The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) said it will create a new office focused on campus security after violence erupted at a pro-Palestinian protest camp last week.
Dozens of protesters were injured after counterprotesters attacked the camp overnight Wednesday for hours without police intervention, and police fired rubber bullets at protesters on Thursday while making arrests.
Chancellor Gene Block said Sunday in a message for students that “urgent changes are needed in the way we manage security operations,” adding that he is committed to a “thorough investigation of our security processes.”
The new Office of Public Safety will oversee campus police and emergency response, he said. The office will be led by former Sacramento Police Chief Rick Braziel.
Block said violence at recent protests has “damaged trust in our community” but did not reference any specific incident.
The university also announced that students will return to classes on Monday, after all classes last week were canceled due to the protests.
More than 200 UCLA students were arrested last week, the California Highway Patrol said.
The clashes at UCLA marked the most violent conflict in a nationwide movement of pro-Palestinian campus protests. Hundreds of college campuses have seen similar protests in recent weeks, with more than 2,000 students being arrested across the country.
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