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LOS ANGELES (KTLA) – Months after pro- and anti-Palestinian protests caused chaos on the UCLA campus, new insight has emerged into the decision-making processes and pressures that played out behind the scenes.
As the campaign grows, KTLA filed a public records request with UCLA on April 30, seeking emails related to the protests from former Prime Minister Gene Bullock’s office and support staff. KTLA believed understanding internal conversations could be key to that process and wanted to know what was going on behind the scenes during the critical period of late April and early May. Ta.
This began an exchange that lasted more than six months.
Two months later, on July 29, UCLA responded to the public records request, saying, “Please note that these records may not directly address your request.” It wasn’t.
A large encampment of pro-Palestinian protesters gathers on the UCLA campus on May 1, 2024. (KTLA)
KTLA again contacted UCLA to request fulfillment of the records request.
On September 12, UCLA said, “We can confirm that our office is still working on this matter and will prepare the next record as soon as the legal review is complete.”
On Oct. 15, UCLA said, “The records are still under review and are not available at this time. However, please know that we aim to get them to you as soon as possible.”
On November 27, UCLA provided the following update: “Further update regarding the attached records request. We apologize, but the review process for the remaining records has not yet been completed.”
UCLA said KTLA will receive further communication by Dec. 18. Then, on the Friday before Christmas week, after business, I received an email from UCLA with a link to a 455-page document (some heavily redacted) related to important days during the Christmas period. It has arrived. UCLA protests.
On April 28, physical altercations broke out between pro-Palestinian groups and counter-protesters as protests escalated on campuses across the country. “It’s been a day…” Vice Chancellor Mary Osako said in an email to UCLA leaders, discussing UCLA’s communications strategy, emphasizing “transparency and humanity.” Prime Minister Gene Block responded: Bruin values. ”
On April 29, the chancellor sent an email to UCLA BruinAlert about added security due to the physical altercation.
On April 30, President Block sent an email to the university and alumni discussing the Royce Quad encampment, calling it “unauthorized” and calling some of the tactics “shocking and shameful.” said. He said UCLA supports peaceful protests but not activities that undermine UCLA’s ability to fulfill its academic mission.
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 30: A barricade decamps as a member of a pro-Palestinian group (right) is beaten by a member of a pro-Israel group (left) at UCLA on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. surround. . (Michael Blackshear/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
“Gene, this is a good message that reaffirms our values about peaceful protest…Thank you for your leadership during this difficult time,” one dean wrote in an email to the president. The Prime Minister replied: “Thank you, it’s been a very discouraging week. Hopefully we can heal.”
That same night, UCLA declared the encampment illegal, and campus administrators and university police announced a policy that included violent attacks by protesters and, days later, the suppression of the encampment by police at night. Ta.
During that time, people from all sides of the issue sent dozens of emails to UCLA leadership, including faculty, parents, and students.
“It’s ridiculous to allow small groups to learn over 30,000 students who want to learn…” “This is allowing blatant anti-Semitism to erupt… Why aren’t we getting results? Enough is enough.” ” “How much violence does it take on campus to shut it down?” “We are all very worried that what lies ahead is another Kent State where peaceful protests are met with deadly police violence.” “Shameful! Take control of the university or leave it to the police. Never again.” “I know Palestine is a very complex issue, but I think you’re threading the needle very well.” .” “I write this as a deeply troubled and angry faculty member who is now ashamed to be associated with UCLA. Your moral cowardice and stunning failure of leadership is deeply disturbing. “If you can’t find a way to get through this peacefully, you don’t deserve the job at all.” LOS ANGELES, CA – May 2: California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers detain protesters while clearing a pro-Palestinian encampment after a dispersal order was issued on the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) campus. (Photo taken on May 2, 2024). Los Angeles, California. (Photo courtesy of Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Some have gone further.
On April 29, a UCLA alumnus and donor emailed the university regarding its response to the protests.
“As donors, we amended the living trust by removing UCLA as the financial recipient. UCLA lost millions of dollars in bequests,” the donors told the university.
KTLA reached out to the donor to confirm that he had indeed amended the family trust.
A May 2 letter from prominent UCLA educator Judea Pearl read: You have the support of over 400 UCLA professors to support you in not giving in to their demands. ”
As protests continued on campus, there were many communications regarding the decision to move classes to remote learning. It’s unclear what decisions were being made behind the scenes. Alternatively, it was not included in this set of documents related to the public records request. The document also includes KTLA’s own request to UCLA that the public has a right to be heard from the prime minister on such important issues.
Still, these documents contain little personal communication between the prime minister and his staff. UCLA cites a common passage in public records requests: “Furthermore, if the public interest served by not disclosing the record clearly outweighs the public interest served by disclosure, such records may be withheld.” There is a possibility that
Early Wednesday morning, pro-Palestinian demonstrators clashed with pro-Israel supporters at the UCLA encampment. (Wally Scully/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Of course, that’s highly subjective, so the public may never know what UCLA’s senior leadership was discussing at the time. But the aftermath of the protests was clear, and in the weeks that followed, UCLA continued to come under intense scrutiny for its response to the protests.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Gene Block has resigned. In a release from UCLA, the school said, “This position at the helm of one of the world’s leading research universities will undoubtedly be a coveted position, and there are many excellent candidates for the position. I am confident that.”
In November, a scathing independent audit called for a series of actions UCLA should take “to address deficiencies, performance failures, system failures, and campus safety concerns arising from campus events in April and May 2024.” suggested.
In December, UCLA’s police chief also resigned after being criticized for the department’s handling of protests. “The men and women of the UCLA Police Department proudly serve this community with a steadfast commitment to our core values of responsibility, respect, integrity, service, and excellence,” the interim chief said.
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