (closed session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meetings of March 21 and April 10, 2024

B1(X) Action: Update on Safety Concerns on Campuses

Committee Reports Including Approval of Recommendations from Committees:

-Academic and Student Affairs Committee

-Compliance and Audit Committee

-Finance and Capital Strategies Committee

-Governance Committee

-Health Services Committee (meeting of April 10, 2024)

-Special Committee on Athletics

Officers’ and President’s Reports:

Personnel Matters

Report of Interim, Concurrence, and Committee Actions

Report of Materials Mailed Between Meetings

--

12:30 pm Joint Meeting of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee & Compliance and Audit Committee (open session) 

Action: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of March 20, 2024

J1 Action: Adoption of Regents Policy on the Use of University Administrative Websites

Note: This item refers to departmental political statements, a topic deferred from prior meetings.

--

1:15 pm Board (open session) 

Committee Reports Including Approvals of Recommendations from Committees:

Academic and Student Affairs Committee (meetings of April 10 and May 15, 2024)

-Compliance and Audit Committee

-Governance Committee

-Finance and Capital Strategies Committee

-Health Services Committee (meeting of April 10, 2024)

-Investments (meetings of March 21 and May 14, 2024)

-Special Committee on Athletics

Note: If the Committee approves a tax on UCLA to compensate Berkeley for the impact of UCLA's change in athletic conference, it would be up for approval here.

-Joint Meeting: Academic and Student Affairs Committee and Finance and Capital Strategies Committee

-Joint Meeting: Academic and Student Affairs Committee and Compliance and Audit Committee

Note: If some version of J1 - department political statements - is approved by the joint committees, it will be up for approval in this segment.

B2 Discussion: Merced 2020 Project Overview

Officers’ and President’s Reports:

-Report of Interim, Concurrence, and Committee Actions

-Report of Materials Mailed Between Meetings

--

2:00 pm Joint Meeting of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee & Finance and Capital Strategies Committee (open session) 

J2 Discussion: Updates on Federal Financial Aid and Path to Debt-Free UC 

UCLA police/security management reshuffle

Rick Braziel has been put in charge of UCLA security. See below. He operates a police consulting firm. Braziel is a past president of the California Peace Officers Association and was chief of police of Sacramento. He was involved in the U.S. Justice Department review of the police mishandling of the Uvalde, Texas school shooting incident.

May 5, 2024

Dear Bruin Community:

Protecting the safety of our community underpins everything we do at UCLA. Our students, faculty and staff can only learn, work and thrive in an environment where they feel secure.

In the past week, our campus has been shaken by events that have disturbed this sense of safety and strained trust within our community. In light of this, both UCLA and the UC Office of the President have committed to a thorough investigation of our security processes. But one thing is already clear: To best protect our community moving forward, urgent changes are needed in how we administer safety operations.

I am therefore taking several actions to significantly alter our campus safety structure. These decisions were not made lightly — but my leadership team and I feel that decisive change is needed to help maintain a safe campus environment.

Effective immediately, I am moving oversight and management of UCLA PD and the Office of Emergency Management from the Office of the Administrative Vice Chancellor to a newly created Office of Campus Safety, whose leader reports directly to me. It is clear that UCLA needs a unit and leader whose sole responsibility is campus safety to guide us through tense times. This organizational structure, which elevates our safety and emergency management operations, has proven to be an effective one at other major universities across the country.

Leading the Office of Campus Safety as its inaugural associate vice chancellor is Rick Braziel, who brings to the position more than 30 years of public safety service, including five years as chief of police for the City of Sacramento. Braziel has also served as an instructor in community policing and has led reviews of law enforcement agencies and police responses. 

Additionally, I have created a formal advisory group with expert leaders who will partner with AVC Braziel. Members of this advisory group include UC Davis Chief of Police and Coordinator of the Council of UC Chiefs of Police Joe Farrow, Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Professor of Health Policy and Management Vickie Mays and UC Office of the President Systemwide Director of Community Safety Jody Stiger. I am confident that AVC Braziel, in partnership with this advisory group, will provide effective new leadership of our safety and emergency management operations.

The well-being of our students, faculty and staff is paramount. These actions are essential for creating a secure environment where everyone at UCLA can confidently pursue their studies and careers.

Sincerely,

Gene D. Block

Chancellor

Source: https://chancellor.ucla.edu/messages/changes-to-campus-security-operations/.

May Day

On May 1, a sound truck somehow was parked next to Royce broadcasting antisemitic messages. Video with audio can be found below. The owner of the truck with California license 46393U3 can be identified by UC Police through a request to DMV. Has it been? How did the truck get on campus at a time when the encampment was in progress without anyone in authority noticing? Was there anyone in authority around to notice?

Or direct to https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6dBXxwLnhZ/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D.

Columbia

Given recent events at UCLA, it's easy to lose track of other similar events, notably at Columbia University. Below in written and video format is the statement of Columbia's president:

These past two weeks have been among  the most difficult in Columbia's history. The turmoil and tension, division and disruption have impacted the entire community.

You, our students, have paid an especially high price. You lost your final days in the classroom and residence halls. For those of you who are seniors, you're finishing college the way you started online.

No matter where you stand on any issue, Columbia should be a community that feels welcoming and safe for everyone. We tried very hard to resolve the issue of the encampment through dialogue. Many people who gathered there were largely peaceful and cared deeply about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Academic leaders talked with students for eight days and nights. The university made a sincere and good offer, but it was not accepted. A group of protesters crossed a new line with the occupation of Hamilton Hall. It was a violent act that put our students at risk, as well as putting the protesters at risk. I walked through the building and saw the damage which was distressing.

But despite all that has happened, I have confidence. During the listening sessions I held with many students in recent months, I've been heartened by your intelligence, thoughtfulness and kindness.

The ones that impressed me the most were those who acknowledged that the other side had some valid points. We need more of that at Columbia. Every one of us has a role to play in bringing back the values of truth and civil discourse, that polarization has severely damaged.

Here at Columbia, parallel realities and parallel conversations have walled us off from other perspectives. Working together, I know we can break down these barriers.

As many of you know, I was born in the Middle East. I grew up in a Muslim family with many Jewish and Christian friends. I spent two decades working in international organizations with people from every nationality and religion in the world. Where if you can't bridge divides and see the other side's point of view, you can't get anything done.

I learned from that experience that people can disagree and still make progress.

The issues that are challenging us - Palestinian-Israeli conflict, anti-Semitism, and anti-Arab and anti-Muslim bias - have existed for a long time, and Columbia, despite being a remarkable institution, cannot solve them single-handedly.

What we can do is be an exemplar of a better world, where people who disagree do so civilly, recognize each other's humanity and show empathy and compassion for one another.

We have a lot to do, but I am committed to working at it every day and with each of you to rebuild community on our campus.

Or direct to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuDsfPv0qOA. [The transcript is on the video site.]

Somewhat parallel to our own chancellor, there is explanation in the statement, but no apology for allowing an extended period in which basic civil norms were allowed to disappear. Heads of colleges and universities are not like the contemporary kings and queens of England, figureheads who do not make policy. Heads of colleges and universities do make decisions. And Columbia, as a private university, had more control over access to its campus than does UCLA.

Anderson Graffiti

From an email yesterday:

Dear Anderson Community,

 

I’m very sorry to report that our UCLA Anderson complex was defaced last night with graffiti, for which there is no excuse. We are working to clear it as quickly as possible, but we did want to forewarn any of you coming to campus of its presence. We will do our best to identify and prosecute the person or persons who committed this crime and will increase security to try to prevent any further vandalism.

 

Best,

Tony

 

• • • 

Tony Bernardo

Dean and John E. Anderson Chair in Management 

There have been reports of graffiti, including swastikas, on other buildings. For example, here is the Ashe Student Health Center and the Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics:

And, of course, there is Royce Hall:

Chancellor's Statement Lacks Key Element: Apology

Reproduced below is the chancellor's latest statement on the events that led to the clearing of the encampment by police. Unexplained is the lack of effective police presence during the entire episode that lasted over a week, not just the violent episode around midnight on April 30-May 1. As blog readers will know, prior to that announcement, various violations of law and university regulations had occurred. Anyone, including non-UCLA people, had ample evidence from days of social media and conventional TV news that rules were being broken without consequences. That this episode would not end happily was evident as we pointed out in our earlier post, "Chaos invites chaos."* 

Chancellor Block can now look forward to explaining what happened to a hostile congressional committee. Rather than provide the kind of statement which we reproduce below in his testimony, he might consider making an apology. "I should have allowed lawful protest while also enforcing basic rules. I failed to do that. I'm sorry."

May 2, 2024

Chancellor Block shared the following message with the Bruin community.

Dear Bruin Community:

 Our community is in deep pain. We are reeling from days of violence and division. And we hope with all our hearts that we can return to a place where our students, faculty and staff feel safe and, one day, connected again.

Our approach to the encampment that was established on Royce Quad last week has been guided by several equally important principles: the need to support the safety and wellbeing of Bruins, the need to support the free expression rights of our community, and the need to minimize disruption to our teaching and learning mission. 

The events of the past several days, and especially the terrifying attack on our students, faculty and staff on Tuesday night, have challenged our efforts to live up to these principles and taken an immense toll on our community.

We approached the encampment with the goal of maximizing our community members’ ability to make their voices heard on an urgent global issue. We had allowed it to remain in place so long as it did not jeopardize Bruins’ safety or harm our ability to carry out our mission.

But while many of the protesters at the encampment remained peaceful, ultimately, the site became a focal point for serious violence as well as a huge disruption to our campus.

Several days of violent clashes between demonstrators and counter-demonstrators put too many Bruins in harm’s way and created an environment that was completely unsafe for learning. Demonstrators directly interfered with instruction by blocking students’ pathways to classrooms. Indirectly, violence related to the encampment led to the closure of academic buildings and the cancellation of classes. And frankly, hostilities were only continuing to escalate.

In the end, the encampment on Royce Quad was both unlawful and a breach of policy. It led to unsafe conditions on our campus and it damaged our ability to carry out our mission. It needed to come to an end.

Over the past several days, we communicated with and made a formal request to meet with demonstration leaders to discuss options for a peaceful and voluntary disbanding of the encampment. Unfortunately, that meeting did not lead to an agreement.

To preserve campus safety and the continuity of our mission, early this morning, we made the decision to direct UCPD and outside law enforcement officers to enter and clear the encampment. Officers followed a plan that had been carefully developed to protect the safety of protesters at the site. Those who remained encamped last night were given several warnings and were offered the opportunity to leave peacefully with their belongings before officers entered the area. Ultimately, about 300 protesters voluntarily left, while more than 200 resisted orders to disperse and were arrested.

UCLA facilities teams are now in the process of taking down structures and cleaning up the quad, and we ask that students, staff and faculty continue to avoid the area.

I want to be clear that we fully support the right of our community members to protest peacefully, and there are longstanding and robust processes in place that allow students, faculty and staff to gather and demonstrate in ways that do not violate the law or our policies. I urge Bruins to take advantage of these many opportunities, which were designed to support advocacy that does not jeopardize community safety or disrupt the functioning of the university. 

I also want to recognize the significance of the issues behind the demonstrators’ advocacy. The loss of life in Gaza has been truly devastating, and my administration has and will continue to connect with student and faculty leaders advocating for Palestinian rights to engage in discussions that are grounded in listening, learning and mutual respect. Similarly, we will continue to support our Jewish students and employees who are reeling from the trauma of the brutal Oct. 7 attacks and a painful spike in antisemitism worldwide.

We will also continue to investigate the violent incidents of the past several days, especially Tuesday night’s horrific attack by a mob of instigators. When physical violence broke out that night, leadership immediately directed our UCPD police chief to call for the support of outside law enforcement, medical teams and the fire department to help us quell the violence. We are carefully examining our security processes that night and I am grateful to President Drake for also calling for an investigation.

The past week has been among the most painful periods our UCLA community has ever experienced. It has fractured our sense of togetherness and frayed our bonds of trust, and will surely leave a scar on the campus. While Counseling & Psychological Services and Staff & Faculty Counseling Center are available to lend support to those in need, I also hope we can support one another through this difficult moment and reaffirm the ties that unite us as a community of learning. 

Sincerely,

Gene D. Block, Chancellor

Source: https://chancellor.ucla.edu/messages/our-community-is-in-deep-pain/.

===

*https://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2024/05/chaos-invites-chaos.html. 

The FAFSA Drama Continues - Part 12

From Inside Higher Ed: The Department of Education has implemented a temporary fix to the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that will allow students with parents or guardians who lack a social security number to complete the form, undersecretary of education James Kvaal told reporters at a press briefing Tuesday.

After months of frustration over persistent technical glitches, the fix will allow mixed-status families to bypass the identity verification system that had been causing problems, enabling them to enter their tax information manually instead of having the system retrieve it from the IRS. The applicants will still have to complete the verification process, but will no longer have to wait until it’s done to make a studentaid.gov account and access the online form...

Full story at https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/05/01/temporary-fix-lets-mixed-status-families-complete-fafsa.

6 AM: It appears the encampment area is clear...

The decision process at Murphy Hall that started last Thursday is not so clear. UC President Drake has called for some kind of investigation. 

The Regents are meeting behind closed doors tomorrow, perhaps to create such an investigation.* Yesterday, the chancellor send the message below out:

Chancellor Block shared the following message with the Bruin community.

Dear Bruin Community:

Late last night, a group of instigators came to Royce Quad to forcefully attack the encampment that has been established there to advocate for Palestinian rights. Physical violence ensued, and our campus requested support from external law enforcement agencies to help end this appalling assault, quell the fighting and protect our community.

However one feels about the encampment, this attack on our students, faculty and community members was utterly unacceptable. It has shaken our campus to its core and — adding to other abhorrent incidents that we have witnessed and that have circulated on social media over the past several days — further damaged our community’s sense of security.

I want to express my sincere sympathy to those who were injured last night, and to all those who have been harmed or have feared for their safety in recent days. No one at this university should have to encounter such violence. Our student affairs team has been reaching out to affected individuals and groups to offer support and connections to health and mental health resources.

I also want to acknowledge the trauma and heartache this has brought to our full campus. Resources are available to students through the Student Affairs websiteand Counseling & Psychological Services, and to employees through the Staff & Faculty Counseling Center.

We are still gathering information about the attack on the encampment last night, and I can assure you that we will conduct a thorough investigation that may lead to arrests, expulsions and dismissals. We are also carefully examining our own security processes in light of recent events. To help in these efforts, I urge those who have encountered violence to report what they experienced to UCPD, and those who have faced discrimination to contact the Civil Rights Office. We are grateful for the support of law enforcement and their efforts to investigate these incidents.

This is a dark chapter in our campus’s history. We will restore a safe learning environment at UCLA.

Sincerely,

Gene D. Block

Chancellor

Source: https://chancellor.ucla.edu/messages/condemning-violence-in-our-community/.

===

There is an evolving timeline at the Daily Bruin:

https://dailybruin.com/2024/05/02/lapd-breaches-palestine-solidarity-encampment-at-ucla-in-dispersal-attempt.

News reports indicate a crowd has formed protesting the arresting process. Live TV coverage is available on Spectrum Channel 1. There appears to be relative calm as protesters are loaded on to buses by police.

====

*Yesterday, Regent Chair Leib made the statement below:

The violence at UCLA yesterday was despicable and unacceptable. The Regents of the University of California will not tolerate violations of the law or University policy on our campuses, including unlawful encampments, hate speech, and other forms of protest not protected by the First Amendment. While we understand the passions surrounding Israel and Gaza, no cause is free from the consequences of conduct on our campuses.

When students are blocked from public walkways, not allowed entry into campus buildings, and are impeded from accessing educational facilities, it is the responsibility of the campus to prevent these clear violations. The actions that have occurred recently have clearly created an unsafe environment. Protests that interfere with University operations or threaten the safety of students require immediate enforcement of University policies so that violent situations are prevented. It is our priority to ensure the safety of all students and allow equal access to education.

Source: https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/statement-board-regents-chair-richard-leib-0.

The times, they are a'changing - Part 2

We have previously blogged about the gradual conversion of college sports to a more professional model.* Here is yet another sign of the times from CBS Sports:

The SEC and Big Ten are at the center of developing a revenue sharing plan with players that would redefine college athletics for the future, CBS Sports has learned. The still unrefined proposal -- currently utilizing the name "Modern Model" -- would not only share revenue with players but also perhaps help settle the House v. NCAA lawsuit that goes to trial in January 2025. The antitrust lawsuit is a class-action complaint alleging the NCAA and power conferences have conspired to suppress athletes' compensation.

The lawsuit continues to be the top hurdle for programs in planning college athletics' future. Settlement money alone could cost universities between $15 million and $20 million. Athletic directors have been frustrated trying to figure out how to rearrange their budgets or otherwise account for a payment of that size.

ESPN reported Monday night that the Power Four conferences are in "deep discussions" regarding a revenue sharing plan. It is not clear where that revenue would come from or how it would be distributed.

Sources told CBS Sports the revenue-sharing idea emerged from ongoing talks between Power Four administrators. In February, the SEC and Big Ten announced a joint advisory group to address the future of college athletics...

Full story at https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/sec-big-ten-developing-plan-to-share-revenue-with-players-in-potential-landmark-change-to-college-athletics/.

Note that UCLA is joining the Big Ten.

===

*https://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2024/04/the-times-they-are-achanging.html.

Another emergency Regents meeting on Friday - Update

There are now more teleconference locations listed (so more participants):

3333 North Torrey Pines Ct, La Jolla, CA

433 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA [UCLA's new office building downtown]

12011 San Vicente Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 

550 S Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA 

1680 East 120th Street, Los Angeles, CA

4751 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 

433 Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 

3200 Sawtelle Boulevard, Los Angeles 

4129 Cheadle Hall, Santa Barbara, CA

465 California Street, San Francisco, CA

335 Powell Street, San Francisco, CA 

288 Golf Course Drive, Rohnert Park, CA 

1111 Franklin Street, Oakland, CA

400 Q Street, Sacramento, CA

1130 K Street, Sacramento, CA 

5200 Lake Road, Merced, CA

5025 Thacher Road Ojai, California, 93023

6374 Coral del Rico, Nayarit, Mexico

Source: https://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/meetings/agendas/may32024.html.

This meeting appears to have more participants than the emergency meeting on Wednesday. There is no real agenda provided. Possibly, one topic could be establishing a commission to study what went wrong at UCLA which UC President Drake said he favors.

And the Regents may reflect on this item:

Absent a Plan, We Need an Interim Administration

Yesterday, before the violence, UC President Drake issued the statement below:

April 30, 2024

A statement from UC President Michael V. Drake, M.D., on free speech and campus protests:

The University has a long and proud history of supporting freedom of speech and First Amendment rights. We readily accept our obligation to protect the rights of our students, faculty, staff and visitors to our campuses. The right to protest and demonstrate against policies and practices of governing authorities is among the most important privileges of a democracy. This right is not, however, absolute. We must exercise our rights within the broad confines of the laws and policies we ourselves have established.

Earlier today, the UCLA campus sent out a message for those in the UCLA encampment informing them that the encampment is unlawful and violates university policy.

I fully support the campus in taking this step. The University of California must be as flexible as it can involving matters of free expression, including expression of viewpoints that some find deeply offensive. But when that expression blocks the ability of students to learn or to express their own viewpoints, when it meaningfully disrupts the functioning of the University, or when it threatens the safety of students, or anyone else, we must act.

There are countless ways to protest lawfully, and the University of California campuses will work with students, faculty and staff to make space available and do all we can to protect these protests and demonstrations. But disruptive unlawful protests that violate the rights of our fellow citizens are unacceptable and cannot be tolerated.

Source: https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/statement-uc-president-michael-v-drake-md-free-speech-and-campus-protests.

===

If the current administration cannot "act," the next line of authority is the UC president and the Regents.

TV Video confirms no police for an extended period

Reporter: "Where is authority?"

The latest BruinAlert:

Due to the distress caused by the violence that took place on Royce Quad late last night and early this morning, all classes are cancelled today.

The hospital and health system, the Luskin Conference Center, and PreK-12 schools remain open. Please avoid the Royce Quad area.

Royce Hall remains closed through Friday, and students should watch for notifications from their instructors with information about class locations when classes resume. Powell Library is also closed and is scheduled to reopen on Monday. We have law enforcement presence stationed throughout campus to help promote safety. Student Affairs will have essential staff on campus to support our students who have been impacted by this tragedy.

For more information about emergencies at UCLA, please visit https://bso.ucla.edu/.

Excerpt from the LA Times:

...A group of security guards could be seen observing the clashes but did not move in to stop them. One representative of the camp said the counterdemonstrators repeatedly pushed over the barricades that outline the boundaries of the encampment, and some campers said they were hit by a substance they thought was pepper spray.

Some people in the camp were being treated for eye irritation and other wounds. The extent of the injuries was unclear, though The Times saw several people who were bleeding and needed medical attention. UCLA officials decried the violence and said they had requested help from the Los Angeles Police Department.

“Horrific acts of violence occurred at the encampment tonight and we immediately called law enforcement for mutual aid support. The fire department and medical personnel are on the scene. We are sickened by this senseless violence and it must end,” Mary Osako, vice chancellor for UCLA Strategic Communications, said in a statement.

At around 1:40 a.m., police officers in riot gear arrived, and some counterprotesters began to leave. But the police did not immediately break up the clashes at the camp, which continued despite the law enforcement presence...

Source: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-04-30/ucla-moves-to-shut-down-pro-palestinian-encampment-as-unlawful.

Another emergency meeting of the Regents

 Teleconference locations:

3333 North Torrey Pines Ct, La Jolla, CA
433 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA [UCLA's new downtown office building]
465 California Street, Suite 611, San Francisco, CA
5025 Thacher Road Ojai, California, 93023

Source: https://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/regmeet/may24/special5.3.pdf.

There is no agenda posted, but the reason for this sudden meeting is evident.

Chaos invites chaos

The ticking time bomb created by an escalating situation at the encampment went off. UCLA managed to outdo Columbia by leaving a chaotic situation in place. The encampment, per se, could have been a peaceful means of protest had it not blocked access to public areas and buildings. As we noted in an earlier post, the idea that you could just run the clock and nothing bad would happen was conceivable at Berkeley with its semester coming to an end. But as we noted, UCLA is on a quarter system which ends in mid-June. Running the clock was not a likely option for UCLA.*

If you looked at social media (as opposed to anonymous BruinAlerts), you could see the escalating incidents. Outsiders representing who-knows-what began to appear, as the image here illustrates. 

Incidents were reported through tweets and other social media as well as conventional TV news. Those who complained about incidents to the UCLA police were explicitly told that higher ups had decided not to take any action.

In particular, it was reported that ultimately there was no enforcement of basic university rules and legal obligations of the university. That type of atmosphere invites bad actors.

Here (below) is a random tweet video related to the situation at UCLA recorded yesterday, i.e., well before last night's debacle:

So, anyone on social media could learn that what you had is a chaotic situation at UCLA in which individuals or groups could get away with anything with no consequences. What do you think that kind of atmosphere invites?

End of Rant.

=============

*https://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2024/04/who-is-we.html; https://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2024/04/waiting-it-out.html.

At last, a message has come - too late

Late delivery

It's been several days overdue, but a message from the chancellor has arrived. Unfortunately, it came too late and without adequate police presence:

Chancellor Block shared the following message with the Bruin community.

Dear Bruin Community:

This past Thursday, a group of demonstrators — both members of the UCLA community and others unaffiliated with our campus — established an unauthorized physical encampment on part of Royce Quad, joining those who have set up similar presences at universities around the country. 

Many of the demonstrators, as well as counter-demonstrators who have come to the area, have been peaceful in their activism. But the tactics of others have frankly been shocking and shameful. We have seen instances of violence completely at odds with our values as an institution dedicated to respect and mutual understanding. In other cases, students on their way to class have been physically blocked from accessing parts of the campus.

UCLA supports peaceful protest, but not activism that harms our ability to carry out our academic mission and makes people in our community feel bullied, threatened and afraid. These incidents have put many on our campus, especially our Jewish students, in a state of anxiety and fear.

In response, we have taken several immediate actions. We have significantly increased our security presence in the area, including adding greater numbers of law enforcement officers, safety personnel and student affairs mitigators. We have also engaged law enforcement to investigate the recent acts of violence. 

The barriers that demonstrators used to block access to buildings have been removed, and we have staff located around Royce Quad to help ensure that they will not go up again. With regard to these incidents, our student conduct process has been initiated, and could lead to disciplinary action including suspension or expulsion. 

We continue to encourage anyone who experiences discrimination to report it to our Civil Rights Office. If you feel you are in danger, contact UCPD.

I recognize that the suffering in the Middle East has had a profound impact on our campus, and we continue to hope for a peaceful resolution. While Bruins hold a variety of perspectives on this conflict, we must all protect the wellbeing of our peers and maintain an environment safe for learning. This is a commitment I call on our community to uphold as we navigate the weeks ahead.

Sincerely,

Gene D. Block, Chancellor

Source: https://chancellor.ucla.edu/messages/affirming-our-values-in-a-challenging-time/.

====

And there is this from yesterday:

BruinALERT: Access to Royce Hall is now closed through Friday. Alternate locations are being identified as options for classes taking place in Royce. Instructors will inform students about further information regarding class location. Faculty should reach out to their departments for possible classroom reassignments.

Powell Library will close at 5 p.m. today, Tuesday, and reopen on Monday. Other library spaces across campus remain open at their regular hours. Alternative study spaces are available via UCLA Library.

Non-academic staff who usually work in these buildings should plan to work remotely.

Student affairs representatives, along with signage, are stationed near Royce Quad to let Bruins and visitors know about the encampment and closed buildings, redirect them if desired and serve as a resource for their needs. We have also enhanced security measures and increased the numbers of our safety team members on site, including our uniformed Student Affairs Mitigators (SAMs), Public Safety Aides (PSAs), CSC and law enforcement officers.

May Retirement Webinars

Here is a list of webinars for the month of May giving an overview of retirement benefits offered by UC. The webinars cover primary benefits (Pension/Choice) that provide a foundation for retirement income and voluntary benefits that offer additional savings opportunities [403(b), 457(b) and DC plans].

Tuesday, May 7, 9:00 a.m. PT

Wednesday, May 15, noon PT

Wednesday, May 22, 1:00 p.m. PT

Other related webinars are also listed with sign-ups available at:

https://myucretirement.com/Classes/ClassSchedule/19.