After violence at an encampment at UCLA broke out this week between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and pro-Israel counterprotesters, officials at campuses across Southern California began tightening security measures in a variety of ways in an effort to ensure student safety as the end of the school year looms.
Student-led demonstrations have taken center stage at several schools this week, forcing colleges administrators to juggle complex safety and security issues while allowing students — on both sides of the ongoing Gaza conflict — to be heard and exercise free speech.
Early Thursday on UCLA’s campus, officials shut down a weeklong protest hours after police in riot gear dismantled a massive encampment outside of Royce Hall, and arrested more than 100 demonstrators, according to reports. UCLA officials said all campus operations would be “limited” Thursday and Friday, and all normally in-person classes would be “required to pivot to remote tomorrow and Friday.”
Tensions over the way colleges respond to students’ demands amid the conflict have escalated, at a time when many graduating students are not only preparing for final exams, but for various graduation ceremonies and events to cap off a busy school year.
Turmoil also has escalated at USC, which found itself making national headlines after administrators canceled the commencement speech by Muslim, pro-Palestinian valedictorian Asna Tabassum of Chino Hills over safety concerns, triggered by what critics called anti-Israel social media views. A backlash over that decision from USC students and outside groups prompted the university to cancel all graduation speakers and honorees at its main commencement ceremony.
Then, just days after police arrested nearly 100 protesters on campus, officials canceled the “main stage” commencement — which typically draws in thousands, scheduled for Friday, May 10 — altogether. Instead, officials said they will continue to hold dozens of smaller traditional graduation ceremonies and receptions during Commencement Week, between May 8 and 11, and have “additional security measures,” such as ticketing and a clear bag policy.
“With the new safety measures in place this year, the time needed to process the large number of guests coming to campus will increase substantially,” USC officials wrote in a campus-wide message. Some students have expressed their disappointment — including the USC Hillel group, which in response has organized its own Jewish Communal Commencement with Chabad at USC on May 10.
With the events a week away and protests still continuing, school administrators updated security measures Thursday, limiting entry to three locations with only students, faculty, staff, registered guests and “known vendors with confirmation of work” allowed on campus. All ID cards will be scanned at entryways, and all bags are subject to search.
Other colleges — while not outright canceling commencement — have sought to keep things as they are while taking cautious steps to prioritize student safety at all events.
UCLA, which does not have valedictorians or a “main” graduation ceremony like at USC, is planning multiple college ceremonies June 14-16. Information on security policies was not immediately available on the school’s website.
Despite the campus’ heavily battered “Palestine Solidarity Encampment” being shut down — which officials said drew a crowd estimated in the low thousands over the past few days — UCLA students vowed that their efforts to stand in solidarity with Gaza “were not over.”
California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers detain protestors while clearing a pro-Palestinian encampment after dispersal orders were given at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) campus on May 2, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. The camp was declared ‘unlawful’ by the university and scores of protestors who refused to leave were detained during the operation. Pro-Palestinian encampments have sprung up at college campuses around the country with some protestors calling for schools to divest from Israeli interests amid the ongoing war in Gaza. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
At UC Irvine, which has a Gaza solidarity encampment now on its fourth day on campus, there have been “no changes to any commencement plans, as of yet,” said spokesperson Michael Uhlenkamp. The school will host graduation events from early May through mid-June, and does not have valedictorian speakers.
Chapman University, where students were also forming a small encampment Thursday in front of Wilkinson Hall, has ceremonies scheduled from May 17 through 19. Officials said earlier that the university is still in the midst of commencement planning, and is continuing to monitor political activities on campus, as the school year wraps up.
Cal State Fullerton — which is hosting 12 graduation events for over 13,000 students and thousands more attendees — will maintain security protocols at the May 20-23 ceremonies.
There will be a clear-bag policy and a walk-through security screening system for all graduates and guests, and prohibited items include noisemakers, weapons and laser pointers.
“The university will respond accordingly” to any occupations on campus during the last few weeks of classes, said spokesperson Cerise Valenzuela Metzger on Thursday.
Officials at Cal State Long Beach, which has been the site of protests and vigils in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attacks, said that safety during commencement — planned for May 19 through 23 at Angel Stadium — is “central to our planning.” On the school’s commencement website, stadium policy does not allow posters, noisemakers or confetti.
Cal State LA students started a “May Day for Palestine” demonstration and encampment on campus Wednesday, May 1. Spokesperson Victor M. Rojas Jr. said the university has “no plans to alter our traditional commencement” on May 20 and 21 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Rojas added that all graduation events have proper protocols to “ensure a safe and celebratory environment for all participants and attendees.”
According to campus policy, any vandalism, theft, destruction of state property or intimidation of targeted groups — including other students and university faculty and staff — will not be tolerated “for the safety of everyone on our campus,” a spokesperson said Wednesday, but officials will “monitor the situation closely but our priority is the safety of our students, faculty and staff.”
At Cal State Northridge, commencement ceremonies for more than 11,000 students will go on as scheduled on campus from May 17-20. The school’s website includes messaging on how it will handle security through the Department of Police Services, including metal detector screenings and a one-bag policy. Communications officials have previously declined to comment about whether the potential for protests have affected graduation plans.
At UC Riverside — which saw its fourth day of a student-led “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” in front of the campus Bell Tower — graduations scheduled from late May through mid-June at the Toyota Arena in Ontario will still continue, officials said. Spokesperson Sandra Martinez said previously that university and city police will focus on “pursuing the highest level of safety for the community and guests.”
Senior Hibah Nassar, who participated in a campus rally this week, said that “as we’re approaching graduation season,” she was thinking of a cousin, whom she said was nearing graduation when she and her family were killed in a Gaza bombing.
Cal Poly Pomona expects around 6,900 graduates in the Class of 2024, with 62,000 guests to attend the 12 main ceremonies, planned for May 17 through 20 in the school quad, officials said.
Pro-Palestinian student demonstrators marched around the Cal Poly Pomona campus earlier this week. There were no encampments or demonstrations on campus as of Thursday.
“Cal Poly Pomona is focused on keeping our community safe, ensuring teaching and critical university functions are not interrupted. The respectful exchange of ideas and learning from others are central to our academic mission,” said spokesperson Cynthia Peters. “We support our community members’ rights of free speech and to peacefully assemble. We have campus safety plans in place for various scenarios and are watching events at other universities to learn any useful lessons.”
Peters said that commencement organizers, university officials and police are working together on plans “to ensure the safety of all commencement ceremonies.” This will include “appropriate police and security staffing,” ticketed entrances and bag checks.
At Cal State San Bernardino, where on Thursday students began protesting for the liberation of Palestinians, commencement ceremonies are planned for May 17 and 18 at Toyota Arena. Spokesperson Alan Llavore said previously that university and city police will be present to ensure “that commencement can take place with little to no disruptions.”
At Pomona College, part of The Claremont Colleges, commencement activities are planned for the weekend of May 10 through May 12. Tickets were not required, and officials did not respond to requests for comment on security protocols at the graduation events nor on campus, during the last week of classes.
Last month, 20 students were arrested after storming an administrative office in response to Israel’s offensive in Gaza after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.
Related links
UCLA pro-Palestinian encampment left in a rubble as students vow campus protests ‘are not over’
Why campus protesters aim for anonymity with face masks, checkered Palestinian kaffiyehs
Will more graduations get canceled? Southern California colleges grapple with safety amid Gaza protests
Campus protest calls to ‘divest now’ at Southern California colleges shine spotlight on complex issue: endowments
Violent clashes break out at UCLA after counter-protesters storm pro-Palestinian encampment
UCLA cancels classes, vows investigation after violence erupts at pro-Palestinian encampment
Students say will hold ground at UC Irvine pro-Palestinian encampment
Staff writers Sarah Hoffman, Clara Harter, Annika Bahnsen, Victoria Ivie and City News Service contributed to this report.