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Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva discusses the local response to California’s “devastating” wildfires on “The Big Money Show.”
Students at the University of California, Los Angeles campus took to TikTok to vocally criticize and scrutinize school leadership for their delayed response to potential safety threats from the devastating wildfires.
It wasn’t until Wednesday night that Chancellor Julio Frenk announced that UCLA would curtail campus operationscancel undergraduate classes and move graduate classes to remote on Thursday and Friday due to multiple wildfires in the area.
By early Thursday, at least five people were dead and more than 28,000 acres had burned as residents and UCLA students watched the flames spread.
“UCLA? Rather the university could care less about (its students’ lungs),” TikToker @negativesmart wrote as he captured the bright red, smoke-filled sky from his supposed dorm.
LIVE UPDATES: CALIFORNIA FIRES DEVASTATE LOS ANGELES COUNTY, KILL 5, THREATEN THOUSANDS OF HOMES
“LA may be on fire, but don’t worry, UCLA says all things normal.” another TikTok video by @ayiana.scott he said, which has been viewed more than 1 million times.
UCLA students on TikTok were unhappy with campus leaders’ delayed decision to curtail operations and cancel classes Thursday and Friday. (Getty Images)
Additional videos posted by users @jiwonapieceofme and @chelsealstone on the social platform have received hundreds of thousands of views and show the up-close reality of campus fires, with captions such as: “Hey UCLA, (what do you mean) I still have class. ? ?!!???” and “Hey UCLA, I wonder if I should still plan on going to my lecture tomorrow morning?”
The university’s chancellor said in his letter announcing the temporary closures: “While there is no immediate fire danger to our campus, given the expected change in wind patterns in the coming hours, it is Air quality in Westwood likely to worsen.”
“POV: Evacuating (because) UCLA went back on its word just hours after claiming we were ‘safe,'” a student with the handle @kennedyhayashi filmed as she packed her bags and faced long lines of traffic. with others evacuating campus too.
With the sun barely peeking through the black, smoky, daytime sky, TikToker @eireneding offered a comparison of “UCLA claims everything is fine (compared to) all the students freaking out” and included a weather report of “unhealthy” air quality.
Fox Business’ Lisa Kennedy discusses the latest updates on California’s destructive wildfires in LA County on “The Bottom Line.”
“We will continue to monitor conditions in the area and are prepared to further adjust campus operations if necessary,” UCLA’s chancellor wrote in his letter Wednesday night. “Any changes to classes after the next two days will be determined in collaboration with the Academic Senate, and we will immediately share them via BruinALERT with our community.”
UCLA employees were told to coordinate with supervisors if they can work remotely, but health facilities will remain open and fully operational Thursday and Friday.
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CRMBC CEO and insurance industry expert Kaya Stanley explains how there is no state surplus to cover the “catastrophic” economic losses associated with the Los Angeles wildfires.
However, students’ TikTok videos (and comments reacting to the footage) before Frenk’s official announcement to restrict campus operations show the definitive dissent in the late decision.
“UCLA not canceling all classes is so irresponsible;” “I wish UCLA employees had the same choice. We’re still (required) to work;” “I’ve been told my whole life that UCLA is an amazing school, but they just keep disrespecting their students.”
