Report shows how UCLA lost control during massive spring demonstrations
Independent review finds UCLA wasnt ready for large-scale student demonstrations this spring. Analysis shows gaps in planning communication and leadership during campus protests
A review by 21st Century Policing Solutions points to serious mis-steps in UCLAs handling of student demonstrations about six months ago (during the peak of mid-spring protests related to Israel-Hamas situation)
The consulting firmʼs report - released just before mid-november - shows how the schoolʼs response turned into a mess: poor planning combined with broken-down communication channels made everything worse. The universitys leadership didnt have clear rules about who should make important decisions; this led to a lot of confusion during the demonstrations
The review found several weak spots that need fixing:
- No pre-made protest response plans
- Unclear chains-of-command
- Bad communication between departments
- Missing decision-making guidelines
The school now faces pressure to fix these issues - especially the need for better coordination between campus security staff and administrators. The report suggests UCLA must create step-by-step procedures for handling big protests: including who makes calls about crowd control and when to step in
