Standing together: Addressing California’s campus crisis

In recent weeks, the violence and flagrant antisemitism unraveling across California’s university campuses, particularly at my alma mater UCLA, have shaken us deeply. These aren’t merely headlines; they are a stark wake-up call demanding immediate, compassionate leadership. Our beloved public universities are under threat, and without decisive action, their integrity and safety are at risk. Today, motivated by a profound duty to the well-being of our communities and distressed by the clear failures at the highest levels of state leadership, I feel compelled to unpack these leadership failures, exploring how a better path can be forged.

The heartbreaking damage inflicted upon UCLA’s iconic Royce Hall and the aggression shown towards Jewish students, who have been attacked, humiliated, and forcibly excluded from many parts of campus, are not merely attacks on property or individuals—they are assaults on the principles we cherish in California. This isn’t the state that I know and love. Historically, the UC and CSU systems have been the envy of other states, exemplars of affordable, quality, and safe education we guarantee to our children. It’s a legacy that we have a duty to uphold. The recent actions risk derailing the safe, enriching learning environments we’ve worked so hard to cultivate.

While Governor Gavin Newsom and Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis waved their virtue-flags at climate conferences, including jetting to Rome (of course at taxpayer expense), they put taxpayers back home in grave physical danger as the crises on our campuses boiled over.  Riot police were forced to step and do a job they should never have had to do if Newsom and Kounalakis were doing their jobs.  Their gross dereliction of duty has jeopardized the safety and well-being of thousands of students, not to mention the surrounding communities.  This isn’t merely a political oversight; it appears to have been an intentional move to create a two-tiered system of public safety in California, as yet again lawbreakers are coddled and the law-abiding are victimized. 

True leadership means being there when you’re needed the most, for the most vulnerable, like the Jewish students who have been left feeling unsafe and unsupported. It’s about deeds, not just words. It’s about building a community where every voice is heard and valued equally, and where learning can happen fearlessly.

Our state is a mosaic of diverse cultures and ideas, which is why what’s happening in our universities strikes a particular discord. The recent clashes have painted a picture of division and fear, driven by a minority but affecting us all. We need to address this not with more division, but with unity and understanding.

I’ve always believed in the power of peaceful protest—it’s part of what makes America what it is. But when protest turns into violence and exclusion, it loses its voice. It becomes something else entirely, something destructive. This isn’t the way to bring about change or to voice dissent.

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Now more than ever, we need Governor Newsom and Lieutenant Governor Kounalakis to step up to the plate. We need them to enforce the rules that protect our campuses and to ensure these places of learning don’t turn into places of fear. Their leadership can help prevent these crises from recurring and ensure that every student, regardless of their background or beliefs, can feel safe and focused on their studies.

In my time as a doctor and a scientist, I’ve learned that healing and progress come from listening, understanding, and then acting with conviction. This is what I stand for, and this is what I believe our leadership must stand for too.

It’s time to set clear guidelines for protests, to train our campus police to be firm, fair, and present, and to remember that our primary job is to educate and nurture our children.

We need leaders who are proactive and empathetic, who don’t just react to crises but work every day to prevent them. Leaders who are truly present for their communities. This is what California deserves, and this is what we must demand.

As we navigate these challenging times, let’s remember that our strength lies in our unity and our resilience. Together, we can overcome these challenges and ensure that our campuses—and our state—remain beacons of learning and growth.