Teresa Watanabe,
Teresa Watanabe is an experienced journalist who covers education for the Los Angeles Times. She has held various positions in her career, including covering immigration, ethnic communities, religion, Pacific Rim business and serving as Tokyo correspondent and bureau chief. Teresa has been with the Times since 1989 and also covered Asia, national affairs and state government for the San Jose Mercury News and wrote editorials for the Los Angeles Herald Examiner. As a Seattle native, she graduated from USC in journalism and in East Asian languages and culture. Teresa's primary focus has been on education, where she reports on topics related to universities, colleges, schools and learning institutions. She has closely followed the events at UCLA and provided insightful coverage of the challenges faced by the university community. Through her reporting, Teresa aims to inform readers about important developments in education policy and practice while highlighting issues that impact students, faculty and staff.
73%
The Daily's Verdict
This author has a mixed reputation for journalistic standards. It is advisable to fact-check, scrutinize for bias, and check for conflicts of interest before relying on the author's reporting.
Bias
75%
Examples:
- One source claims Thomas and other officers should have moved in to stop the violence with the forces they had. Critics have blamed UCLA Chancellor Gene Block for failing to bring in a stronger police presence and for not providing a security plan to campus leadership despite multiple requests. Some sources say Administrative Vice Chancellor Michael Beck should step aside due to previous lapses being scrutinized.
Conflicts of Interest
100%
Examples:
- Several top LAPD leaders told The Times that Thomas had tarnished the reputation of Los Angeles law enforcement with what they called his lack of planning and poor communication with other agencies.
Contradictions
65%
Examples:
- No arrests were made that night despite the arrival of Los Angeles Police Department officers. Representatives of the 3800-member UCLA Academic Senate are preparing to vote on separate motions for censure and no-confidence, both stating that Block “failed to ensure the safety of our students and grievously mishandled the events of last week.” Classes were moved online for the rest of the week as a security precaution after UCLA deployed a larger law enforcement presence earlier this week and arrested 44 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in a parking structure before a planned demonstration. Police said they carried equipment that could be “used to unlawfully enter and barricade a building.” Some students decried the arrests as harassment and intimidation.
Deceptions
40%
Examples:
- Given Chief Thomas’s mishandling of keeping our community safe and ear-splitting calls for him to step aside, this had to happen. The leader of the nation’s top public research university is completing the final months of his 17-year tenure, after steering the Westwood campus through a financial crisis and global pandemic to reach new heights by expanding enrollment, diversity, philanthropy and research funding.
Recent Articles
UCLA Police Chief Temporarily Reassigned Amid Criticism Over Protest Security Handling
Broke On: Wednesday, 22 May 2024UCLA Police Chief John Thomas, under criticism for UCLA's handling of security during pro-Palestinian protests, has been temporarily reassigned. The decision follows a violent melee on April 30 that disrupted campus and led to dozens of injuries. Gawin Gibson, a longtime UCPD officer, has been named acting chief while Rick Braziel leads a new Office of Campus Safety. Thomas was allegedly criticized for canceling outside police assistance requests before the attack. 
UCLA Chancellor Under Fire: Protests Over Palestine and Israel Escalate, Police Response Criticized
Broke On: Saturday, 11 May 2024Protests at UCLA over Palestine and Israel have escalated, leading to two significant incidents: a violent altercation between protesters and counterprotesters without police intervention, resulting in injuries for several hours; and the dismantling of a peaceful encampment through a police raid with over 200 arrests. UCLA Chancellor Gene Block faces faculty calls for his resignation due to criticism over safety concerns and mishandled events.