Everybody Goes to Rick's (for Policy Advice)

Casablanca: Everybody goes to Rick's!

You may have seeen the recent memo from AVC Rick Braziel, who was appointed by the chancellor when UCLA Police Chief Thomas was "suspended." Yours truly can't help but notice that current UCLA policy seems remarkably like what the now-suspended recommended should have been the policy at the start of the current turmoil. Timing is everything.

May 24, 2024

The following message was sent from Rick Braziel, UCLA’s associate vice chancellor for campus safety, to the campus community.

Dear Bruin Community:

I am writing with an update on efforts to protect the safety and well-being of our community, as well as our ability to foster an environment in which students, faculty and staff can learn, live and work peacefully. 

Yesterday morning UCPD detectives, with the assistance of local agencies, made their first arrest in the ongoing investigation into the April 30 assaults that occurred on our campus. UCPD is committed to investigating all reported acts of violence and is actively working to identify the other perpetrators of violence associated with protest activities. As Chancellor Block has shared, those who inflicted violence on our community will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

I also would like to provide an update about recent demonstrations on campus.

Yesterday, shortly before 7 a.m., demonstrators arrived on the Kerckhoff patio and began to erect barricades, blocking access to the area and nearby buildings and disrupting regular campus operations. Our Office of the Administrative Vice Chancellor, in partnership with my Office of Campus Safety, asked them to disperse immediately. Demonstrators were informed that if they did not disperse, they would face arrest and possible disciplinary action, as well as an order to stay away from campus for seven days. Demonstrators willingly dispersed, and no arrests were made. 

Later, demonstrators arrived at Dodd Hall, barricaded access to the building and committed acts of vandalism. The group was ordered to disperse and, while some demonstrators left, ultimately UCPD cleared the building. 

For future updates on campus disruptions, please refer to Bruins Safe Online. 

UCLA is firmly committed to protecting the free expression rights of everyone in our community, regardless of their views, as long as they follow guidelines for the appropriate time, place and manner of campus demonstrations. These are designed to provide opportunities to gather and demonstrate in ways that do not violate the law, UCLA policy and other community members’ rights. They support advocacy that does not jeopardize safety or disrupt the functioning of the university. 

We will continue to prioritize protecting UCLA faculty, staff and students and creating an environment conducive to teaching, learning, working and living. The campus community belongs to all of us. Let us respect one another’s rights as surely as we want our own rights to be respected.  

Sincerely, 

Rick Braziel

Associate Vice Chancellor for Campus Safety

Source: https://newsroom.ucla.edu/updates-on-campus-safety-and-recent-demonstrations.