Block speaks on vice chancellor position, Title IX investigation

Chancellor Gene Block meets with the Daily Bruin editorial board every quarter to discuss issues affecting campus and to explain administrative policies. At their meeting on Monday, Block spoke about the selection process for the vice chancellor for equity, diversity and inclusion, UCLA’s response to the ongoing Title IX investigation and the results of a state audit, which was released in June and found UCLA’s sexual assault training insufficient. He also discussed funding for UCLA Counseling and Psychological Services and the cost of the July flood, among other topics.

• Block said administrators hope the increase in reported campus sexual assaults, in particular forcible rapes, in an annual crime statistics report released Sept. 26 was the result of increased reporting by students rather than an actual increase in crime. Block said he did not know if there are any specific new resources in response to the figures, but that he could get back to the board with specifics in the future.
• He said he thinks there is new awareness of campus sexual assault policies in light of the ongoing U.S. Department of Education investigation into possible federal violations in its handling of sexual violence and harassment complaints. “We want to do everything we can
  to make sure reporting is as painless to survivors as possible, we have the
  right people and we do this properly,” he said.
• Two discrimination prevention officers have been hired recently, though Block said he did not know their names off the top of his head. He said that the university decided to hire the officers now as opposed to having the new vice chancellor of equity, diversity and inclusion hire them because the positions were more urgently needed. He added that the discrimination officers will work with UCLA’s current Title IX officer but will specialize more in racial discrimination issues and help the university respond more promptly to reports of discrimination on campus.
• He said that the university has received hundreds of applications, both internal and external, for the new vice chancellor for equity, diversity and inclusion, a position he announced in December. Block said that because of scheduling issues, the new vice chancellor may not be selected until late in the school year, but that search committee members and other officials will likely start interviewing candidates in about a month. He added that the university is appointing diversity specialists in each division before the vice chancellor is appointed, and until the university finds a person for the job, the diversity specialists and the discrimination prevention officers will report to Scott Waugh, UCLA executive vice chancellor and provost.
• Block said he is concerned about possible decreases in state funding for UCLA Counseling and Psychological Services when the fiscal year ends and funding provided by Proposition 63 expires, but that the campus will find ways to fund the center if outside funding sources dry up. He said he is not aware what specific plans are in place to address future gaps in funding, but that he can get back to the board with more details.
• In response to a question about his letter responding to a state audit that found UCLA’s sexual assault educations to be insufficient, Block discussed his views on sexual harassment training for faculty and staff. In Block’s original letter, he said that he thought that more sexual assault training for faculty and staff could desensitize those who go through sexual assault education programs. On Monday, he said he thinks that repeatedly giving people information is not always beneficial and that in-person training tends to be expensive, but online training can sometimes seem repetitive and uninteresting for those taking it. He said that there is no clear best methodology for sexual assault and harassment training.
• A Los Angeles Department of Water and Power official called Block shortly after the July water main break that caused about 20 millions of gallons of water to flood the campus, and apologized for the inconvenience, Block said. He added that forensic accountants at UCLA are busy tallying up the costs of the flood, from replacing Pauley Pavilion’s basketball court to lost revenues from summer camps that had to be canceled.
• Block and Carol Stogsdill, associate vice chancellor for communications and public outreach, said flood recovery expenses will likely be in the tens of millions of dollars. He added that LADWP claimed responsibility for the flood and is still set to cover the costs, though he does not know when or how exactly LADWP or UCLA’s insurance will pay for it.
• Block said he promotes free speech on campus, including speech on divisive topics such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but that he expects students and faculty to be respectful of each other when speaking at UCLA.
• In response to a question about the naming of the future UCLA football facility near Pauley Pavilion after a donation from Casey Wasserman, a sports executive and president of the Wasserman Foundation, Block said Wasserman has donated money to many areas of campus, not just to athletic facilities, so he is not concerned about the naming.