To the editor: In my long career at UCLA, first as a graduate (Class of 1992) and now as an employee, I have never felt more ashamed of our campus leaders than I do now. Their decisions have been both morally flawed and catastrophically foolish. (“UCLA's top cop, accused of security lapse, faces calls to step aside. Defends his actions,” May 3)
First, UCLA leadership and police failed to protect peaceful protesting students from a violent mob. Then, in the name of “security,” they attacked these protesters (the victims of that attack) and invited law enforcement to forcibly remove them.
Not satisfied with mere incompetence, university leaders have now apparently veered toward outright authoritarianism, arresting students for “conspiracy to commit robbery” simply for planning a sit-in.
As I write this, classes have moved online, again, for the rest of this week. Our main undergraduate library is closed. Police, many in riot gear, are all over campus.
I cannot understand how UCLA leaders could believe that their decisions will return any sense of calm to our campus. How can the community have faith in leaders who have abandoned their fundamental duty to our students and the principle of freedom of expression?
Kathleen Brown, Los Angeles
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To the editor: Of course someone has to be blamed for the violence at UCLA.
UCLA's police chief said he warned campus leaders “not to allow a camp, as it violated campus rules against overnight camping, and he feared it would lead to problems.”
He said he was informed that UCLA would allow the camp to remain “as an expression of students' First Amendment rights,” thereby canceling enforcement of the university's own policy against camps. Therefore, the need for additional officers was unnecessary at that time. Naturally, there are conflicting accounts about the events leading up to last week's assault on the camp.
In reality, administrators were delegating their power to control access to a significant portion of the campus to a protest group. Students who did not protest were isolated from access to the main library and some of their classes.
Is that really the mission of the university? Is that freedom of expression or is it anarchy? And isn't it predictable that violence and chaos will result?
So who is really to blame?
Judith Levin, Los Angeles
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To the editor: To the father who wrote in a letter that his son was hit in the head by an attacker at UCLA, I am sorry and upset about what happened to your son. I hope he recovers physically and mentally and that those responsible are brought to justice.
For the UCLA administration responsible for student safety, it appears they are passing the buck. UCLA is one of the most esteemed universities that parents entrust their children to. You should have done better.
To the police who waited for hours to do anything while the attack on the camp unfolded, it seemed like another response from Uvalde.
To the media, stop watering down your descriptions of the events.
Politicians will simply ask for an investigation, hoping that with time the emotion of the event will have passed. Can't you do better?
Gerry Brennan, Westlake Village
