From UCLA Newsroom:
Correcting misinformation related to campus events
October 11, 2023
In the midst of a painful period for many, it is easy for misinformation to spread. The university would like to correct several rumors:
There are a variety of events taking place this week focused on aspects of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. These events are not sponsored by UCLA, but by student groups and faculty members whose free expression rights are protected under the First Amendment of the Constitution. Allowing the use of campus facilities for such events is part of UCLA’s legal obligation under the First Amendment and does not constitute the university’s endorsement of any event, its speakers or the views they express.
There was also a rumor spreading that a professor made attendance to one of these events mandatory. This rumor is false.
Another rumor circulating was that a TA would offer extra credit to students if they attended one particular event. In fact, this extra credit was being offered if students attended any one of several campus events about the topic of political violence. Aligned with the Academic Senate’s academic policies, faculty can offer extra credit to attend campus events that are relevant to their course content. It is also important to note that in addition to informing students about this event, the TA also sent students information about an event hosted yesterday (Oct. 10) by The Promise Armenian Institute and The Promise Institute for Human Rights, as well as an upcoming event hosted by the Y&S Nazarian Center for Israel Studies.
This is a tumultuous time and information is traveling quickly. We will continue to update this page with needed corrections as necessary.
Source: https://newsroom.ucla.edu/correcting-misinformation-related-to-campus-events.
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What isn't a false rumor is that Chancellor Block's message on the Israel-Gaza War is still parked on an obscure link, as we have been noting in prior posts.* In contrast to the message above, an outsider looking for that message would have trouble locating it (unless such an outsider happened to read this blog!). As we have noted in past posts, the message by UC President Drake is readily available, on the UC website.
Also in contrast to the UCLA chancellor's obscurity is the easy-to-find message by UC-Irvine's chancellor:
As chancellor I believe it is vital for me to refrain from speaking about larger political or international events about which there may be differences of opinion among campus stakeholders (see my "statement on statements"). In general, I should not associate the campus with particular political positions on matters not directly related to the mission of the university.
The horrific massacre of innocent individuals in Israel by Hamas is not another international event or policy debate. It is the largest one-day slaughter of Jews anywhere in the world since the end of the Nazi holocaust.
There is no notion of “freedom fighting” or anti-Zionism that justifies or can rationalize the targeted murder and kidnapping of more than a thousand civilians. And with every passing hour the true scope of the horrors is revealed to be even worse than one could have feared. The situation is amplifying anxiety, pain and stress within our community and around the world.
In the days and weeks to come there will be many debates and arguments about many issues that arise in the wake of this tragedy. It is not my place to take positions on all those issues. I speak only now to give voice to our common humanity as we stand in unity against the cold, calculated massacre of the innocent.
Let us commit to supporting every member of our Anteater community who is most directly impacted by this history-changing catastrophe. Let us reach out to each other to deepen our understanding of our many and varied life experiences and unique perspectives as we work through our differences in an environment of mutual respect and peaceful engagement. And let us strive to create a world where the light of knowledge conquers the darkness wrought by hate and violence.
Fiat Lux.
Chancellor Howard Gillman
If you find yourself in need of assistance or someone to speak with, please do not hesitate to reach out to the following resources:
UCI Counseling Center for undergraduates and graduate students
Life Resources Program for faculty and staff
(Readily available) source: https://chancellor.uci.edu/communications/campus/2023/231010-shared-commitment-to-humanity-and-understanding.php.
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*https://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2023/10/the-response.html; https://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2023/10/if-tree-falls-in-forest-and-no-one.html; https://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2023/10/if-tree-falls-in-forest-and-no-one_038176209.html.
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