An independent investigation by the University of California found that UCLA suffered from a “deeply chaotic” decision-making process, a lack of communication between campus leaders and police, and other deficiencies that led to the organization’s paralysis, leading to a violent outbreak of protests this spring. They say they were unable to protect the students. It was released on Thursday.
A long-awaited investigation conducted by the National Law Enforcement Consulting Agency reveals countless missteps and missteps by UCLA administrators and police after pro-Palestinian students set up a camp in late April that drew complaints of anti-Semitic behavior. It turns out. The camp came under heavy attack by counter-protesters in early May, drawing widespread anger and attention.
Investigation finds encampments have sprung up on other campuses, sometimes resulting in violent clashes, and UCLA handles mass protests even though problems were ‘reasonably foreseeable’ It turns out that I didn’t have a detailed plan for what to do. UCLA leaders were not clear about who should control decision-making and, at times, exclude campus police from meetings. Meanwhile, campus police had no effective plan to coordinate with outside law enforcement and were unable to assume command on the night of the melee, with the Los Angeles Police Department and California Highway Patrol devising an ad hoc response. The review states:
“With no codified plan in place, UCLA administrators struggled to reach a commonly understood agreement amidst ongoing chaos and no clarity on who would hold final decision-making authority. engaged in a chaotic process that required difficult decisions to be made. The 21st Century Policing Solutions report concluded that there is a “lack of decision-making capacity and little ability to respond quickly to rapidly changing events and dynamic situations on campus.” .
call for reform
This review recommends that UCLA take the following key actions:
Develop detailed response plans Provide better training for civilian personnel and police Increase real-time communication about campus disturbances Hire more civilians to help mediate conflicts before law enforcement is called
The report was based on tens of thousands of documents and five months of interviews with current and former UCLA administrators, faculty, staff, students and law enforcement. This followed two other major reports criticizing UCLA’s response to the protests.
A report to the Los Angeles Police Commission says the coordination of actions among UCLA, the Los Angeles Police Department, the California Highway Patrol and smaller municipal police agencies that were convened on campus at short notice in the spring has been chaotic. It turned out. The Republican-led U.S. House Education and Labor Committee also criticized UCLA and other elite universities, including Harvard and Columbia, for their “dramatic failures to confront anti-Semitism.”
University of California President Michael V. Drake said in a statement Thursday that the goal of the UCLA review is to ensure that deficiencies do not reoccur while protecting campus health and safety, equal access to educational facilities, and First Amendment rights. He said the key is to learn what reforms are needed to prevent this. freedom of speech.
“Last spring, as conflict unfolded at universities across the country, we recognized the limits of traditional approaches,” Drake said. “We are taking a hard look at where we fell short and how we can improve going forward. This comprehensive review and these recommendations provide actionable steps to prevent similar events from happening again. This will help ensure that plans and policies are in place.”
Drake noted that UCLA has begun to make changes, including initiating some actions recommended by consulting groups. These include creating a Campus Safety Office to oversee the UCLA Police Department and Office of Emergency Management, and hiring a vice chancellor to lead it. Earlier this year, UCLA hired Rick Brazil, a former Sacramento police chief and law enforcement response review expert, for the role on a temporary contract. He launched an overhaul of safety and security operations.
In the long term, UCLA should hold a campus-wide dialogue to reach consensus on the appropriate role of police, the review says. For example, some faculty and students have advocated for removing police from campuses entirely and instead using trained civilian mediators to resolve problems; hope to use it.
“This central tension of whether, for whom, and how police provide public safety is part of a national conversation about the role of police and the meaning of public safety. ” says the review. “To date, UCLA has effectively responded to this tension by functionally excluding police from planning and involvement, while requesting the involvement of law enforcement if tensions escalate to violence. I haven’t.”
‘Very disturbing’ reports on anti-Semitism
The independent review comes after the University of California Board of Regents met in San Francisco this year to criticize UCLA’s “campus climate” and the university’s response to allegations of anti-Semitism and anti-Arab, anti-Muslim and anti-Semitism. The announcement came after discussing the three task force reports that had been released. Palestinian racism.
In a 93-page report released last month, UCLA’s Task Force on Anti-Semitism found that there is “widespread concern about anti-Semitism and anti-Israel bias on campus” among students, instructors, faculty, staff, and administrators. “Awareness”.
The report, which surveyed hundreds of people contacted through Jewish organizations, found that 84% believe anti-Semitism has “worsened or significantly worsened” since October 7, 2023. , found that about 70% said Spring Encampment was a “root of anti-Semitism.” ” Additionally, 40% said they experienced anti-Semitic discrimination while attending UCLA.
Two reports from the UCLA Task Force on Anti-Palestinian, Anti-Muslim, and Anti-Arab Racism released in April and June also found that campuses are “less safe than ever” for these groups. “Harassment and violence are on the rise,” he said. , and targeting” did not provide survey data.
The regents discussed the report for about 40 minutes, all but a few minutes focusing on anti-Semitism.
“I am simply shocked to see a report documenting widespread anti-Semitism affecting Jewish students, faculty and staff at one of the most prestigious universities in the world in 2024. ” said Regent Rich Leib.
“We’ve lost our way,” he later added. “This is not a simple matter of enforcing rules. We must review the situation and do everything in our power to return our campus to a safe and healthy place.”
Reeve also criticized faculty leaders in the Academic Senate.
“This report clearly depicts numerous and frequent instances of faculty members participating in encampments in violation of the rules or making statements in the classroom that violate the rules. “It shows that not a single faculty member has been disciplined by the school,” he said.
In response, Academic Senate President Stephen W. Chan told the regents that the faculty disciplinary process is intended to “protect due diligence rights, the right to a public hearing, and ensure deliberation in decision-making.” He said that he is doing so. He said the Senate was not interested in a “fossilized” process and would welcome reviewing the process with the regents.
Regent Jay Sures spoke to UCLA Interim President Darnell Hunt regarding campus administrators’ progress in investigating alleged anti-Semitic, anti-Arab, anti-Palestinian, and anti-Muslim incidents since October 7, 2023. harshly criticized. Hunt said the cases numbered in the “hundreds”. both sides. “
Hunt said the investigation is ongoing and “some of these cases can take up to a year to resolve.”
Drake called the anti-Semitism report “deeply disturbing” and touted the university’s new Office of Civil Rights, which is working on discrimination issues across campus.
“We can and must be better,” Drake said.
