UCLA Civil Rights Office responding to hate crime in university apartments
A university-owned apartment building is pictured. The UCLA Civil Rights Office is responding to a hate crime motivated by racial bias that occurred in a university apartment Tuesday. (Daily Bruin file photo)
By Phoebe Huss
Feb. 20, 2026 6:18 p.m.
This post was updated Feb. 20 at 9:46 p.m.
The UCLA Civil Rights Office is responding to a hate crime motivated by racial bias that occurred at University Apartments North Tuesday.
Two residents reported a racial slur written in permanent marker on their whiteboard to UCLA Residential Life on Tuesday at 6:31 p.m., according to a Clery Act Timely Warning sent by UCPD Friday afternoon.
UCPD said in the warning that neither resident had filed a report with the police department about the property vandalism as of 4:18 p.m. Friday and that no suspects have been identified yet. The CRO is providing affected parties with resources, UCPD added.The department is conducting a preliminary fact-finding investigation into the incident, Captain Jeff Chobanian said in an emailed statement.
“Hate crimes have no place in our community, and the UCLA Police Department takes all reports of hate crimes seriously,” Chobanian said. “We investigate these offenses thoroughly and work with the Prosecutor’s Office to pursue accountability when the evidence supports it.”
The CRO is providing affected parties with resources, UCPD said in the warning.
Students who have experienced harassment or discrimination based on protected categories – which include identifiers such as race, gender and sexual orientation, according to the CRO – can report such incidents to the CRO, UCPD said in the warning. The office has jurisdiction over all of the university’s campus and UCLA Health facilities, according to its website.
In the warning, UCPD suggested students remove themselves from situations where they feel threatened and report suspicious activity to the department.
UCPD also shared information about several resources in the warning, including the department’s escort service, the Bruin Safe app – which allows students to contact campus safety quickly during emergencies – and Counseling and Psychological Services, which provides students with mental health support.
UCPD issues Timely Warnings when an institution considers crimes reported to campus security or local police to pose a serious or continuing threat to community members. The warnings may contain information that has not been confirmed or investigated, according to the Friday alert.
