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Introducing Our New Logo

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very Bruin has a story. Whether it’s a story of struggle or success, of growth or giving back, each journey is unique and very often life defining. Together, these stories give power and strength to the collective. They inspire, they illuminate, they enrich our understanding of our Bruin identity and diversity. The narratives of all 660,000-plus alumni cannot be told all at once, but with a renewed focus on what makes each person extraordinary, we boldly proclaim to every UCLA alum, “We see you!"

This logo is the visual identity of our alumni community, representing the connectedness of each one of our living alumni to UCLA. Intended to convey a colloquial, friendly, approachable vibe, it’s a call for Bruin camaraderie and engagement. The singular, gender-inclusive and commonly used term “alum” speaks to you as an individual, providing a contemporary update that honors your personal and professional needs, and contributions to the community. Simply put, we’re here to tell your Bruin story. 

Our new logo and visual identity will be rolled out throughout the coming months. A lot of exciting things are in the works, which we look forward to sharing with you soon.

Recent Articles

Running It Back

DeShaun Foster’s ’14 career is a highlight reel of standout moments and game-changing accomplishments.

• Pac-10 Champion
• All-American
• NFC Champion
• Sixth longest touchdown run in Super Bowl history
• UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame inductee
• California High School Hall of Fame inductee

His most recent feat: Head Coach for the UCLA Bruins.

On Feb. 12, 2024, Foster was named the 19th head coach of his alma mater, ushering in a new era of UCLA Football. Since then, Foster has been tirelessly preparing the Bruins under the three pillars he lives by.

“If you turn on the T.V., discipline, respect and enthusiasm are things you should see us producing,” said Foster. “If you come around the weight room, that’s what you should be able to see. If you see our guys in classes, that’s what you should see. If you see them in their dorms or apartments, that’s what you should be able to see. You should see discipline, respect and enthusiasm from our kids and staff in all facets.”

Foster, of course, is no stranger to Westwood.

As a student, the Bruin running back capped off his prolific playing career ranked second among UCLA players in touchdowns (44), third in rushing yards (3,194) and fifth in scoring (266 points). In his senior year, Foster led the Pac-10 in rushing with 138.6 yards per game; he helped lead the Bruins to a Pac-10 Championship title in 1998. He was named an All-American in 2001.

In 2002, the Carolina Panthers drafted Foster in the second round of the NFL Draft. Two years later, Foster and the Panthers won the NFC and punched their ticket to Super Bowl XXXVIII where he produced the sixth-longest touchdown run in Super Bowl history. After four seasons with the Panthers, Foster joined the San Francisco 49ers in 2008, where he would go on to conclude his professional playing career.

Foster joined the staff of the Bruins’ football program in 2012 as a student assistant. He was named a graduate assistant in 2014 (the same year he came back and finished his bachelor of arts in history degree) and served as the director of player development and high school relations in 2015. He had a brief stint in 2016 with Texas Tech as their running back coach, and returned to Westwood in 2017, where he assumed the team’s running back coach position. Foster was named associate head coach in 2023 and became head coach last February.

Having experienced success on all levels, Foster now looks to invest his knowledge in future generations of Bruins.

“I’ve made it to places where many of these players want to go, and now I can let them know that it's possible to compete on a high level while competing in the classroom at a high academic school,” said Foster. “I’ve sat in these seats. I went to school here. I played sports here. I lived in the Village. Ate in the Village. At one point, everything in my life was associated with UCLA and Westwood, and now, I get to continue to invest in these players and build a culture of discipline, respect and enthusiasm.”

Additionally, Foster is determined to resurrect the Bruins’ rich history of tradition – much of which he experienced as a student.

On April 27, the Bruins held the annual Spring Game at the Rose Bowl, something the program had not done since 2015. Dubbed the “Spring Showcase,” the event gave the crowd of 10,000-plus Bruin faithful a glimpse of the 2024 roster and a chance to collect autographs from current players and coaches afterward. Also, fans were treated to the return of another beloved tradition: the Bruin Walk.

Not to be confused with the main thoroughfare on campus, the Bruin Walk is when UCLA players and coaches get off their buses and enter the Rose Bowl, providing UCLA fans the opportunity to cheer on and support the Bruins before they play.

“The Bruin Walk is a big part of UCLA Football history,” said Foster. “It gets players excited. You see the fans tailgating and turning up for the game and you don’t want to let them down. When I was coming to games back in the early 1990s, I always made sure I was there early enough to see the players enter into the Rose Bowl.”

The coach is also looking to implement new traditions into the program. One new tradition began on April 19 when Foster and his staff held the inaugural Friday Night Lights, a festival-like setting where fans could watch an evening spring football practice and partake in games, food trucks and live performances.

As Foster breathes new life into the program, he believes these efforts will also help attract recruits.

“We’re looking for players that are resilient, don't shy away from hard work and are natural leaders,” said Foster on recruiting. “We're truly looking for good people who just happen to be good at football.”

Confident, but humble, Foster knows that while implementing traditions and pillars is crucial to the success of the program, he ultimately can’t revitalize the program on his own.

“Alumni involvement is critical for our program,” he said. “Like myself, they’ve done it all. They’ve sat here, had midterms and finals, played in games and balanced life, so to have them involved and share their experience and knowledge with our players about life on and off the field is huge. I want to help bridge the gaps.”

One practical way Foster emphasized alumni involvement would be to invest in giving career advice and opportunities to current players.

“Some of these guys have aspirations to be in various business fields, and if there are alumni out there that could help give wisdom and access, that would be great. A lot of our guys don’t have time for internships that a college student would normally take on during the summer due to football practice, so being able to help them get career exposure would help them with life after football.”

Of course, alumni are also welcome to contribute resources for the success of the program.

“NIL is a big part of the game today, and I think we’re moving in the right direction. We’ve been doing a lot with Men of Westwood, which is a great opportunity for alumni and fans to support not just the football team, but all the student-athletes at UCLA.”

But most importantly, Foster wants the Bruin community to support the team by showing up this fall.

“Be around and come out to our games,” said Foster. “Sometimes, showing up to our games, whether at home in the Rose Bowl or wherever we are on the road is more valuable than donating money. I like our team this season and we’re excited to compete.”

This fall, after nearly a century as a member of the conference known today as the Pac-12, the Bruins will compete in their inaugural season as a member of the Big Ten Conference. While this change will feature a brand-new slate of competitors and challenges throughout the country, the new head coach and his team aren’t afraid of the change.

“I like this opportunity,” said Foster. “I was always taught to run to the fight. We're not scared of any of the things that come with this change. It’s more exposure for our players and will help them put their best foot forward as more of the nation will be able to see our games.”

The Bruins will begin the 2024 season on Saturday, Aug. 31, at 4:30 p.m. on the road in Honolulu, Hawaii, against the University of Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors. Two weeks later, the Bruins will compete in their home opener at the Rose Bowl against conference opponent Indiana at 4:30 p.m.

“We have some really good stuff going on over here. We’ll keep getting better and better, and when the fall comes, I think you will see a really good product on the field that you're just going to have no choice but to come out and support.”

Learn more about Coach Foster and UCLA Football here.

Recent Articles

New Bruin Send-off Celebrations

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t isn’t a UCLA summer without New Bruin Send-offs! As incoming students and families prepare for their big move in the fall, these celebrations are a welcoming experience to help ease nerves, provide information and share excitement for what’s to come. These casual events range from backyard gatherings to a picnics in the park, hosted by regional, affinity and diversity alumni networks in partnership with Alumni Affairs. They take place in California, as well as across the country and around the world, wherever a delegation of incoming Bruins can be found, and are usually attended by current and incoming Bruin families, local alumni and a staff representative. These first-year UCLA students shared their experiences at their New Bruin Send-offs.

Jeremy Estrella (political science) had a lot of questions about UCLA and wanted to learn more, so he attended the Pasadena, California Send-off. When he arrived at a local park, he made a nametag and met a few UCLA families. The event included games, including a scavenger-hunt where he asked other Bruins get-to-know-you questions which encouraged conversation.

Katarina Shroeter (microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics) attended the Atlanta, Georgia Send-off. She said that since she was out of state and unable to go to Bruin Day, the Send-off was a great alternative to learn more about the school. She was happy when she met a few people and learned that others were just as excited as she was to be going to UCLA. “Being out of state, I feel like it’s nice to know people from where you’re from because you have that built-in community once you get there.” Katarina said that it was nice to know that other people were sharing the experience of moving across the country for school and that the Send-off was “a good way to get to know some people before starting school. It definitely made me more excited.”

Ashlyn Ablao (mechanical engineering) attended the San Diego, California Send-off, and she shared a similar sentiment, “Everyone will have different experiences, but the Send-off gives you the chance to meet new people. I met one of my current best friends at my Send-off.” She described how great it was to meet up once on campus with someone she already knew.

Lauren Morr (biology) from Sacramento said that she highly recommends that people attend a Send-off in their area. “You learn more about the school, and it was really nice to see the UCLA network that you have in your hometown.” Estrella agreed, saying that it was nice seeing people on campus that you met at the Send-off and having that shared experience. And Shroeter remarked, “Even if they don’t become your best friends, it’s a familiar face to see around campus.”

Estrella’s favorite part of his send-off was when everyone shared why they were excited to go to UCLA. He said it made it really easy to “find a common interest with his peers” which made him even more excited to start school.

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Learn more about New Bruin Send-offs happening near you.

Don’t see your hometown? Check back soon as more are continuing to be added.

New students can also learn more about the UCLA Alumni Association and its offerings by watching the 2024 Orientation video.

Recent Articles

The Lowell Milken Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofits: Addressing a Booming Need

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new $8.05 million gift from Lowell Milken, J.D. ’73, has elevated UCLA Law’s Program on Philanthropy and Nonprofits – established in 2021 with a $3.7 million gift from Milken – to the status of research center. It recently launched as the Lowell Milken Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofits.

The center will provide much-needed education for UCLA Law students as well as nonprofit professionals who would like to acquire better grounding in the legal aspects of running a nonprofit. The center also aims to provide thought leadership and scholarship for the sector.

Much of the motivation for Milken’s gifts comes from understanding a societal shift happening with aging boomers.

“We are at a unique moment in history, where members of the baby boomer generation have accumulated unprecedented wealth. That wealth is spurring revolutionary change in philanthropy and giving,” Milken said. “Ultimately, this generational wealth shift and the infusion of financial capital into the philanthropic community have the potential to create a profoundly positive impact on society.”

Rose Chan Loui, the center’s executive director, added, “In the United States, so many of the social services that we need are provided by nonprofits. The huge transfer of wealth that has started to happen amounts to trillions of dollars. Lowell wants this next generation of philanthropists to have experts working with them so that they can have the most positive social impact possible with their funds.”

Chan Loui is hoping that a large number of these experts will eventually come from the UCLA alumni community. She also invites UCLA alumni in the philanthropic and nonprofit space to reach out to the center.  Whether it’s to mentor students, participate in panels, or engage with the center’s educational offerings, Chan Loui says they would like to hear from interested Bruins. “We encourage alumni to join our mailing list and talk to us about how they can be involved.”

In addition to courses for those in the J.D. and LL.M. programs, the center will provide executive education programming, as well as special events and talks.

“We’ve had a very busy year,” Chan Loui said.  “We’ve been focusing on different constituencies within the nonprofit and philanthropic world. For example, we had a large convening of arts nonprofits and funders, featuring the chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, Maria Rosario Jackson, Ph.D. ’96. We held a big conference jointly with Loyola Law School that is targeted at practitioners – mostly lawyers, nonprofit accountants and in-house counsel at nonprofits. Due to the generosity of event sponsors, we were able to provide scholarships to 20 law students from UCLA and Loyola to attend the conference.  At the law school, we have been conducting career panels to introduce students to what they can do in the philanthropy and nonprofit world.  Finally, we just hosted at the law school a conversation with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on the challenging issue of homelessness. There are many UCLA alumni out there working in the nonprofit world; we would love to bring them together for an event.”

One possibility for such a gathering might be a discussion of the drama that occurred at OpenAI with the ouster and subsequent return of CEO Sam Altman. Chan Loui co-wrote an article with the center’s faculty director Jill Horwitz and senior scholar in residence Ellen Aprill on the intrigue at the ChatGPT company and how it’s nonprofit status played a large role in the drama. Chan Loui also appeared on CNBC’s “Squawkbox” discussing the situation.

“Open AI is actually a nonprofit with a nonprofit mission, something that a lot of people did not recognize; they were saying, ‘Who are these people and what do they know about artificial intelligence? They don’t even have a financial interest in AI’ – but that is exactly why they were placed there to guard the nonprofit mission.”

Many lawyers who have decided the corporate world is not as satisfying as they had hoped have turned to the nonprofit sector as a rewarding way of using their legal education and experience – despite it being potentially less lucrative.

“Students are often concerned that a career in nonprofit law is not financially viable – but that is not true,” Chan Loui said. “There is a world there that they might be able to fit into someday.

“There’s been some good interest at the law graduate studies level – people who are here getting LL.M.s – and I think it’s because they’re farther along in a career or they’re making pivots.  What you hear the most is that they’re looking for careers that are fulfilling, and that’s what a nonprofit law career can give you. If you find a cause that you’re interested in, it’s a great space to be in. You’re not going to make the same money as being a partner in big law firm or by being a venture capitalist, but you can have a solid lifestyle and at the same time feel really good about your work.

“Nonprofits always need really good volunteers. So if you want to get your feet wet and have specific expertise to offer, e.g., legal or financial, joining the board of a nonprofit is a really good way to get involved in that nonprofit world, to give back. That’s how I started – it was when I started volunteering on boards that I realized how much I liked being in that sector. So I pivoted from doing corporate tax into nonprofit – and I feel that I’ve found my place.

“The tricky challenge with nonprofit law is there's not this defined path as there is for law firms or even for government work. Most nonprofit lawyers have worked at law firms first, or in government or as public interest lawyers, then gotten themselves trained and then moved into nonprofit law practice or nonprofit management. It's a more circuitous path and you can get there in all kinds of ways. But it helps to know that you can go in that direction. We really appreciate people who want to mentor others who are interested in practicing nonprofit law or being in the nonprofit world.”

Chan Loui says Lowell Milken’s inspiration for funding this center is the transfer of wealth from the baby boomer generation to their children. “We need the next generation of lawyers and experts to be advisers to all the philanthropists we are expecting. Many of us are getting to retirement age and there aren’t a lot of people to continue the work, because we haven’t been training them.”

With the advent of the Lowell Milken Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofits, UCLA Law is taking a large step toward addressing that situation.

To join the center’s mailing list, please email nonprofits@law.ucla.edu.

Recent Articles

BRUINS IN THE PROS: CHEER AND DANCE EDITION 2

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CLA has enjoyed a long history of producing professional athletes in a variety of sports. In this sequel to Bruins in the Pros: Cheer and Dance Edition, we’re featuring 12 recent graduates who are currently performing for professional cheerleading and dance teams in both the NFL and NBA.

Claudia Borton ʼ21

UCLA Degree: Dance major, Spanish minor

Professional Teams: Third season with Las Vegas Raiderettes (2022 - Present), Los Angeles Charger Girls (2019-20)

UCLA Activities: Icarus Dance Company (2017), UCLA Dance Team (2018-19), Junior Spirit Squad Coordinator (2018-19), Student Representative at JWAC (2018-21), WACSmash 2020, Spring Sing 2021 (Outspoken), UCLA Snow Team (2020-21), Chi Omega Sorority (2017-21) (Recruitment Chair 2021)

Favorite UCLA Memory:

“During spring quarter of my senior year, we held many Ski Team traditions, some of which honored and recognized the seniors on the team. We spent almost every weekend at Mammoth Mountain, laughing, sharing stories and, most importantly, shredding. My younger sister Sarah, who originally recruited me for the team, is now the president of the Ski Team for her senior year.”

How has UCLA helped you in pursuing your goals?

“UCLA gave me the tools to think critically about how I approach my goals rather than being narrow-minded on how to achieve a certain outcome. The people I met over my four years taught me that the process of growth is much more rewarding than reaching a desired outcome. UCLA continues to help me as I have relationships with my professors and peers that will last a lifetime.”

Ashley Holtz ʼ23

UCLA Degrees: Biochemistry, Biomedical Research minor

Professional Team: Second season with Las Vegas Raiderettes (2023 - Present)

UCLA Activities: UCLA Dance Team, Icarus Contemporary Dance Team, Undergraduate researcher in Dr. Steven Clarke’s lab, Rivkin EDU, Regenerative Medicine Associated Program, Expressive Movement Initiative, Pi Beta Phi sorority

Favorite UCLA Memory:

“One of my favorite memories was the UCLA vs. LSU football game in 2021. It was so exciting to perform to a stadium full of fans at the Rose Bowl during my first season! I also will always remember graduation weekend. I enjoyed celebrating with my friends and family before moving to Las Vegas!”

How has UCLA helped you in pursuing your goals?

“UCLA allowed me the opportunity to engage in pre-med activities while continuing to dance. In one of my first UCLA classes, I remember thinking I would never be able to read scientific literature. I have come a long way since, and I owe it to my PI and professors at UCLA. Additionally, my UCLA Spirit Squad coaches and teammates prepared me very well to cheer at the professional level. I cannot express enough gratitude for the inspiring peers and mentors I met at UCLA. Go Bruins!”

Maddie Mapes ʼ20

UCLA Degree: Dance major, Food Studies minor

Professional Team: Fifth season with Las Vegas Raiderettes (2020 - Present)

UCLA Activities: UCLA Dance Team

Favorite UCLA Memory: 

“Taking the field for the first time at the Rose Bowl while on the UCLA Dance Team. I always dreamed about cheering for the Bruins and it was such an honor to represent UCLA.”

How has UCLA helped you in pursuing your goals?

“Being on the UCLA Dance Team challenged me to become a stronger dancer and overall shaped me into the person and athlete that I am today. I am grateful for my coaches who helped me pursue my goal of dancing and cheering at the professional level. I am so proud to be a Bruin and will always cherish my memories from UCLA. Go Bruins!”

Mia Robertson ʼ22

UCLA Degree: Dance major, Film, TV, and Digital Media minor

Professional Team: Third season with Los Angeles Rams Cheerleaders (2022 - Present)

UCLA Activities: Kappa Kappa Gamma

Favorite UCLA Memory: 

“Finally being able to take classes in person because I transferred here during the pandemic.”

How has UCLA helped you in pursuing your goals?

“UCLA helped me achieve my goals because the dance major introduced me to a great community of people with similar goals and aspirations.”

Leah Roga ʼ23

UCLA Degrees: Communications and Film, TV, and Digital Media minor

Professional Teams: Golden State Warriors Dance Team (2023-24)

UCLA Activities: UCLA Dance Team Captain, UCLA Athletics Marketing Intern and Expressive Movement Initiative Teaching Dance to Children With Special Needs

Favorite UCLA Memory:

“Performing with Gwen Stefani and the L.A. Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl! Dancing to ‘Hollaback Girl’ in front of thousands of people is an experience I will never forget.”

How has UCLA helped you in pursuing your goals?

“UCLA provided a strong foundation in my field and connected me with valuable opportunities for both my professional and dance careers. I am so grateful to be able to work full time as a marketing compliance specialist while also pursuing my lifelong dream of being a professional cheerleader!”

Abby Roque ʼ21

UCLA Degree: Nursing

Professional Team: Second season with Los Angeles Laker Girls (2022 - Present)

UCLA Activities: UCLA Dance Team

Favorite UCLA Memory:

“The UCLA vs. SDSU game in 2019 was the very first football game [at which] I danced with the Spirit Squad. The Bruin pride that fuels the energy at the Rose Bowl Stadium is unmatched! There is nothing like a first-game experience on the field and court.”

How has UCLA helped you in pursuing your goals?

“As the first nursing student on the UCLA Dance Team, I was able to continue chasing my love for dance while studying at one of the most prestigious nursing schools in the country.  I have continued pursuing both of my passions, now practicing as an ICU nurse and professional NBA dancer.”

Ani Rosen ʼ23

UCLA Degrees: World Arts & Culture and Dance major and Entrepreneurship minor

Professional Team: First season with Los Angeles Laker Girls (2023-24)

UCLA Activities: UCLA Dance Team (Senior Captain), Member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority

Favorite UCLA Memory:

“It is hard to pick just one memory – but some of my favorite memories include stepping out onto the field at the Rose Bowl for the first time, traveling with the UCLA Basketball team during March Madness, and dancing alongside a group of incredibly talented and inspiring teammates and coaches. It was truly an honor getting to represent UCLA!”

How has UCLA helped you in pursuing your goals?

“I will forever cherish the invaluable lessons that I learned throughout my time as a student at UCLA, and it was my experiences in and out of the classroom that set me up for a successful professional career. My time on the UCLA Dance Team inspired me to chase after my dreams of dancing professionally, and it truly is a dream come true getting to represent the Lakers organization as a Laker Girl!”

Sydney Rosen ʼ20

UCLA Degrees: Psychology Communications and Film, TV, and Digital Media minor

Professional Team: First season with Los Angeles Laker Girls (2023-24)

UCLA Activities: UCLA Dance Team (Captain Senior Year), Member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority, Beta Xi Chapter

Favorite UCLA Memory:

“My first football game as a Dance Team member stands out. So much hard work and preparation had gone into that moment, and to feel the excitement of the crowd at the Rose Bowl, and dance in front of tens of thousands of fans for the first time, was an experience I will never forget. I also have fond memories of traveling for Pac-12 and NCAA tournaments, and meeting my forever best friends throughout my involvement on campus.”

How has UCLA helped you in pursuing your goals?

“The education I received at UCLA taught me how to be curious, think critically and thoughtfully, and always be dedicated to and passionate about what I am working on, which has served me in all aspects of life. The experience I gained on the UCLA Dance Team allowed me to accomplish my dream of being a Los Angeles Laker Girl, and I am forever grateful for the connections I made and lessons I learned as a Bruin.”

Jordie Schwerdt ʼ20

UCLA Degrees: Psychobiology

Professional Team: Second season with the Las Vegas Raiderettes (2023 - Present), Los Angeles Laker Girls (2021-22)

UCLA Activities: UCLA Dance Team, Kappa Alpha Theta, Alumni Affairs Intern, Bruins Fighting Pediatric Cancer Member, Volunteer at UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital

Favorite UCLA Memory:

“My favorite UCLA memory is traveling to basketball tournaments with the UCLA Spirit Squad!”

Lauren Shaw ʼ23

UCLA Degrees: Dance

Professional Team: First season with Los Angeles Laker Girls (2023-24)

UCLA Activities: UCLA Dance Team, Member of the Alpha Phi, Beta Delta Chapter (Vice President of Membership Recruitment)

Favorite UCLA Memory:

“Choosing just one favorite memory from my time at UCLA is difficult. However, a moment I will forever cherish is performing ‘Thunderstruck’ with my teammates at the Rose Bowl during the UCLA vs. USC football game.”

How has UCLA helped you in pursuing your goals?

“Growing up, I always dreamed of becoming a professional dancer. My experience with the UCLA Dance Team, dancing at football and basketball games, is where I truly fell in love with performing. This school and program taught me the importance of school spirit, being an ambassador and being a great teammate. It has equipped me with the skills I need today at the professional level. I am incredibly grateful to my coaches and directors for their guidance and mentorship throughout my time at UCLA. I will forever cherish the memories I made, both on and off the field. Go Bruins and Go Lakers!”

Aria Terango ʼ22

UCLA Degree: Dance and Neuroscience

Professional Team: Third season with Los Angeles Rams Cheerleaders (2022 - Present)

UCLA Activities: WACSmash, Expressive Movement Initiative, MYUCLA Health Ambassadors, Mortar Board, Medicine and Art, and Pre-med Undergraduate Society

Favorite UCLA Memory:

“At graduation, I spent the whole day going to my favorite spots on campus, from Ackerman to Royce, with my family and best friends! It was the perfect culmination of all my hard work and allowed me to truly appreciate everything UCLA has offered me.”

How has UCLA helped you in pursuing your goals?

“I’m so grateful to UCLA for offering me such a high-quality education and encouraging me to stay curious and pursue my passions. For these reasons, I had the confidence to audition for this life-changing role.”

Mimi Wilson ʼ24

UCLA Degree: Psychology

Professional Team: First season with Los Angeles Rams Cheerleaders (2024 - Present)

UCLA Activities: UCLA Dance Team, Academic Advancement Program (AAP)

Favorite UCLA Memory:

"My favorite memory at UCLA was the basketball games at Pauley Pavilion. I got to dance and cheer for the Bruins on campus and it was a dream come true. There is nothing better than doing what you love, with people you love, for a school you love."

How has UCLA helped you in pursuing your goals?

"Dancing professionally has always been a goal of mine, and the UCLA Dance Team helped me achieve that goal. Along with the irreplaceable memories, I trained with the incredible team and gained experiences that made me a well rounded individual. Being at UCLA in general has taught me the importance of being a good person and a hard worker."

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If we missed any Bruins who are currently cheering or dancing with a professional sports team, please email us at connectfeedback@alumni.ucla.edu.    

Recent Articles

Graduation Well Wishes From UCLA Alumni

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lumni were invited to submit well wishes to the graduating class of 2024 and share some pearls of wisdom for the benefit of these new grads. These were some of the responses. 

“This is only the beginning – everything you have learned and loved at UCLA will be with you every step of the way. Exciting things are to come. Congratulations on everything you have accomplished and are yet to. Go Bruins!”

- Lizzy Tsuang ʼ21

“Congratulations Class of 2024! Your sacrifice and dedication has led you to this wonderful moment of possibilities. I will share with you some helpful advice that I received which is to stay connected by maintaining a network of peers and mentors who will be there to help you navigate your next path. Enjoy the journey!”

- Sandra Matthews-Sims ʼ91

“Stay in touch with your UCLA friends as you go through life - it’s so much fun to see what direction everyone goes in. I’m going to the 70th birthday party of a friend of mine from UCLA in the late 1970s! Also, cherish those friendships made in your formative years!”

- Karen Letendre ʼ76

“Congrats, grad! You persevered through challenges that have come your way, both personally and globally, so take time to acknowledge this. Your life will undergo so many more changes, so embrace them and the lessons they will teach you. Believe in your powers - your intelligence, your kindness, your curiosity - and be bold. Don't compare your journey to others because it's YOUR journey. You've got this!”

- Brianna Lopez ʼ14

“You will find your path. Be patient with yourself. You are enough and right where you need to be.”

- Lauren Yang ʼ13

“Cherish your relationships in everything you do and take nothing for granted. Life is truly a fast and unpredictable adventure that will delight and humble you. So enjoy the ride, weather the storms, create your story and keep on living!”

- Gil Hoftman ʼ05

“Thank you all for your efforts to transverse this challenge and improve yourself amongst the best in the world. Let others learn and be inspired through your actions. We can't wait to see.”

- Alan Achterberg ʼ89

“Never stop learning new things. It is a lifelong process. Find your passion. Be kind!”

- Bridget D’Aguilar ʼ03

“Soak in every moment of this great accomplishment, then get ready for the next great adventure! And always remember to stay connected to UCLA.”

- Todd Sargent ʼ96

“Dr. Seuss said it best: 'Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.' Live each day being fully present, and with awareness and gratitude. You are a Bruin, so you are destined for great things!”

- Maureen Leavitt ʼ98

Recent Articles

Going B1G Time

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early 2,500 years ago, ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus famously stated, “The only thing constant is change.” We hear quotes like that oftentimes, especially when any sort of change happens, whether it’s expected or not.

One change that we can be reasonably sure almost all Bruins (and Trojans across town, for that matter) didn’t expect was the seismic announcement back on June 30, 2022, that UCLA (and USC) would be leaving the Pac-12 Conference and joining the Big Ten Conference on Aug. 2, 2024, once the current Pac-12 television contract expires.

At the very moment when this news broke (thanks to longtime San Jose Mercury News columnist Jon Wilner) that fateful day, I was wrapping up a meeting at the USC Tower in Downtown Los Angeles, marking the end of another fiscal year in my former role as chief alumni relations officer at USC (yes, this Bruin proudly wore cardinal and gold for a couple of decades!).

By the time I got back to my former office on USC’s University Park campus 15 minutes later, the news was everywhere, the Twitterverse (as it was formerly known!) was on fire with every conceivable opinion and my iPhone was blowing up with text messages. And I was not alone, of course…whether a Bruin, Trojan, or anyone connected to any Pac-12 or Big Ten institution, or any casual sports fan for that matter, you couldn’t escape this bombshell news and have some sort of reaction.

To be candid, having been on staff at USC since 2000 (including eight years in USC Athletics before heading over to the USC Alumni Association), I wasn’t entirely surprised that the Trojans were heading to the Big Ten. After all, there had been a “wandering eye” mystique and whispers for decades among the Trojan Family that, as a private institution with a spirited rivalry against Notre Dame – the “golden (dome)” standard of intercollegiate athletics independence – USC should also consider independence, at least in the venerated world of college football, especially as the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference (SEC) continued to pull markedly ahead of the Pac-12 and other “major leagues” (e.g. Big 12 and Atlantic Coast Conference) in terms of media rights and exposure.

And to be even more candid, as a degree holder from both institutions (and a former member of the UCLA Spirit Squad in the late ʼ80s and early ʼ90s), I felt that I was more excited than practically anyone I spoke to that day or thereafter, Bruin or Trojan! After all, two of my three alma maters (the other being Tennessee, safely tucked away in the Smoky Mountains as a proud member of the SEC), were suddenly making national news and a bold statement that they were giving college sports yet another shot in the arm by joining what is considered the nation’s most prestigious athletic and academic conference (I’ll break that down later in this piece).

Yet, who could imagine UCLA and USC, the Pac-12’s flagship brands for men’s basketball and football (and yes, Arizona could easily lay claim to being the men’s basketball standard the last couple decades), not being part of the West Coast’s preeminent athletic conference? Not many, I posit…but it wasn’t the Los Angeles schools acting in a vacuum.

In fact, the winds of change had been blowing for quite some time, and many will point to the previous summer, when Texas and Oklahoma shook everything up with the news that they were bolting from the Big 12 to the SEC in 2025 (and since then, with so much else in turmoil, that timeline was accelerated to 2024). This development in 2021 put the wheels in motion for more upheaval, and regardless of any of the backroom dealings and conversations to which very, very few were privy (even top-ranking administrators and fiduciary board members, as it turns out), USC and UCLA were in the proverbial catbird seat with illustrious athletic and academic heritage, and key positioning in the nation’s second largest media market.

And while the rich (e.g. Big Ten and SEC) were getting seemingly richer with each passing year with more lucrative media rights deals, the gaps between those “Power 2” and the rest of the Power 5 (Pac-12, Big 12, ACC) were becoming more profound and putting the latter three at an increasing competitive disadvantage. While we can only continue to speculate as to what conversations could have been happening (other than some of the public speculation and jockeying for a potential Pac-12/Big 12 merger after the summer 2021, news of Texas and Oklahoma heading to the SEC), what we do know is that for the reasons announced on June 30, 2022, UCLA and USC were heading to the Big Ten beginning in the 2024-25 academic year to solidify their respective positions as top-tier athletic and academic juggernauts being a part of the most academically renowned Power 5 conference.    

Of the Big Ten’s current 14 members, 13 of them are members of the elite American Association of Universities, a consortium of 71 of the most academically prestigious colleges and universities in North America. The current Pac-12, including UCLA and USC, boasts 9 AAU members, and once UCLA, USC, Oregon and Washington join the Big Ten on Aug. 2, the Big Ten will have 17 of its 18 members as part of AAU, while Nebraska – whose AAU status was revoked in 2014 – is believed to be seeking reinstatement in the AAU at some point in the future.

Remember, UCLA has been deemed the nation’s no. 1 public research university for seven consecutive years, so why shouldn’t UCLA, with its illustrious athletics heritage, be a part of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious athletic conference?

Well, now UCLA (along USC, Oregon and Washington) is heading to the behemoth Big Ten, and along with USC will receive full shares of a new Big Ten media rights deal that’s expected to yield at least $60 million per year for each school (while Oregon and Washington – who opted last summer to join the defection to the Big Ten – will receive 50% shares for the next six years), markedly higher than the $25 - $30 million that a 10-member Pac-12 (sans UCLA and USC) was expected to secure. 

Even if the Los Angeles schools stayed in the Pac-12, the most optimistic estimates from industry experts only put the Pac-12’s media value at $500 million per year, or $42 million per institution under the Pac-12’s equal shares distribution model. This underwhelming valuation, along with the continued Pac-12 Networks distribution shortcomings – which for more than a decade caused much consternation and headaches for fans since the Network’s launch back in 2012 – was enough reason to strongly consider a new world order for UCLA and USC, especially as the Big Ten Networks were not only generating significantly more cash for their institutions, but also being more accessible to Pac-12 audiences than their own Networks in their own media backyards! 

And now, with these four Pac-12 powerhouses joining the Big Ten (or B1G as it’s commonly referred), it will boast the nation’s top four media markets:

NYC metro area – Rutgers

Los Angeles

Chicago – Northwestern and Illinois

Philadelphia – Penn State

Five of the top 10 with the addition of:

D.C. metro area – Maryland

And eight of the top 15 with the addition of:

Detroit – Michigan

Seattle – Washington  

Twin Cities – Minnesota

The other Power 2 conference, the SEC, can only claim four of the top 15 media markets.

Of course, the arguments for staying in the Pac-12 were certainly formidable (though not the point of this article), given that concerns were raised about student-athlete welfare considering more extensive travel distances and potential for missed classes, the shirking of decades-long traditions such as annual Bay Area football trips and rivalries such as UCLA-Arizona Men’s Basketball, and UCLA’s intra-system relationship with UC Berkeley (I believe that with their recent rebranding they want to be Berkeley again, even though we’ll refer to them as “Cal” for the purposes of this piece). 

And, of course, once the additional wave of defections was announced last summer with Oregon and Washington joining UCLA and USC in the Big Ten, Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah heading to the Big 12, and Cal and Stanford heading to the ACC, more doubts arose from Bruins concerned that our move to the Big Ten started the domino effect leading to the Pac-12’s eventual dissolution (even though Oregon State and Washington State are remaining part of the league as it looks to reconstitute or realign itself in the next two years).  Whether UCLA alumni – who care so deeply for our alma mater whether we are sports fans or not – agree or disagree with the impending move to the Big Ten (and the unfortunate demise of the Pac-12), the reality is that it is happening, and it’s approaching quickly!  

While so much remains to be seen, we can be sure of this much: UCLA’s leadership, thanks to outgoing Chancellor Gene Block and Athletic Director Martin Jarmond, did their homework to assure that being a part of the Big Ten was in the overall best interest of UCLA, the Bruin athletics program and our student-athletes. UCLA Athletics has done extensive research and work to assure that the impact of Big Ten travel, considering a myriad of scheduling models and creative travel matrices, would be more than feasible with enhanced resources (thanks to the Big Ten financial largesse) such as chartered travel and increases in nutritional, physical and mental well-being resources. Let’s also not forget UCLA’s obligation to make $10 million “Calimony” payments each year for the next three years to assist Cal, which will be less resourced in its new ACC home.

What is paramount now, as the Big Ten era quickly approaches, is for the entire UCLA community – alumni, students, faculty, staff, parents, friends, donors and fans – to show up, and show up “B1G!” Whether sports fans or not, hopefully Bruins will come together during this unique time, fill the Rose Bowl for UCLA’s historic Big Ten home opener vs. Indiana on Sept. 14 and renew our sense of pride and optimism for this exciting new era of our University. UCLA will have an amplified presence in more regions across the U.S., and will continue to actively program and engage with alumni in former Pac-12 regions such as the Bay Area, Phoenix and Denver, which will continue to be home to tens of thousands of Bruins.

And if you choose to stay on the sidelines for now, hopefully you’ll eventually join the ranks and come out and support UCLA wherever you are, whether that means attending a sporting event, becoming active in the Alumni Association, mentoring our students, volunteering your time, and/or financially supporting UCLA scholarships and other institutional priorities. 

But if you want to wait and see, don’t worry…the next media negotiation cycle is scheduled for 2029-30, and as stated at the beginning of this article, the only thing constant is change.

Go Bruins!

For more information and cool facts about UCLA joining the Big Ten, please visit http://uclaxbigten.com.

Save the date for the Alumni Town Hall on Aug. 2, featuring Athletic Director Martin Jarmond.

Patrick E. Auerbach ’92, Ed.D., is a higher education and nonprofit strategy consultant based in Los Angeles. He can be contacted at patrick.e.auerbach@gmail.com.

Recent Articles

UCLA Campus Protests

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ike many universities across the country and around the world, UCLA is experiencing a period of unrest. The Oct. 7 attack and ensuing conflict in Gaza have led to protests, encampments, violence, vandalism, arrests, remote learning, canceled events and calls for change. The following is a compilation of excerpts from University announcements and AP News alerts addressing these events as they unfolded. Click on the links to read the full statement.

Oct. 9, 2023

Chancellor Gene Block issued a message regarding recent violent attacks abroad and shared a statement from UC President Michael Drake and UC Board of Regents Chair Richard Leib:

“I write to share the below message from University of California President Michael V. Drake and UC Board of Regents Chair Richard Leib about the horrific and heart-wrenching terrorist attacks on Israeli citizens that took place over the weekend. These attacks led to an escalation of violence in the region that has since claimed many additional Israeli and Palestinian lives…”

Oct. 13, 2023

Chancellor Gene Block shared this message about the recent events in Israel and Gaza and the resources available to our community:

“I write to share reflections at the end of a very challenging week for both our UCLA community and the world. Only six days ago, a heinous assault was perpetrated upon Israeli civilians by the terror organization Hamas, a despicable attack that included the killing of children and the elderly as well as the taking of innocent hostages. Earlier this week, I joined UC leadership in condemning this attack, and as new details have emerged, I can only denounce it further: This was a grievous act of malice and hate. It was, I am pained to say, the largest one-day killing of Jews since the end of the Holocaust...”

Oct. 27, 2023

This message was shared with the campus community by vice chancellor for Student Affairs Monroe Gorden Jr. ʼ94, CERT. ʼ09, administrative vice chancellor Michael Beck and interim vice provost for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Mitchell Chang:

“As violence continues in the Middle East, and as events and rallies related to the conflict take place on our campus, we have heard from members of our community who are concerned about their safety. We write today to share some of the actions UCLA is taking to promote security, respect and well-being within our community while ensuring our university remains true to its commitment to freedom of expression...”

Chancellor Gene Block shared this message with the campus community about the importance of tolerance, mutual respect and maintaining a safe environment on campus:

“The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has stirred very deep emotions in many of us. But this does not in the least give anyone in our community — or anyone visiting our campus — license to make our students, staff or faculty feel unsafe.”

Nov. 10, 2023

Chancellor Block shared the following message with the campus community condemning incidents of bigotry, intolerance and intimidation that have taken place on UC campuses, including UCLA, over the past several weeks:

“Periods of conflict in the Middle East have time and again been linked to a global rise in reprehensible acts of Antisemitism, Islamophobia and anti-Arab hate. I am extremely disheartened to say that this has proven true once again, and the UCLA campus has by no means been spared…”

Feb. 21, 2024

UCLA statement on resolutions by the Graduate Student Association and the Undergraduate Students Association Council which have called for divestment from Israel:

“These resolutions run counter to the position of the University of California and UCLA, which, like all nine other UC campuses, has consistently opposed calls for a boycott against and divestment from Israel. This has been the longstanding position of all 10 UC campus chancellors and the UC Office of the President. We stand firm in our conviction that a boycott of this sort poses a direct and serious threat to the academic freedom of our students and faculty and to the unfettered exchange of ideas and perspectives on our campuses…”

March 28, 2024

UCLA issued a statement in response to an appalling and hateful display at a UC Board of Regents meeting:

“We are appalled, offended and deeply frustrated by the ugly antisemitic caricature that was displayed as part of a protest targeting a University of California Board of Regents meeting on our campus in mid-March. The protest ended on March 21 and the display has been removed. Hateful and racist depictions like this are a complete affront to UCLA’s Principles of Community and True Bruin Values, and to the diverse, inclusive academic community we aim to cultivate….”

April 25, 2024

Campus activity update: “Demonstration with encampments formed early this morning in Royce Quad.”

Mary Osako ʼ96, vice chancellor for UCLA Strategic Communications, shared the following statement regarding the demonstration:

“Our top priority is always the safety and well-being of our entire Bruin community. We’re actively monitoring this situation to support a peaceful campus environment that respects our community’s right to free expression while minimizing disruption to our teaching and learning mission...”

April 26, 2024

Mary Osako ʼ96, vice chancellor for UCLA Strategic Communications, shared a statement regarding the encampment:

“Yesterday morning, demonstrators established a physical encampment on a lawn in Royce quad, joining similar groups that have set up presences at universities across the country. UCLA’s approach to the encampment is guided by several equally important principles: the need to support the safety and wellbeing of Bruins, the need to support the free expression rights of our community, and the need to minimize disruption to our teaching and learning mission. These same long-standing principles have allowed UCLA to uphold a history of peaceful protest…”

The University of California shared the following statement:

“The University of California has consistently opposed calls for boycott against and divestment from Israel. While the University affirms the right of our community members to express diverse viewpoints, a boycott of this sort impinges on the academic freedom of our students and faculty and the unfettered exchange of ideas on our campuses…”

April 27, 2024

Campus activity update: “Regular campus activities continue uninterrupted by the encampment demonstration… Safety personnel in Student Affairs Mitigators (SAMs) and Public Safety Aides (PSAs) uniforms are around the encampment site, and CSC security teams are also located throughout campus. While in the area, you may also hear helicopter activity that is associated with the news media covering the demonstration.”

April 28, 2024

Campus activity update: “Regular campus activities continue uninterrupted by the encampment demonstration…UCLA is following University of California systemwide policy guidance, which directs us not to request law enforcement involvement preemptively, and only if absolutely necessary to protect the physical safety of our campus community.”

11:22 a.m.: Mary Osako ʼ96, vice chancellor for UCLA Strategic Communications, shared a statement:

“This morning, a group of demonstrators breached a barrier that the university had established separating two groups of protestors on our campus, resulting in physical altercations. UCLA has a long history of being a place of peaceful protest, and we are heartbroken about the violence that broke out.”

April 29, 2024

Campus activity update: “We are heartbroken to report that yesterday, some physical altercations broke out among demonstrators on Royce Quad. We have since instituted additional security measures and increased the numbers of our safety team members on site, including our uniformed Student Affairs Mitigators (SAMs), Public Safety Aides (PSAs), CSC and campus security.”

April 30, 2024

8 a.m., Campus activity update: “Events and activities are being evaluated on a case-by-case basis and we are working to maintain our regular campus life as much as possible.  Event organizers will communicate with participants directly regarding changes, cancellations or alternative access accommodations.”

4:25 p.m., Campus activity update: “Access to Royce Hall is now closed through Friday. Alternate locations are being identified as options for classes taking place in Royce. Instructors will inform students about further information regarding class location. Faculty should reach out to their departments for possible classroom reassignments.”

5 p.m.: Chancellor Gene Block shared a message with the campus affirming UCLA’s support of peaceful protest and condemning incidents of bullying and threatening behavior:

“Many of the demonstrators, as well as counter-demonstrators who have come to the area, have been peaceful in their activism. But the tactics of others have frankly been shocking and shameful. We have seen instances of violence completely at odds with our values as an institution dedicated to respect and mutual understanding. In other cases, students on their way to class have been physically blocked from accessing parts of the campus. In response… we have significantly increased our security presence in the area… we have also engaged law enforcement to investigate the recent acts of violence. The barriers that demonstrators used to block access to buildings have been removed, and we have staff located around Royce Quad to help ensure that they will not go up again… I recognize that the suffering in the Middle East has had a profound impact on our campus, and we continue to hope for a peaceful resolution. While Bruins hold a variety of perspectives on this conflict, we must all protect the wellbeing of our peers and maintain an environment safe for learning. This is a commitment I call on our community to uphold as we navigate the weeks ahead.”

A statement from UC President Michael V. Drake, M.D., on free speech and campus protests:

“The right to protest and demonstrate against policies and practices of governing authorities is among the most important privileges of a democracy. This right is not, however, absolute. We must exercise our rights within the broad confines of the laws and policies we ourselves have established. Earlier today, the UCLA campus sent out a message for those in the UCLA encampment informing them that the encampment is unlawful and violates university policy...”

Officials at UCLA declared the pro-Palestinian encampment illegal for the first time on Tuesday and warned protesters that they faced consequences if they did not leave.

May 1, 2024

12:12 a.m.: Mary Osako ʼ96, vice chancellor for UCLA Strategic Communications, shared a statement about the attack at the encampment on campus:

“Horrific acts of violence occurred at the encampment tonight and we immediately called law enforcement for mutual aid support. The fire department and medical personnel are on the scene. We are sickened by this senseless violence and it must end.”

1:10 a.m., AP News: “Pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protesters clashed in Los Angeles on the campus of UCLA on Wednesday in the latest escalation of demonstrations against the Israel-Hamas war that have spread to college campuses nationwide.”

6:59 a.m., AP News: “Police move to separate pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrators at UCLA. Police in riot gear moved onto the UCLA campus in Los Angeles amid violence between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protesters on Wednesday.”

8 a.m.: Campus activity updates: “Due to the distress caused by the violence that took place on Royce Quad late last night and early this morning, all classes are canceled today.”

2:15 p.m.: Chancellor Gene Block shared a message with the campus community about recent violence and restoring a safe learning environment at UCLA:

“Late last night, a group of instigators came to Royce Quad to forcefully attack the encampment that has been established there to advocate for Palestinian rights. Physical violence ensued, and our campus requested support from external law enforcement agencies to help end this appalling assault, quell the fighting and protect our community. However one feels about the encampment, this attack on our students, faculty and community members was utterly unacceptable. It has shaken our campus to its core and — adding to other abhorrent incidents that we have witnessed and that have circulated on social media over the past several days — further damaged our community’s sense of security.”

6:07 p.m.,  AP News: “Students speak out about overnight violence at UCLA protests… after counter-protesters ‘forcefully’ attacked a pro-Palestinian encampment at UCLA early Wednesday.”

6:30 p.m., Campus activity update: “Campus operations will be limited tomorrow and Friday. Please continue to avoid campus and the Royce Quad area… Per Academic Senate guidance on instruction, all in-person classes are authorized and required to pivot to remote tomorrow and Friday.”

8:39 p.m., AP News: “Tension grows on UCLA campus as police order dispersal of large pro-Palestinian gathering… A large crowd of students, alumni and neighbors gathered on campus steps outside the barricaded area of tents, sitting as they listened and applauded various speakers and joined in pro-Palestinian chants. Overheard television cameras showed students in the barricaded area passing out goggles and helmets, as well as setting up medical aid stations.”

May 2, 2024

12:09 a.m., AP News: “Police in riot gear massed on the UCLA campus and ordered a large group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators inside a fortified encampment to leave the area or face arrest late Wednesday.”

2:59 a.m., Bruin ALERT: “AVOID THE AREA of Dickson Plaza due police activity; Police have ordered an evacuation of Dickson Plaza due to an unlawful assembly. DO NOT re-enter the area of Dickson Plaza & follow the direction of public safety personnel. UCLA has modified campus operations.”

7:10 a.m., AP News: “Police and protesters clash at UCLA in tense scene as pro-Palestinian encampment is dismantled. Police removed barricades and have begun dismantling the fortified encampment of pro-Palestinian demonstrators in a chaotic and tense scene at the University of California, Los Angeles.”

9:25 a.m., AP News: “Tense clashes at UCLA between pro-Palestinian protesters and police lead to arrests. Police removed barricades and began dismantling pro-Palestinian demonstrators’ fortified encampment early Thursday at the University of California, Los Angeles, after hundreds of protesters defied orders to leave, some of them forming human chains as police fired flash-bangs to break up the crowds.”

1:41 p.m.: Chancellor Gene Block shared a message with the campus community about the immense toll the events of the past week have taken on Bruins:

“Our community is in deep pain. We are reeling from days of violence and division. And we hope with all our hearts that we can return to a place where our students, faculty and staff feel safe and, one day, connected again… To preserve campus safety and the continuity of our mission, early this morning, we made the decision to direct UCPD and outside law enforcement officers to enter and clear the encampment. Officers followed a plan that had been carefully developed to protect the safety of protesters at the site. Those who remained encamped last night were given several warnings and were offered the opportunity to leave peacefully with their belongings before officers entered the area. Ultimately, about 300 protesters voluntarily left, while more than 200 resisted orders to disperse and were arrested.”

May 3, 2024

Campus activity update: “Campus operations will be limited through the weekend, and are expected to resume in full on Monday. Classes continue remote through the weekend. Work, events and research activities are encouraged to remain remote or be rescheduled wherever possible during that period.”

May 5, 2024

Chancellor Gene Block sent a message to the Bruin community outlining an organizational change which will administer policing and emergency management:

“Effective immediately, I am moving oversight and management of UCLA PD and the Office of Emergency Management from the Office of the Administrative Vice Chancellor to a newly created Office of Campus Safety, whose leader reports directly to me. It is clear that UCLA needs a unit and leader whose sole responsibility is campus safety to guide us through tense times… Leading the Office of Campus Safety as its inaugural associate vice chancellor is Rick Braziel, who brings to the position more than 30 years of public safety service, including five years as chief of police for the City of Sacramento. Braziel has also served as an instructor in community policing and has led reviews of law enforcement agencies and police responses.”

Campus activity update: “The campus will return to regular operations tomorrow, Monday, May 6, and plans to remain this way through the rest of the week.”

May 6, 2024

8:30 a.m., Campus activity update: “Classes and work in Moore Hall will be remote today due to ongoing disruptions.”

10:15 a.m., Campus activity update: “All classes are moving remote today and campus operations are limited due to ongoing disruptions.” 

4 p.m., Campus activity update: “Due to ongoing disruption, the campus has returned to limited operational status. Therefore, per Senate guidance (link is external), classes will move remote May 6-10.” 

6:38 p.m.: Chancellor Gene Block shared a message with the campus community about an investigation to identify the perpetrators and hold them to account:

“Last Tuesday night, a group of instigators came to Royce Quad and violently attacked students, faculty and staff members who were encamped to advocate for Palestinian rights. This was a truly despicable act, and in my message to the campus the following day, I committed to finding those responsible and bringing them to justice. This remains an important priority. To that end, inaugural Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Safety Officer Rick Braziel is leading a law enforcement investigation to identify the perpetrators of the violence and hold them to account...”

May 7, 2024

UC announces nationally-recognized firm will review actions that led to violent events at the UCLA campus last week:

“Today, the University of California announced that 21st Century Policing Solutions (21CP) will lead the independent investigation of the actions that led to violence on the UCLA campus last week. 21CP is a nationally recognized consultant known for expertise…”

May 9, 2024

The University of California Office of the President announced guiding principles for use by UC campuses in determining disciplinary actions:

“UC campuses support and protect nonviolent and lawful protests. We do all we can within the law to facilitate freedom of expression and a vibrant exchange of ideas, while also maintaining a safe environment and access to university facilities for all members of our community… Any member of the university community who is arrested for unlawful behavior or cited for a violation of university policy must go through the applicable review process, such as student code of conduct or employee disciplinary process. UC community members found to violate university policy or campus codes of conduct will be held accountable in a manner appropriate to the situation and consistent with campus processes.”

UCPD Statement Regarding 5-6-24 Incidents:

“On Monday, May 6, 2024, at about 5:50 a.m., a UCLA community member reported a large group of people at Parking Structure 2. UCLA PD officers responded to the location and found a group of approximately 40 individuals inside the structure wearing masks and in possession of metal pipes… At about 6:05 a.m., while the group at Parking Structure 2 was still detained, a group of at least 30 individuals were seen inside Moore Hall. Moore Hall was closed to the public at that time. UCPD learned via social media that a UCLA registered student organization had just posted a statement encouraging people to occupy Moore Hall… After approximately 25 minutes of announcements… a group of about 60 individuals exited the building and left the area.”

AP News: UCLA faculty and staff denounce University’s handling of student Gaza protest. “Some professors at UCLA are demanding that the University stop its plan to punish students recently arrested while protesting the ongoing war in Gaza at a tent encampment on campus.”

May 11, 2024

Campus activity update: “ALL CLEAR - Dickson Plaza (Royce Quad) has reopened to the public. Please follow the direction of facilities & public safety personnel as the affected area(s) reopen.  Law enforcement and other security personnel continue to be on campus to help promote safety and actively monitor conditions. The campus has returned to regular operations. - ALL CLEAR.”

May 20, 2024

Chancellor Gene Block shared a message reflecting on several very difficult weeks for our UCLA community:

“The events of the past several weeks have fractured both our sense of community and our sense of security. They have bred anger and mistrust between Bruins, and they have led to marked frustration with how we have administered campus safety at UCLA. I am deeply sorry to see our community in so much pain... This week, I will be testifying before a Congressional committee focused on the topic of antisemitism on college campuses. I will speak honestly, and personally, about the challenges UCLA faces and the impact of this pernicious form of hate. I will continue to insist that antisemitism – as well as Islamophobia, anti-Arab hate and any form of bigotry, hostility or discrimination – is antithetical to our values, corrosive to our community and not to be tolerated... In my final few months as chancellor, I am dedicated to doing all I can to address these challenges and help shepherd the process of rebuilding trust and dialogue within our community. This includes ongoing discussions with student and faculty leaders of all perspectives, with the aim of ensuring our campus can be a place where advocacy does not lead to antagonism.”

As developments unfold, visit the UCLA Newsroom Campus Statements and Bruins Safe Online pages for the latest updates.

Recent Articles

Bruin Shelter Seeks Help Providing Students’ Basic Needs

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recent UCLA survey found that 5% to 20% of California’s public college and university students experience homelessness. Bruin Shelter is a student-led organization that relies on donations to provide “a safe and supportive environment for all, providing basic resources, and helping students pursue their academic goals.”

Emerald Wong Exp. ’24 and Rachel Xu Exp. ’25 are Bruin Shelter student volunteers who believe there is an urgent need to address this important issue. Xu says, “Something that we try to emphasize is that the residents are just students. If you're sitting in a 300-person lecture hall, one of every 20 students in that lecture with you is facing housing insecurity.”

Emerald Wong is Bruin Shelter’s current vice president. She is majoring in human biology and society and minoring in public health, and plans to apply to medical school after a gap year working as a clinical research coordinator. She says, “We believe that there should be no barriers to higher education, especially housing. I’ve learned how we as students can mobilize to create change on our campus, especially ethical, long term, sustainable change.”

Rachel Xu is the shelter’s co-director of staff and will be next year's incoming president. She is a human biology and society major with plans to apply to medical school and become a physician. She says, “I've come to really feel so passionately about securing basic needs for students. Seeing how food, access to medical care and housing are so intertwined has given me a more comprehensive view of healthcare and basic needs.”

Bruin Shelter was founded in 2016 by Louis Tse, M.S. ’14, Ph.D. ’16, and Luke Shaw to address the lasting economic impact of the 2008 recession. At that time, the estimated cost of running the 10-bed shelter was $25,000 per year. Since then, the shelter located in Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Santa Monica has housed a total of 51 Los Angeles college students. 

More information on the shelter’s history can be found in our 2016 story on the founding of Bruin Shelter. The nonprofit organization Students4Students (S4S) oversaw shelter operations, and expanded to include Trojan Shelter at USC and Aggie House at UC Davis.

Bruin Shelter pairs students facing a lack of housing with case managers recruited from the David Geffen School of Medicine and the Luskin School of Social Work who connect them with resources to find permanent supportive housing, employment opportunities and health care. Xu says, “I think when you have access to basic needs, it goes unnoticed and taken for granted. But having secure access to basic needs is so important, especially on college campuses.” 

In 2020, the shelter paused operations as a result of unprecedented challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although they couldn’t house students, volunteers launched a remote case management program to connect students experiencing housing insecurity with available resources. They also created a basic needs resource guide, which they provide to all applicants. Following the pandemic, as the shelter prepared to reopen, S4S let them know that they were facing financial challenges and chose to dissolve their organization. Seeking a solution, Bruin Shelter volunteers reached out to founder Louis Tse, who now runs the nonprofit organization, Student MOJO. Student MOJO accepted it as a project under their fiscal sponsorship.

Student-volunteers are searching for a new shelter location, and continue to provide essential services and resources. Wong says, “We really want to emphasize that we're looking for a new space to accommodate us and our mission.” Xu continues, “It's always been our priority to make sure we can offer housing free of cost. We're looking for financial support and job opportunities for our service recipients. These students have bright futures ahead of them, and they need housing to get there.”

In the absence of a physical shelter, volunteers have focused on initiatives to help students in other ways. In 2023, they raised nearly $6,000 in a UCLA SPARK campaign to continue their efforts to provide basic needs for unhoused college students. As part of their food resource program, volunteers shop for and deliver groceries to Los Angeles college students facing food insecurity and assemble backpacks containing hygiene, clothing and medical items which they donate to organizations that serve Los Angeles’ unhoused community. They also attend research conferences and share their mission through presentations and events. 

Bruin Shelter partnered with other service-oriented student groups to create a Community Service Commission of the Undergraduate Students Association Council. The group successfully advocated for UCLA to eliminate dining hall restriction for students with overdue tuition fees.

UCLA students Wong and Xu have come away from this experience with a deeper understanding of the complex issues surrounding housing insecurity and the importance of addressing basic needs for their peers, along with the power of getting involved and working for a better world.

Xu says, “I've been able to see these tangible changes that we've made, and it reminds you that as a student, you have so much power to effect change in your community. No action is too small and we should all use that to our advantage to create a more equitable environment.”

Wong says, “You are only in college for such a short time, I think you should really spend that time doing something that is both impactful to the broader community and meaningful to you. As students, we have so much more power than we realize; what you do really matters to other people.”

Donations to Bruin Shelter go towards providing basic needs to students experiencing housing insecurity, including hygiene and first aid products, groceries, clothing and school supplies. They are seeking a new shelter location, and in the meantime, they are working to connect college students with rent-free and supportive housing options. If you would like to donate, please click here and be sure to indicate your donation is on behalf of Bruin Shelter.

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A Fitness Examination of Sound Body Sound Mind

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t started as a nonprofit organization in 1998 founded by Cindy and Bill Simon with a focus on supporting public schools. Their first installation was a fitness center at Palisades High School under the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). They immediately saw a change in students’ attitudes towards exercise, which snowballed into a mission to open more fitness centers across the city. Bill Simon, an assistant adjunct professor in both the UCLA Department of Economics and the UCLA School of Law, and recipient of the Marty Sklar My Last Lecture Award, told UCLA, “Our ultimate goal is to ensure that every student has the opportunity, knowledge and tools to pursue a healthy lifestyle through physical fitness.”

Since its creation, Sound Body Sound Mind (SBSM) has grown to 152 centers and impacts nearly 200,000 students each year. Along with the fitness center, SBSM develops an exercise curriculum and provides professional development training.

Its mission: “To promote self-confidence and healthy lifestyle choices among today’s youth.” Amelia Sherman, manager of communications and programming at SBSM, is deeply connected to this mission. She attended an LAUSD school, and although she didn’t know it at the time, her school’s fitness center was one of SBSM’s first.

The organization merged under the UCLA Health Foundation in 2020. Since the transition coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, Sherman says there were adjustments to how the organization partnered with schools, pivoting from “opening as many fitness centers as possible” to “nurturing current schools and setting up the foundation to grow.”

Now in their 25^th year, they are pushing to revamp their current fitness centers. Sherman and her colleague recently visited all the 152 schools in SBSM’s network and determined the state of each of the centers. They are working to review the currently active programs and ensure that their funding dollars go to the sources that need it the most. They use metrics, derived from Health and Human Services and CDC data, to see the areas where the health disparities are the greatest, so they can focus their funding there. Since the program has been in existence at some of these schools for close to 25 years, Sherman says, “UCLA plans to repair any equipment or train new teachers and make sure that they have the knowledge of the science behind the fitness centers.”

Sherman explained how SBSM uses state-mandated physical fitness tests as beginning and end markers to determine if the program is successful. According to the SBSM website, “Since 2017, across 30 schools that completed data collection, the average FitnessGram pass rate before our program was 39%. After implementing our program for an eight-week period, passing rates improved to 59%.” This data shows the correlation between the centers and curriculum that Sound Body Sound Mind implements.

Along with the physical testing, they also have students complete a wellness survey which asks about resources and support within their community regarding physical education awareness and their attitudes towards it. Both the fitness tests and the surveys are used to measure the effectiveness of the centers and the organization’s partnership with the schools.

Since SBSM works with local public schools, they often face the problem of overextended administrators and teaching staff. Even after they partner with a school, the staff may not be able to fully utilize the resources provided to them, leaving the resource untouched. Sherman explains, “Before initiating the program, [SBSM] trains all PE teachers. Teachers are the stewards of the program to promote healthy lifestyles with their students. They are the ones receiving the resources, so it is beneficial when they completely understand how to use them.” She says, “Once we give a fitness center to a school, it is the responsibility of the school site to maintain and repair it, but it's often forgotten, unfortunately. So we see a lot of schools that don't receive the best care.”

Another challenge the organization has faced is the long-lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. She says, “We see in the data that student fitness levels have taken a nosedive after the pandemic.” Sherman explains that it is beyond the control of just one program, but she hopes that based on their positive results, SBSM can help students return to a stable baseline.

The name Sound Body Sound Mind was based on research that showed “if you exercise more, you feel better.” In 2021, the organization created a mindfulness education curriculum with the Mindful Awareness Research Center at UCLA. Despite the curriculum’s proven benefits, it was difficult to implement because the video lessons required students to lose their exercise period. However, they have used this challenge to refocus on physical education and its benefits to mental and physical health.

Sherman shares a similar sentiment regarding the current state of fitness education across Los Angeles. “Going to all these schools, going to different neighborhoods, you can really see the divide in the resources that each school site has.” She says, “It's so important that students have the ability to walk into a room and feel confident in a gym setting so they can have lifelong fitness.”

Having grown up in Los Angeles, Sherman enjoys the close connection she has to the program and sees it as a “legacy of giving back to her community.” She says many UCLA alumni attended SBSM schools and now have a chance to make a difference for the future. “If alumni want to give back to their community, they can make a contribution. But on a personal level, they can always just get out and keep moving.”

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To learn more about Sound Body Sound Mind and ways to help, visit https://www.uclahealth.org/programs/soundbodysoundmind. 

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