To: Administrative Officers, Deans, Department Chairs, Directors, Vice Chancellors and Vice Provosts
What you need to know:
• Film pranks at UCLA are relatively rare but can be unsettling when they occur
• Guidance is available to help you respond effectively in the event of a film prank occurring during classroom instruction
• We encourage you to become familiar with this document and to share it with members of your department
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Dear Colleagues:
Colleges and universities across the country, including UCLA, have had their classrooms become a stage to film pranks orchestrated by social media influencers. These pranks are often designed to increase an influencer’s following and site advertising revenue. While the intention behind these pranks is usually not to cause harm to people's safety or health, they can be unsettling for those targeted and very disruptive to the classroom environment.
Reports received by the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT), UCPD and other campus officials suggest that these incidents are rare at UCLA, and we have been successful in issuing cease and desist letters and stay-away orders to prevent recurring incidents.
To be prepared for these situations, we worked with the Academic Senate to create the UCLA Guidance for Classroom Film Prank Disruptions. This document covers how to identify when your classroom is being targeted, how to respond in the moment and who to report the incident to for any appropriate follow up.*
As we prepare for the summer term, we encourage you to share these guidelines with your faculty and instructors to help inform them about how to handle classroom disruptors. UCLA campus response groups monitor emerging issues and will continue to develop resources to best prepare our students, staff and faculty for unanticipated disruptions. Please visit the Bruins Safe Online – Report a Concerning Behavior website or contact the appropriate office outlined in the guidance to learn more.
Thanks for doing your part to create a resilient Bruin community. Have a wonderful summer ahead.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Beck
Administrative Vice Chancellor
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*UCLA Guidance for Handling Classroom Film Pranks Disruptions by University Affiliates and Non-Affiliates
In recent years, there has been a rise in film pranks executed by influencers, including on university campuses and facilities, as seen on YouTube and other social media channels and often motivated by the desire to earn money by attracting viewership. While these events are generally not aimed at causing harm to safety or health, these unauthorized activities can be highly disruptive and in some instances jarring to those targeted depending on the nature of the prank, and it is recommended that the UCLA community minimize engagement when such instances are encountered.
Such incidents have occurred on our property. Based on incidents reported to the Behavioral Intervention Team (for non-affiliates), UCPD, and other campus officials, these occurrences appear to be infrequent, and UCLA has been successful in eliminating repeat disruptions and has issued cease and desist letters and/or stay-away orders to a number of YouTube influencers in response to prior disruptions on our campus.
This guidance document provides information on how to respond should this type of film prank take place during the course of classroom instruction, whether by a university community member (i.e., University faculty, staff or student), or those not affiliated with the university. In the event that the disruption is caused by a university community member, the appropriate university disciplinary policies will be followed (see references).
Indicators of possible unauthorized film crews:
- The disruption is caused by a group of individuals working together, and possibly in different areas of the room.
- Often one or more members of the group film the antics of other members with large cameras and boom microphones.
- The group brings in props and/or members arrive in costume.
- Members of the group make loud announcements or declarations unrelated to the subject matter of the class.
- Group does not present a film permit and/or is not accompanied by a member of the UCLA Events Office/Media Relations staff member.
When class or lecture is interrupted by a suspected unauthorized film crew, please follow these steps:
1. DO NOT physically engage with individuals disrupting the classroom.
2. Ask students not to engage with the film crew (e.g. “Please do not encourage or interact with them.”)
3. Calmly inform members of the group that they are being disruptive and must leave immediately.
a. Explain that UCLA does not allow filming without a permit including advanced approval from the class instructor.
b. Explain that classrooms, lecture halls, etc. are not spaces that are open to the public and their presence is unauthorized.
c. Tell them they are trespassing and may be subject to arrest (only as necessary).
d. Tell the members that if they do not leave, UCPD will be called (only as necessary).
4. If possible, take photos of members of the group for identification purposes.
5. Call UCPD General Line at (310) 825-1491 for assistance if the disruptor refuses to leave. 9-1-1 should only be called in the case of emergency or direct/imminent threat to safety.
Post-Incident Considerations:
1. Debrief with the class after the disruption ends and remind students of resources that are available for support (Case Management Services, CAPS, RISE, CARE Advocates, etc.). Please consider submitting a referral to Case Management Services for students who are distressed by the encounter.
2. If the disruption occurred during an exam, student presentation, or other course requirements, please be flexible about rescheduling/postponing the exam at a later time, especially if the disruption caused fear or may otherwise negatively affect student performance.
3. Coordinate with the department Chair/Dean/SAO to inform campus authorities of the incident.
a. Where the influencers were non-affiliates, report the incident to the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT), which will document the incident and involved parties and coordinate with the appropriate campus authorities on next steps.
b. If a crime is alleged or occurs, submit a report to UCPD.
c. If the disruption involved civil rights violations (e.g., discrimination and/or harassment on the basis of protected class identity), submit a report to the EDI Civil Rights Office.
d. If the disruptor is identified to be a member of the UCLA community (e.g., student, staff, faculty, etc.), the Department should report the matter to the appropriate office (see below) pursuant to applicable university policy and the disruptor’s conduct will be evaluated for policy violations (see references).
i. If the disruptor is a UCLA student, report to the Consultation and Response Team (CRT) and/or UCLA Dean of Students.
ii. If the disruptor is a faculty or staff, report to the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT).
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