Author Archives: Farzad Mashhood

UCLA will not take action against Alexandra Wallace

UCLA is not pursuing action against Alexandra Wallace for her YouTube video “Asians in the Library,” university officials announced today.

In a statement, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Janina Montero explained that Wallace’s video rant did not violate the Student Code of Conduct, and the university does not punish free speech.

“We have no intention of pursuing a discipline matter “”mdash; which in no way diminishes the pain felt by so many in the campus community and around the world,” Montero said in the statement.

Wallace could not immediately be reached for comment.

The video showed Wallace, a third-year political science student, making derogatory comments about Asian students.

*UPDATED:* Viral YouTube video called "repugnant" by UCLA administration

[UPDATED at 3:20 p.m.:

The university has confirmed that the person in the video in the Library” is Alexandra Wallace, a student at UCLA, said Robert Naples, associate vice chancellor and dean of students.

Naples called the video “beyond distasteful,” saying that her comments in no way represent the views of the UCLA as a community.

Naples said he personally received more than 100 e-mails of complaint from individuals all over the country, primarily from people affiliated with UCLA.

The university has yet to get in contact with Wallace, but hopes to meet with her as soon as possible to determine the appropriate response, Naples said.

“We’ll be taking a look at the language that she uses in the video to see if it violates any codes under the student code, perhaps regarding harassment,” Naples said.

However, the student code in no way usurps the authority of the First Amendment, Naples said.

A Facebook user under the name “Alexandra Wallace” posted an apology on Chancellor Gene Block’s Facebook page on Sunday night. Wallace denied that she wrote the posts, stating that she currently does not have a Facebook account.

The original video was taken down, but other copies of the video have been posted under different accounts. Within three days, the video has provoked a tremendous response from the community. Hundreds of comments have been posted on Block’s Facebook page. Numerous videos have been posted on YouTube in response to her original video.]

UCLA student or suspect: a case of mistaken identity prompts closer look at private information posted online

Joshua Elder just wanted a night off from studying.

Like most of the more than 71,000 people who were at the Rose Bowl, Elder did not know about the 40-person brawl that broke out in Lot 1 just three hours before kick off. He did not know two people had been stabbed or three people had been arrested.

And he did not know he had the same name as a suspect.