Nearly 900 members of University of California (UC) faculty and staff have been calling on Gene Block, chancellor of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), to resign over the university's response to pro-Palestinian protests on campus, reported Xinhua.
"We will not stand by as our students are assaulted and silenced," said the group in an online petition. "We remain committed to protecting our students' safety and their right to protest, assemble, and speak freely."
A total of 895 people from the 10-campus public university system have signed the petition as of Thursday night. Of them, 642 are from UCLA.
The group said in the petition they demand that UCLA recommend all legal charges be dropped and grant full amnesty to all students, staff and faculty who were involved in the encampment and peaceful protest.
"Following the violent and aggressive police sweep of the Palestine Solidarity Encampment on May 2, 2024, resulting in more than 200 students, faculty, and staff arrested while peacefully protesting, it has become obvious that Chancellor Block has failed our university," said the petition.
UC faculty and staff members also demand that UCLA issue a report within 30 days to fully disclose all investments so that students may understand how the university prioritizes their finances, and call on UCLA to divest from all military weapons production companies and supporting systems.
The UCLA Academic Senate, which represents the university's faculty, said in a message to its members earlier this week that "recent events that transpired on our campus deeply dismayed and disappointed many faculty, staff, students and alumni."
The UCLA Academic Senate said it will hold an emergency meeting on Friday to consider a no-confidence resolution and a censure resolution of Block, who has been chancellor of UCLA since 2007.
UCLA's Undergraduate Students Association Council also passed a resolution on Tuesday night calling for the resignation of Block if he does not meet the demands of the Palestine Solidarity Encampment, according to Daily Bruin, the university's student newspaper.
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
Why did the faculty and staff members demand the UCLA chancellor’s resignation? Can you provide more detailed information on the response to pro-Palestinian protests on campus?
In response to your question, the faculty and staff members demanded the UCLA chancellor’s resignation due to the university’s response to pro-Palestinian protests on campus. They feel that the chancellor has failed to protect the students’ safety and their rights to protest, assemble, and speak freely. The group is specifically calling for legal charges to be dropped and full amnesty granted to all individuals involved in the peaceful protest. Furthermore, they demand full disclosure of university investments and divestment from military weapons production companies. The petition highlights the dissatisfaction with Chancellor Block’s handling of the situation and emphasizes the commitment to safeguarding the student community.
I strongly believe that Chancellor Gene Block should resign, as his handling of the pro-Palestinian protests and the resulting arrests of students, faculty, and staff was a failure that jeopardized our university’s values and principles. It is crucial that UCLA prioritize students’ safety and rights to protest, assemble, and speak freely. I support the petition demanding the drop of all legal charges and full amnesty for those involved in the peaceful protest, and urge UCLA to be transparent about its investments and divest from military weapons production companies.
As a member of the UC faculty, I fully support the demand for Chancellor Block’s resignation. It is crucial that our university protects the rights of students to protest and express themselves without fear of violence or suppression.
As a member of the UCLA community, I fully support the call for Chancellor Block’s resignation. It’s imperative that we uphold the rights of our students to protest without fear of violence or retribution. UCLA must prioritize transparency and align its financial investments with ethical standards. It’s time for a change in leadership that truly values student safety and freedom of expression.