UCLA Faculty Senate Fails to Reach Consensus on Censuring and Issuing No Confidence Statement against Chancellor Gene Block Amidst Controversy Surrounding Handling of Pro-Palestinian Encampment
The UCLA Academic Senate held a heated meeting on May 16, 2024, to discuss censuring and issuing a no confidence statement against University Chancellor Gene Block in the wake of mounting criticism concerning his handling of a pro-Palestinian encampment that was violently attacked by counterprotesters.
Amidst this contentious issue, faculty members were divided. Some argued that “Chancellor Block failed to ensure the safety of our students and grievously mishandled the events,” while others defended his actions.
The motion to censure Block received 50% of the votes cast, whereas the motion for a no confidence statement in Block garnered 43% of votes. Andrea M. Kasko, the chair of the Academic Senate, urged her colleagues to “try to find common ground” following the votes.
In a statement issued after the votes, Kasko acknowledged that the faculty was not unified in their views on the events and the campus response to them. She emphasized the need for dialogue and collaboration: “As we all process the results of the votes by the Legislative Assembly on May 16, 2024, it is clear that we are not united in how we view the major events of the past weeks and the campus response to them.”
Pro-Palestinian protesters at UCLA had established an encampment to raise awareness of the mass deaths and destruction in Gaza and call for the university to divest from any financial ties with Israel. The encampment saw violence on April 30, when counterprotesters attacked it, resulting in more than 150 students being assaulted with pepper spray and bear mace, and at least 25 protesters being transported to local emergency rooms.
While a criminal investigation is ongoing into the assaults, a review of footage, social media posts, and interviews by News Finder revealed that many of the most violent attacks were committed not by UCLA students and faculty but by external individuals. Law enforcement had reportedly stood by for hours as the violence unfolded.
Following the violence and subsequent criticism, Chancellor Block announced changes to UCLA’s security operations. In a statement on May 6, he acknowledged that “urgent changes are needed in how we administer safety operations” to better protect the school community. The university also launched an investigation into a group of instigators who attacked the encampment.
This incident is not unique to UCLA, as other universities and their leaders have faced backlash for their handling of campus protests. For example, Columbia University’s president, Minouche Shafik, has been under intense scrutiny and faced a vote of no confidence from the arts and sciences faculty group due to her handling of campus protests and congressional testimony.
The University of Southern California’s faculty senate also recently voted to censure USC President Carol Folt and Provost Andrew Guzman over the removal of a protest encampment from campus and the use of Los Angeles police to arrest protesters.
Furthermore, hundreds of University of California faculty and staff have signed letters demanding Chancellor Block’s resignation following the arrests at the campus. The United Auto Workers 4811, which represents academic workers at the University of California, has authorized a strike if circumstances warrant it due to numerous unfair labor practices committed during on-campus protests.
At the heart of this issue is the right to free speech and peaceful protest for all members of the academic community. Rafael Jaime, a graduate worker in the English department and president of UAW 4811, emphasized this point: “If members of the academic community are maced and beaten down for peacefully demonstrating on this issue, our ability to speak up on all issues is threatened.”
