Last May, University of California President Michael V. Drake, M.D., announced an independent investigation and after-action review of on-campus protests, counter-protests, encampments, and related issues at UCLA that led to violence. Today, the University of California released a comprehensive set of recommendations to address issues with UCLA’s planning and protocols.
The review was conducted by 21st Century Policing Solutions (21CP), a nationally recognized consulting company known for expertise in policing reform and overseen by the University’s General Counsel.
Over the course of 21CP’s five-month investigation, they examined tens of thousands of documents and interviewed current and former UCLA administrators, faculty, staff, students and law enforcement personnel. The purpose of the investigation was to develop a detailed set of recommended reforms designed to prevent recurrence of the shortcomings that occurred last spring. The investigation was guided by the principles of protecting health and safety, equal access to educational facilities, and the First Amendment rights of the University’s students, faculty, staff, police, and community.
21CP presented its findings to the Board of Regents on Nov. 14, and its recommendations are being reviewed and implemented by UC and UCLA. The recommendations can be found here.
“Last spring, as conflict spread at universities across the country, we saw the limits of our traditional approach. We are taking a close, detailed look at where we fell short and how we can do better moving forward. This comprehensive review and these recommendations will help ensure that we have actionable plans and policies in place to prevent similar events from happening again,” said President Drake.
“I want to thank 21CP for their tireless work and members of the UCLA community who cooperated with this investigation. UCLA has already embarked on numerous reforms that are making the campus safer.”
21CP recommended a number of measures — some of which are already underway — to address shortcomings, performance failures, systems breakdown, and campus safety issues that emerged. The recommendations are designed to ensure that UCLA’s response to acts of civil disobedience align with its commitments to freedom of expression and the protection of the health, safety, and well-being of the UCLA community.
21CP recommendations include that UCLA:
- Make immediate changes and develop plans to respond effectively to campus disruptions using existing resources, an effort that is ongoing;
- Consider fundamental, structural changes to its public safety ecosystem, including engaging in a community-driven process to define public safety objectives and goals; and
- Expand resources available beyond law enforcement to support those goals.
In addition to developing a more effective response to civil disobedience, 21CP’s recommendations are intended to support a more effective response to a wide range of low-frequency, high-impact emergency events on campus. These recommendations will better enable UCLA to deliver a range of public safety services in a manner that is effective, that aligns with changing conceptions of the meaning of public safety, and that reflects the UCLA community’s values and priorities.
Since the events of the spring, UCLA has implemented a number of actions to ensure the appropriate balance of free speech and public safety, including many of the recommendations ultimately outlined in 21CP’s final report. For instance:
- In May, UCLA announced the creation of a new Office of Campus Safety, with the leader reporting directly to the Chancellor.
- UCLA also enlisted the Office of Campus Safety to work directly with the Los Angeles Police Department to pursue criminal investigations against those who perpetrated violence on UCLA’s campus.
- In September, UCLA announced updates to the university’s time, place and manner (TPM) policies to better govern campus protests and protected speech.
- Also in September, UCLA released the university’s Four-Point Plan for a Safer, Stronger UCLA outlining enhancements to campus safety, initiatives aimed at fostering dialogue across difference, and mechanisms for self-evaluation, among other policies.
UCLA will continue to work directly with 21CP on the implementation of these recommendations.