UCLA students up in arms over campus leaders’ delayed response and class cancellation amid wildfires
Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva discusses the local response to California’s “devastating” wildfires on The Big Money Show.
Students at the University of California, Los Angeles campus took to TikTok to loudly criticize and question the school’s administration for its delayed response to potential safety threats from the devastating wildfires.
It wasn’t until Wednesday night that Chancellor Julio Frank announced that UCLA will limit the activities of the universitycancel undergraduate classes and move graduate classes to remote Thursdays and Fridays in light of the many wildfires in the area.
As of early Thursday, at least five people were dead and more than 28,000 acres had burned as residents and UCLA students watched the fire spread.
“UCLA? More like a university that could care less (about its students’ lungs),” tweeted TikToker @negativesmart, filming the bright red, smoke-filled sky from their supposed dorm room.
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“Los Angeles may be on fire, but don’t worry, UCLA says it’s okay.” Another TikTok video by @ayiana.scott said, which has been viewed more than 1 million times.
UCLA students took to TikTok to express their displeasure at university officials’ delayed decision to cut operations and cancel classes on Thursday and Friday. (Getty Images)
Additional videos posted on social media by users @jiwonapieceofme and @chelsealstone have received hundreds of thousands of views and show the fire’s near reality on campus, with captions such as: “Hey UCLA, [what do you mean] I still have class??!!!
The rector of the university said in his letter that he is announcing temporary closures. “While there is no immediate fire threat to our campus, given the expected change in wind patterns in the coming hours, it is likely that air quality in Westwood will deteriorate.”
“POV. Evacuation [because] UCLA took back their words just hours after insisting we were “safe,” a student filmed @kennedyhayashi with the handle as she packed her bags and hit the long lines of traffic. evacuate with others university too.
As the sun barely broke through the black, smoky, afternoon sky, TikToker @eireneding compared “UCLA claims everything is fine. [versus] all the students are freaking out,” and included a weather report of “unhealthy” air quality.
Fox Business’ Lisa Kennedy talks about the latest updates on the devastating California wildfires in Los Angeles County on “The Bottom Line.”
“We will continue to monitor site conditions and are prepared to make additional adjustments to campus operations if necessary,” UCLA’s chancellor wrote in an email Wednesday evening. will share with our community through “.
UCLA employees have been told to coordinate with supervisors if they can work remotely, but health facilities will remain open and fully operational Thursday and Friday.
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CRMBC CEO and insurance industry expert Kaya Stanley explains how there is no government surplus to cover the “catastrophic” economic losses associated with the Los Angeles wildfires.
However, students’ TikTok videos — and comments reacting to the footage — before Frank’s official announcement to curtail campus activities show a definitive dissent in the late decision:
“The fact that UCLA canceled all classes is so irresponsible”; “I wish the UCLA staff was given the same option we still have [forced] go to work,” “All my life I’ve been told that UCLA is an amazing school, but they just constantly disrespect their students.”
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