John Wooden statue now protected by box for rivalry week

A protective box now surrounds the recently unveiled statue of John Wooden in front of Pauley Pavilion, with UCLAUSC rivalry week underway.

The UCLA Athletics department tweeted out a photo of the statue being covered about 8:30 a.m. this morning. UCLA Athletics officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Further down Bruin Walk, the Bruin Bear statue is also in “hibernation.” Rivalry week, which traditionally involves both UCLA and USC protecting their respective mascots from vandalism, began on Sunday.

At least one rivalry-related instance of vandalism has been discovered so far around campus ““ a UCLA placard near an entrance to campus on Sunset Boulevard was recently spray-painted to read “USC.”

[UPDATE: University staff put the protective structures for both statues in place, said Nick Ammazzalorso, executive director of athletic communications, in an emailed statement.

“The bear is always covered and with Coach, we chose to err on the side of caution,” he said in the email.]

[UPDATE: The cost for covering up the John Wooden statue is estimated at about $2,400, said Steve Ritea, UCLA spokesman, in an emailed statement.]

Compiled by Jillian Beck and Devin Kelly, Bruin senior staff.

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