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Your Guide to Visiting the UCLA Campus

We’re excited that you want to tour the beautiful campus of UCLA! We have compiled some helpful information for you to make the most of your tour and visit here, including information about dining, shopping, entertainment, accommodations, and transportation. UCLA’s campus is not only inviting, but very convenient for students, parents and other visitors to access and explore.

TOURING UCLA

You can visit UCLA year-round on weekdays and weekends, but you’ll find the campus service limited or closed during major state and federal holidays. Also, during times of reduced student traffic (such as between academic quarters), you’ll find services limited as well.

UCLA Bruin Day

UCLA Bruin Day for freshman is on Saturday, April 14, 2018, and is your chance to not only visit UCLA, but to celebrate it! A number of activities, events and presentations are planned on this day, to make your decision to attend UCLA so much easier. These include: attending academic lectures , attending presentations highlighting specific academic departments and programs , and learning about UCLA’s community, benefits, and other student opportunities .

The BruinDay website also has a great portal for all campus landmarks, museums and gardens, athletic and recreation centers and arts and entertainment venues that you might like to visit. UCLA Bruin Day for Transfers is on May 12, 2018, with similar informative and fun events for prospective students. Visit the UCLA Bruin Day website for all information about both days.

UCLA Campus Tours

You can schedule individual tours and group tours easily at the UCLA Campus Tours website . These tours offer a fun way to explore all the major points on campus, with helpful guides that provide you with fun facts and helpful information about key buildings, facilities, departments and the university itself – as they walk you through North, Central and South points on campus. If you are a newly-admitted student, UCLA has even organized a special tour program, the Admitted Student Presentation and Tour , that can be accessed on the UCLA admissions portal .

For a self-guided tour, this handy map provides you with information about all the key points on campus designated into different zones. We hope that you’ll use this guide when exploring the campus and all it has to offer, for the best experience.

DINING AT UCLA

The UCLA dining scene is among the best in the nation for students – and it’s great for parents and other visitors, too! UCLA has many fast-casual and other quick dining spots throughout its three segments of campus: North Campus, Central Campus, and South Campus. If fine dining is your thing, then there’s even an acclaimed restaurant serving Mediterranean-inspired, California fresh cuisine at the UCLA Luskin Conference Center. Plateia Restaurant is open seven days a week and has excellent menus, and even a full bar, for visitors to the campus.

Central Campus

Central Campus refers to the main core of campus at Ackerman Union – the university’s student union. Here, there are two main food courts where you can find popular local chains like Rubio’s or Wolfgang Puck’s. At the same time, the Kerckhoff Coffee House is a student-favorite on campus, serving a wide selection of different coffees.

North Campus

North Campus is the uppermost part of campus near Royce Hall and its vicinity. There are two main dining areas in this part of campus: North Campus Student Center and Lu Valle Commons. Aside from the usual selection of fresh salads, sandwiches, pizza and other quick meals, Northern Lights is a great stop for coffee if you’re trekking this part of campus.

South Campus

To every student who frequents this part of campus, they’ll tell you the place to be for food is the Court of Sciences Student Center – formerly known as “The Bomb Shelter” (when it actually served as that, during the Cold War). These days, you can grab a quick meal – from rotisserie chicken to noodle bowls, and even visit Northern Lights’ cousin to the south – Southern Lights – for some great coffee!

Plateia Restaurant

Finally, the jewel of fine dining on campus is Plateia within Luskin Conference Center. The selection of freshly prepared foods is as impressive as the ambiance. Whether you’d like to dine in its amazing interior or on the patio near the calming fountain, Plateia is a great place to experience the best of dining on the UCLA campus. Plateia is also most convenient for parents and other visitors to the UCLA campus who are staying at the UCLA Luskin Conference Center. Plateia is conveniently located on the lobby level and has menus for all meals: breakfast , lunch , dinner and even a special menu for weekend breakfast . They also offer happy hours daily from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

SHOPPING AT UCLA

When you visit UCLA, there are two great options for shopping. These include visiting the UCLA Store or nearby Westwood Village, with a wide selection of boutique and chain stores.

Show your UCLA spirit by stopping by the main shopping center on campus – the UCLA Store – to buy anything Bruin. From UCLA apparel to posters to books and other merchandise, you’ll find it in this hotspot for shopping on campus. Also, everything you purchase at the UCLA Store benefits the UCLA campus. A percentage of all proceeds goes to supporting UCLA campus services, activities and even athletics. Visit the UCLA Store website for more information or hours !

Westwood Village Shopping

Westwood Village is the community of shops, restaurants, and entertainment surrounding the UCLA campus. Here, you’ll find boutique stores and national chain brands like Target, where you can find almost everything you are looking for while visiting UCLA! The Westwood Village local business directory is an excellent way to find a particular store in the area.

ENTERTAINMENT AT UCLA

As a world-renowned academic and cultural institution, UCLA invites some of the top musical, acting and other performing arts talent in the world to campus. At the same time, UCLA’s departments also hold shows and screening in Westwood Village, just a 5-10 minute walk from UCLA.

Performing Arts

The UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television showcases some of the finest live theater in Los Angeles at the Little Theater, Freud Playhouse and Royce Hall on the UCLA campus. Performances are always ongoing, so we recommend checking the performing arts calendar prior to your visit or the Center for the Art of Performance website for all information about performing arts events at UCLA!

Movie Theaters

UCLA has produced many famous actors, actresses, producers, and directors. Its proximity to Hollywood also means that it is around some amazing movie theaters. In fact, two signature theaters are within walking distance from UCLA in Westwood Village. They are the Fox Village Theatre and Bruin Theatre . If you’re lucky, you might catch a movie premiere happening live in front of the Fox Village Theater – a popular place for movie premieres.

UCLA’s storied men’s basketball program has won 11 national championships and cemented its place as one of the premier programs in the nation. It joins other UCLA athletic programs in having a strong history and winning tradition. See which sports are in season and if you can catch a game while on campus !

There are several acclaimed museums on campus and off-campus. UCLA Fowler Museum is a fine collection of art and artifacts celebrating the culture of the Americas. See the museum celebrating the history of the Internet (started at UCLA), the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame , or even the UCLA Meteorite museum on campus. If you feel like venturing nearby off-campus the Hammer Museum is also home to great art and performances.

STAYING AT UCLA

Visiting UCLA from a distant city means that you’ll most likely want to stay on or near campus. Los Angeles is an amazing city yet a very large one! So, we recommend staying as close to UCLA as you can, so that you can easily tour the campus without having to commute. In fact, the best advice is to stay on the campus itself at the UCLA Meyer & Renee Luskin Conference Center . The conference center has world-class accommodations available for prospective students and their families .

UCLA Meyer & Renee Luskin Conference Center Accommodations

Staying at UCLA is a simple decision to make, with the UCLA Meyer & Renee Luskin Conference Center and its offering of comfortable single and double rooms . These rooms were designed with complete comfort in mind, and have modern amenities for your enjoyment. The UCLA Meyer & Renee Luskin Conference Center is also conveniently located at the center of campus, where you can easily start exploring everything UCLA has to offer!

Single Rooms at UCLA Luskin Conference Center

Stay in one of the single, king rooms at the conference center, furnished with a king bed, an armchair, a desk with an ergonomic chair, and a flat-screen HDTV. The bathrooms also include a full-size walk-in shower and a marble vanity. King rooms at the UCLA Meyer & Renee Luskin Conference Center are 300 square feet and can sleep up to two guests.

Double Rooms at UCLA Luskin Conference Center

Double rooms are larger than the single, king rooms and have 340 square feet of space with two queen beds, an armchair, a desk with an ergonomic chair, and a flat-screen HDTV. The bathroom has a full-size walk-in shower and marble vanity.

Hotels Near UCLA

Neighboring Westwood Village offers budget and luxury hotel accommodations for visitors to the UCLA campus. Some popular hotels include the Hotel Angeleno near the northern-most point of campus, the W Los Angeles-West Beverly Hills hotel and Hilgard House Hotel & Suites near the eastern edge of campus and the Kimpton Hotel Palomar Los Angeles Beverly Hills south of campus on Wilshire Boulevard.

GETTING TO & AROUND UCLA

Getting to the UCLA campus from major airports like Los Angeles International Airport(LAX) is much easier than other places throughout the city. UCLA is just 12 miles from the airport. Hailing a rideshare like Uber or Lyft is also simple, as they pick up and drop off at several designated points on campus – including at the UCLA Meyer & Renee Luskin Conference Center.

Visitor Parking

If you prefer to drive yourself, you can park at Lot 8 or Lot 7 and Lot 4, some of the most convenient structures for visitors. Lot 8 is most convenient, as it is located just steps from the UCLA Luskin Conference Center and its accommodations and restaurant. A daily parking pass is $12 and includes unlimited in-and-out access. Please see the full campus parking map for all your parking options.

Shuttle Service (BruinBus)

The local shuttle service for UCLA is BruinBus . It’s an energy-efficient, clean fleet of buses that are also wheelchair accessible, air-conditioned and pick-up and drop-off on and off campus in nearby Westwood Village. If you want to get to points north or south of campus without walking or driving, BruinBus is an excellent option. See the BruinBus map or find other information about BruinBus .

MORE INFORMATION

Again, we’re happy to have you visit UCLA and look forward to you having an amazing experience! For any additional information or details to help you on your trip to UCLA, visit the official UCLA Visitor Website . Best of luck and have a wonderful time at UCLA!

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Academy Award-winning directors and Nobel Laureates. Olympic medalists and acclaimed activists. Renowned doctors, scientists, researchers and politicians. Bruins don’t just get a degree — they change the world.

A Diverse Family of Doers

The No. 1 public university in the country is determined to do more for the world by welcoming applicants from all backgrounds.

As the highest-ranked public university in the nation, UCLA is a sought-after destination for students from all walks of life who are eager to be part of an academic culture that values public service. Join a diverse family of students and faculty who want to make an impact with their life’s work.

First-year freshmen and transfer students, our world-class faculty and challenging curriculum will inspire you to think in new, unexpected ways as you shape the life you want to lead.

Graduate students, you’ll collaborate with faculty who are among the world's top researchers and scholars, all while developing lifelong relationships and advancing your career.

We guarantee that all Bruins will be given the opportunity to discover their dream career while building lasting relationships and making connections they'll cherish for a lifetime.

Study online, on campus or part-time to fit your schedule. Whatever path you choose, UCLA will help you discover your strengths, pursue your passions and bring your dreams to life.

Join our campus. See what’s Bruin!

Garden Tours

What to Expect

Explore a living museum of unique plants from all over the world through one of our guided experiences!

Discover the diverse flora and fauna that live in our urban oasis and hear fascinating stories about the Garden’s past, present, and future. Standard tours typically last from 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Our education and outreach programs are funded entirely through generous donations from the wider UCLA community. Although tours and field trips are always free, please consider supporting the Garden’s mission through Gifts and Membership . Your tax-deductible donation helps us provide free educational programs, stay open on weekends, and maintain our renowned living collections.

Tours may be canceled or rescheduled in the event of rain or extreme weather.

Please note : UCLA courses that also wish to utilize our outdoor teaching spaces should visit our Outdoor Classroom & Laboratory page to book their reservation and/or tour.

For K-12 visits, please head here to book your program.

Public Tours

Free guided tours are typically held monthly on a Saturday. Check for upcoming drop-in tours here .

Tours begin at the La Kretz Garden Pavilion and are led by one of our fantastic Garden Guides.

Private Group Tours

The Garden also offers free scheduled tours to UCLA students/staff, community groups, and other parties of 10-50 people.

These tours are subject to availability and must be scheduled at least a month in advance. To request a tour, please fill out the form below.

Please also use the form below to submit requests for self-guided tours so we can advise on potential conflicts with other happenings in the Garden.

Schedule Your Visit

The Garden can accommodate a maximum of  45 students per visit . Please note that your group must have one teacher/chaperone for every 5-10 students. 

For questions about K-12 field trips, please contact  [email protected] .

Request a Group Tour

The UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden acknowledges the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (the Los Angeles basin and So. Channel Islands). As a promoter of nature at a California land grant institution, we pay our respects to the Honuukvetam (Ancestors), ‘Ahiihirom (Elders) and ‘Eyoohiinkem (our relatives/relations) past, present and emerging.

(310) 825-8260 For venue reservations: (310) 467-7980

707 Tiverton Drive Los Angeles, CA 90095

Hours (February through October): Weekdays: 8AM to 5PM Weekends: 9AM to 5PM

Hours (November through January): Weekdays: 8AM to 4PM Weekends: 9AM to 4PM

UCLA Holidays: Open 9AM to 5PM. Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Closed at 2pm on Christmas Eve.

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Where do i apply, when is the application deadline, what is the hiring process like, what is the training process like, is being a campus tour guide paid, how many hours do tour guides work a week, do tour guides get to pick when they work, do campus tour guides have to wear a uniform, can i be a tour guide if i have another job, what is the difference between academic year and year-round tour guide, what is the summer tour guide option on the application, are there information sessions for me to learn more about the program.

Watch CBS News

Violence erupts at UCLA as pro-Palestinian protesters, counter-protesters clash

By Tom Wait , Matthew Rodriguez

Updated on: May 1, 2024 / 4:37 AM PDT / KCAL News

After UCLA declared a pro-Palestinian demonstrators' encampment unlawful, a clash between dozens of protesters and counter-protesters led to one person being driven away in an ambulance.  The victim's injuries were unclear.

Law enforcement appeared to drive away after paramedics treated the victim. The Los Angeles Police Department said the University of California Police Department (UCPD) was handling the situation. UCPD said all available officers were dealing with the incident. 

"The Mayor has spoken to Chancellor Block and Chief Choi. LAPD is responding immediately to Chancellor Block's request for support on campus," Mayor Karen Bass' office said in a statement.

However, the hostilities between the two sides were seemingly unimpeded by police. 

"Horrific acts of violence occurred at the encampment tonight, and we immediately called law enforcement for mutual aid support," Vice Chancellor Mary Osako said in a statement. "The fire department and medical personnel are on the scene. We are sickened by this senseless violence and it must end." 

Mayor Bass later said on X that, "The violence unfolding this evening at UCLA is absolutely abhorrent and inexcusable. LAPD has arrived on campus."

Gov. Gavin Newsom's office issued a statement saying, "Our office is closely monitoring the situation at  @UCLA . Law enforcement leaders are in contact this evening and resources are being mobilized."

Protesters continued to fight each other well past 11:30 p.m., throwing fireworks at the encampments while melees broke out past the barriers. One of the melees involved a person swinging what appeared to be a skateboard.

Counter-protesters also tossed traffic cones, a scooter, wooden pallets and what appears to be smoke bombs at people along the barrier to the encampment. 

Pieces of the makeshift barrier appeared to be broken apart, and some protesters carried a metal fence to separate themselves from the counter-protesters. 

Protesters seemed to push the metal fence surrounding the encampment further out into the quad to create a buffer between the two groups. 

However, people started to pull the metal barriers from the encampment, dragging them away from the area while others tried to rip a makeshift wooden fence apart. Another group of people started to fight each other along the wooden barrier as items flew over them.

A person from the encampment said they were pepper-sprayed amid the mayhem.

As of 1 a.m., no officers were seen at the encampment.

But, according to The Associated Press, police wearing helmets and face shields formed lines and slowly separated the groups after a couple of hours, and that appeared to quell the violence.

What led up to the clash?

It's been almost a week since protesters built a tent city at UCLA, but on Tuesday night, university leaders declared the camp unlawful, ordering everyone to leave or face arrest.

"The established encampment is unlawful and violates university policy," the university wrote. "Law enforcement is prepared to arrest individuals in accordance with applicable law. Non-UCLA persons are notified to leave the encampment and depart the campus immediately."

The administration also asked students, staff and faculty to leave. 

"Those who choose to remain — including both students and employees — could face sanctions," the university wrote. "For students, those sanctions could include disciplinary measures such as interim suspension that, after proper due process through the student conduct process, could lead to dismissal."

The protesters released a statement claiming they will not leave.

"We will not leave. We will remain here until our demands are met. You justify the mistreatment of students in the encampment in the same way you justify your complicity in the Palestinian genocide," the protesters wrote in a statement. 

They also called on students and "other members" of the community to join their movement. 

"Administration wants you to believe that this movement is futile," they wrote. "While the administration publicly condemns us, they privately negotiate with us because the collective power of unified students threatens them."

The demands include divestment from Israel.

UC President Michael Drake expressed his support for UCLA's decision while also saying that he respects the matters of free expression.

"But when that expression blocks the ability of students to learn or to express their own viewpoints, when it meaningfully disrupts the functioning of the University, or when it threatens the safety of students, or anyone else, we must act," he wrote.

Earlier on Tuesday, protesters and Jewish students clashed after the encampment blocked the way to the library in the middle of midterms.  

"It doesn't make any sense to me that students on our campus can simply intimidate you by standing there putting their arms out and block you," sophomore Declan Foley said. "I don't have passionate feelings about this situation at all. I just want to get to class."

Tom Wait joined CBS2 and KCAL9 in March 2013 as a general assignment reporter. He covers the Los Angeles metro area and the Inland Empire. He also anchors our streaming network, CBS News Los Angeles. A Southern California native, Tom has worked in New York City, Detroit and Kansas City, Missouri, before coming home.

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Outside 'instigators' and 'agitators' are behind violence, university leaders insist: Updates

Editor's Note: This page is a summary of news on campus protests for Thursday, May 2. For the latest news, view our live updates file for Friday, May 3 .

LOS ANGELES − "Instigators'' and "outside agitators'' have been behind some of the most violent and shocking incidents from the rash of pro-Palestinian protests that have swept college campuses across the nation, according to two university leaders who grappled with major disturbances this week.

UCLA Chancellor Gene Block vowed the university will investigate the events from the last few days, especially "Tuesday night’s horrific attack by a mob of instigators" on a protest encampment in a prominent university plaza, which left at least 15 people injured and prompted the school to cancel classes.

Early Thursday, police in riot gear swept onto the UCLA campus and tore down makeshift barricades that bordered the antiwar encampment, which had drawn hundreds of demonstrators before being attacked by counterprotesters late Tuesday into Wednesday. More than 200 people were arrested in the raid, according to the school.

Block said the encampment began peacefully but had become disruptive and a flashpoint that endangered students, so it had to go. Hostilities were "continuing to escalate,'' he said.

At Columbia, the campus was much calmer Thursday, two days after hundreds of New York Police Department officers arrived and reclaimed a building that had been broken into and occupied by pro-Palestinian demonstrators, resulting in 112 arrests. Of those, 44 took place inside the occupied Hamilton Hall, 13 of them involving people the university called "outsiders.''

Mayor Eric Adams warned about the involvement of "external actors'' in the protests just hours before sending law enforcement to campus. Columbia President Minouche Shafik also cited the participation of “outside agitators” accused of escalating protests in her decision to call for police intervention.

The college protests stem from concerns for civilian deaths in Gaza during the Israeli-Hamas war that began Oct. 7 when about 1,200 people in southern Israel were killed and more than 200 taken hostage in a Hamas-led attack. More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli reprisal, the majority women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Developments:

∎ Pro-Palestinian protesters in New Jersey dismantled their encampment on the Rutgers-New Brunswick campus after they had successful negotiations with university officials Thursday afternoon, NorthJersey.com , part of the USA TODAY Network reported. In a statement, Rutgers-New Brunswick Chancellor Francine Conway said the "resolution was achieved through constructive dialogue between the protesting students and our leadership teams."

∎ Several dozen students were peacefully evacuated from the University of Mississippi campus on Thursday after more than 200 counter-protestors started to throw objects and shout at the protestors, the Mississippi Clarion Ledger , part of the USA TODAY Network reported. About 50 to 60 protestors had gathered for a demonstration before the event escalated with counter-protestors outnumbering the pro-Palestinian protestors.

∎ Officials at the University of California, Berkeley, have opened talks with student leaders regarding the encampment set up in front of the school's Sproul Hall since April 22, the Daily Californian campus newspaper reported. The school said "skirmishes'' at the site between protesters and counterdemonstrators Wednesday evening resulted in three people sustaining minor injuries.

∎ Florida Chancellor Ray Rodrigues has told state university presidents not to cancel or modify commencement ceremonies because of "unruly" demonstrators. "While we are witnessing a descent into chaos all over the country, under the leadership of Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida has maintained law and order," Rodrigues wrote in a memo to the presidents.

∎ Students at several French universities, including La Sorbonne and Sciences Po, have barricaded or occupied areas of their schools in protest of the war in Gaza.

Biden speaks out on college protests: 'Violence is not protected'

Reports: NYPD officer accidentally fired gun at Columbia building

A NYPD officer accidentally discharged his firearm inside Hamilton Hall at Columbia University while police were clearing out protestors who were occupying the building, according to media reports. The officer's action were first reported by news outlet The City on Thursday.

NYPD and the Manhattan District Attorney's Office confirmed the incident to media outlets. Doug Cohen, a spokesperson for the district attorney's office, told The City that the firearm did not appear to be aimed at anyone and no one was injured.

In a statement to The Associated Press , NYPD said the officer was attempting to access a barricaded area and tried to use a flashlight attached to his firearm. He accidentally discharged a single round that hit a frame on the wall, according to the AP.

No students were in the "immediate vicinity," according to the statement, and only police personnel were near the area.

UCLA chancellor says encampment became 'focal point for violence'

Block explained his decision to put an end to the encampment in a letter to the campus community, saying the site had become "a focal point for violence."

"Early this morning, we made the decision to direct UCPD and outside law enforcement officers to enter and clear the encampment," his statement reads. "Officers followed a plan that had been carefully developed to protect the safety of protesters at the site. Those who remained encamped last night were given several warnings and were offered the opportunity to leave peacefully."

According to the statement, about 300 protesters left the site voluntarily, while more than 200 resisted and were arrested. 

"I also want to recognize the significance of the issues behind the demonstrators’ advocacy," Block said. "The loss of life in Gaza has been truly devastating, and my administration has and will continue to connect with student and faculty leaders."

Many 'outsiders' among those who occupied Columbia building

Of the 112 people arrested Tuesday night at Columbia, 32 were not students, according to city figures released Thursday evening.

Citing NYPD data, university spokesperson Ben Chang said 13 of the 44 people arrested inside the occupied Hamilton Hall weren’t affiliated with Columbia, though the definition of who is unaffiliated remains unclear. The remaining 31 people had connections to the university. Among the arrested: 14 Columbia undergraduates; six students at affiliated institutions such as Barnard College and the Union Theological Seminary; nine graduate students; and two Columbia employees.

"A significant portion of those who broke the law by occupying Hamilton Hall were outsiders," Chang said.

Columbia’s campus remains closed to the public, including outside press, though student journalists have remained inside. Hamilton Hall is an active crime scene being investigated by police, a campus update Thursday afternoon said.

“To give you a picture of campus today,” Chang said, “Hamilton Hall and the encampments have been cleared and materials removed. Campus has been calm and, on campus, there were no rallies or demonstrations.”

University of Minnesota, protesters reach deal

Pro-Palestinian supporters agreed to remove their four-day encampment at the University of Minnesota following an agreement made with school leadership . Interim University President Jeff Ettinger agreed to "facilitate conversations" with the career services department in response to the coalition's demand to ban companies that do business with Israel from attending campus events and partaking in job fairs.

Ettinger will also recommend the University of Minnesota Police Department not arrest or press charges against anyone on a criminal offense as a result of the demonstrations and allow the organizing coalition to address the Board of Regents on May 10 concerning its demand that the university divest from Israel.

Northwestern University and Brown University are among other schools that have resolved the protests through negotiations. The Minnesota deal "grew out of a desire among those involved to reach shared understanding,' Ettinger said in a letter to the university community. "While we do not condone tactics that are outside of our policies, we appreciate student leaders' willingness to engage in dialogue."

− Sam Woodward, USA TODAY NETWORK

Biden says speech is protected but not 'chaos'

President Joe Biden condemned violence and destruction on college campuses while defending the right for pro-Palestinian protesters to peacefully demonstrate in his first public address on this week's unrest on college campuses. Biden, in previously unscheduled remarks Thursday from the White House Roosevelt Room, called peaceful protest "in the best tradition of how Americans respond to consequential issues," but he said "violent protest is not protected."

"Destroying property is not a peaceful protest. It's against the law. Vandalism, trespassing, breaking windows shutting down campuses, forcing the cancelation of classes and graduations, none of this is a peaceful protest," Biden said. "There’s the right to protest, but not the right to cause chaos."

Biden said he does not believe governors should call out the National Guard to quell the protests and that the demonstrations have not compelled him to reconsider his Middle East policies.

− Joey Garrison and Francesca Chambers

Pulitzer Prize Board lauds student journalists covering protests

The Pulitzer Prize Board recognized student journalists across the country who are covering protests in the midst of "great personal and academic risk," according to a statement released Thursday by the organization that awards journalism's highest honor.

“We would also like to acknowledge the extraordinary real-time reporting of student journalists at Columbia University, where the Pulitzer Prizes are housed, as the New York Police Department was called onto campus on Tuesday night,” the board's statement said. “In the spirit of press freedom, these students worked to document a major national news event under difficult and dangerous circumstances and at risk of arrest.”

Finalists and winners for the Pulitzer Prizes are set to be announced Monday at Columbia. The campus remained closed to outside press Thursday. Access has been heavily restricted, with the campus only open to students living on campus and essential personnel. This doesn’t include most faculty.

Police watch over demonstration at University of Pennsylvania

A "large demonstration" took place on College Green at the University of Pennsylvania, the school's public safety office said in a campus alert, urging people to avoid the area and saying police were at the scene.

Students from the Gaza Solidarity Encampment climbed a campus statue of Benjamin Franklin, draped him with the Palestinian flag, and sang songs advocating for a free Palestine.

Counter-protestors in support of the Jewish community also rallied, carrying Israeli flags and standing at the entrance of the encampment that was set up about a week ago.

The encampment consists of around 20 tents, a table with food and water, a small bookshelf, a craft table with art supplies for everyone to use, and a medical tent. Campus security watched from several spots surrounding the Ben Franklin statue, which had been power washed earlier the day to remove graffiti. Student protesters could be seen banging water bottles, playing tambourines and singing over loudspeakers.

The metal barricades surrounding the encampment were expanded Thursday, with the addition of a pen to separate the two groups of protesters. By late afternoon, a truck pulled up to the College Green and unloaded more fence pieces, signaling preparation for a continued occupation.

− Annemarie Dooling

All quiet at Columbia University

More than a dozen law enforcement officers and security personnel remained posted Thursday along the metal barricades at and around the Columbia University gate where pro-Palestinian protesters were taken into custody Tuesday night.

Outside Hamilton Hall, which was occupied by protesters early Tuesday, some people waited in line at a checkpoint to enter campus. The encampment that made Columbia the epicenter of campus protests across the nation lasted nearly two weeks before being taken down by police Tuesday.

The semester's remaining classes and final exams will be conducted online, the school's provost said Wednesday. Graduation is set for May 15, and university President Minouche Shafik has requested police maintain a presence on campus through at least May 17. 

− N'dea Yancey-Bragg

Professors association lends support to protesters

Members of the Columbia University chapter of the American Association of University Professors "unequivocally condemn" the school administration's decision this week to summon the NYPD to remove student protesters from campus, the group said in a social media post Thursday. The group demanded the campus be immediately reopened to faculty, staff and students and that the NYPD be withdrawn.

The national chapter issued a statement in defense of the protests nationwide: "The AAUP and its chapters defend the right to free speech and peaceful protest on university campuses, condemn the militarized response by institutional leaders to these activities and vehemently oppose the politically motivated assault on higher education."

Alums, political landscape raised pressure on Columbia president

A few days ago, Shafik indicated she had no intention of bringing police back to respond to pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia. Doing so would be "counterproductive, further inflaming what is happening on campus, and drawing thousands to our doorstep who would threaten our community,” she  wrote in a message  signed by other school leaders.

But many alumni were clearly alarmed by what they were seeing, and so was New York City Mayor Eric Adams. By Tuesday night, the president had changed her mind. New York Police Department officers descended on campus en masse and for the second time arrested scores of protesters.

Shafik had to assess the political landscape, said Lincoln Mitchell, an adjunct associate professor of political science at Columbia. "If you get an alumni base angry, you’re done," he said.

− Zachary Schermele

Alumni pressure, crime-fighting mayor: Both helped set the stage for Columbia arrests

Police clear protesters from occupied library at Portland State

Portland State University's campus in Oregon was closed Thursday because of an "ongoing incident at library," the school said in a social media post, and at 10:17 a.m. the Portland Police Bureau announced it had cleared protesters who had occupied the facility since Monday.

"We have found caches of tools, what appears to be improvised weapons, ball bearings, paint balloons, spray bottles of ink, and DIY armor,'' the PPB said on the X platform. "None of this was used on police.'' The bureau said in another posting that 12 people were arrested, four of them Portland State students.

Earlier this week the school asked police to help remove dozens of protesters occupying the building. Last week the university paused seeking or accepting gifts or grants from Boeing pending a review of weapons sales to Israel.

Columbia faculty, students protest: Campus protests intensify

Almost half of NYC protesters arrested not affiliated with schools, reports say

Adams said in an interview Thursday with NPR that more than 40% of the 282 arrested Tuesday at Columbia and City College of New York protests were not affiliated with either school. An NYPD official told CNN the department was able to determine the breakdowns by cross-checking records with the schools. 

Shayoni Mitra, a theater professor at Columbia-affiliated Barnard College who has been logging arrests and injuries, said all those arrested at Columbia had been released by 5 p.m. ET Thursday. The vast majority if not all were charged with misdemeanor criminal trespassing, she said. Those arrested at CCNY had also been released, protest organizer Nick Rodrigo said.

Body-cam footage released by the NYPD on Thursday shows police removing barricades of tied-up tables and chairs at Columbia's occupied Hamilton Hall, then breaking locks and chains to enter. At one point an officer says, "Let's deploy a flash bang,” followed by several booms. Officers then enter the area behind a protesters' barricade and find most of them sitting on the floor against a wall, their arms linked as a chant of "Free, free Palestine'' can be heard. The video ends as police begin pulling protesters apart.

− Contributing: Eduardo Cuevas

Protesters at NYU undeterred by arrests

Though law enforcement has removed demonstrators camping out at some universities across the city, encampments at schools including New York University persisted Thursday. Initially, the group established an encampment at a plaza near the business school, but after police arrested more than 100 people, the group relocated to a space next to the John A. Paulson Center, according to Ryna Workman, a third-year law student at NYU.

Workman said that as Black student having NYPD on campus and seeing her classmates and professors get arrested has been “jarring” and “a little traumatizing.” Still, she stressed students are not afraid of violence or further arrest and plan to continue to escalate.“It’s a scary thing, but at the end of the day I’m still going to be here for Palestine,” she said.

At UCLA, first flash bangs, then the dismantling began

Hours before the move to dismantle the UCLA encampment at Dickson Plaza, officers in tactical gear began filing onto the campus as protesters chanted "Peaceful protest" and “We’re not leaving!” and “Who do you protect?” and "Where were you last night?"

Twice before the main push, officers attempted to gain ground inside the encampment in the early hours Thursday, only to be fended off by protesters, some holding umbrellas and homemade wooden shields. 

Shortly after 4 a.m., officers started firing flash bangs into the sky above the protest every few seconds, as deafening bangs echoed. Police then dismantled the main barricade piece-by-piece before moving in as a unit and systematically driving students out of the plaza, arresting those who did not comply.

Some demonstrators tried to push back and shine bright lights at the officers, while others surrendered and were ushered away by police. A USA TODAY reporter witnessed one man gushing blood from a head wound who was rushed by protesters to the medic’s tent, where he was bandaged up before being helped away.

“The UCLA administration has decided to take an approach of criminalizing students who are here trying to talk about what’s going on in Gaza and to talk about Palestinians’ lives,” Graeme Blair, an associate professor of political science and member of Faculty for Justice in Palestine at UCLA, told USA TODAY. “If our mission is a teaching mission, I can’t understand why they would choose to take the actions they have over the last 48 hours.” 

Hundreds face charges across nation but will charges stick?

Hundreds of U.S. college students arrested this week while protesting the war in Gaza face criminal charges amid encampments, building takeovers and civil unrest. But how those charges play out remains a key question. On Tuesday night,  New York police arrested  nearly 300 people at Columbia University and the City College of New York. A day earlier, clashes with protesters at the University of Texas in Austin resulted in 79 arrests. Tulane University said 14 protesters were arrested at an "illegal encampment" on the New Orleans campus.

And  officers made at least 70 arrests  late last week and over the weekend at Arizona State University. But scores of cases at other universities have already been dropped.

Richard Serafini, a South Florida criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, explained that with hundreds of arrests at a mass protest, prosecutors still “have to be able to have the evidence” against each individual.

“You can’t charge someone who just happened to be there,” he said.

− Cybele Mayes-Osterman and Asher Stockler

What are college protests across the US about?

The  student protesters  opposed to Israel's military attacks in Gaza say  they want their schools to stop funneling endowment money  to Israeli companies and other businesses, like weapons manufacturers, that profit from the war in Gaza. In addition to divestment, protesters are calling for a cease-fire, and student governments at some colleges have also passed resolutions in recent weeks calling for an end to academic partnerships with Israel. The protesters also want the U.S. to stop supplying funding and weapons to the war effort.

More recently, amnesty for students and professors involved in the protests has become an issue. Protesters want protections amid threats of disciplinary action and termination for those participating in demonstrations that may violate campus policy or local laws.

−  Claire Thornton

Campus protests across the US: Hundreds were arrested. But will the charges stick?

Contributing: Reuters

‘Are you a Zionist?’ Checkpoints at UCLA encampment provoked fear, debate among Jews

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Eilon Presman was about 100 feet from the UCLA Palestinian solidarity encampment when he heard the screams: “Zionist! Zionist!”

The 20-year-old junior, who is Israeli, realized the activists were pointing at him.

“Human chain!” they cried.

A line of protesters linked arms and marched toward him, Presman said, blocking him from accessing the heart of UCLA’s campus. Other activists, he said, unfurled kaffiyeh scarves to block his view of the camp.

“Every step back that I took, they took a step forward,” Presman said. “I was just forced to walk away.”

It’s been a week since police swarmed the UCLA campus and tore down the pro-Palestinian camp, arresting more than 200 people. But the legacy of the encampment remains an issue of much debate, particularly among Jewish students, who make up nearly 8% of the university’s 32,000 undergraduates.

In the days leading up to April 30 — when pro-Israel counterprotesters attacked the camp with fists, bats and chemical spray, and police took hours to stop the violence — frustration had swelled among many Jews: Viral videos showed activists restricting the passage of students they targeted as Zionists.

Some Jewish students said they felt intimidated as protesters scrawled graffiti — “Death 2 Zionism” and “Baby Killers” — on campus buildings and blocked access with wooden pallets, plywood, metal barricades and human walls.

The pro-Palestinian student movement includes various strains of activism, including calls for a cease-fire in Gaza, support for Hamas and demands that universities divest from firms doing business with Israel. But on campuses across the country, no word has become more charged than “Zionist.”

In its most basic definition, a Zionist is somebody who believes that the Jewish people have a right to statehood in their ancestral homeland as a place of refuge from centuries of persecution — in other words, that Israel, established as a Jewish state in the wake of the Holocaust, has a right to exist.

Using that definition, the Anti-Defamation League considers anti-Zionism a form of antisemitism. But protesters — including many Jews — draw a sharp distinction, arguing that it is Zionism that led to a massive displacement of Palestinians seven decades ago and today fuels Israel’s right-wing government and the assault on Gaza that they say amounts to genocide.

Some of the Jewish students who took part in the encampment played a role in excluding Zionists.

Members of Jewish Voice for Peace at UCLA, a small but rapidly growing group on campus, argue they had a moral responsibility to pressure university officials to divest from Israel.

The camp and its checkpoints, they said, were not hostile to Jews. Restricting fellow students from entering was just a pragmatic move to protect protesters inside from physical, verbal or emotional abuse.

“We are committed to keeping each other safe,” said Agnes Lin, 22, a fourth-year art and art history student and member of Jewish Voice for Peace. Anyone who agreed to the UC Divest Coalition’s demands and community guidelines, she said, was welcome.

“What is not welcome is Zionism,” she added. “Or anyone who actively adheres to a very violent, genocidal political ideology that is actively endangering people in Gaza right now.”

In practice, students who supported the existence of Israel were kept out — even if they opposed Israel’s right-wing government and its bombardment of Gaza.

Senior Adam Thaw, 21, said activists blocked him and others from accessing a public walkway to Powell Library.

After telling him they were not letting anyone through, a male activist eyed his Star of David necklace: “If you’re here to espouse that this is antisemitism, then you can leave.”

“Who are you to tell me where I can and cannot go?” said Thaw, who is on UCLA’s student board of Hillel, the largest Jewish campus organization in the world.

As complaints from Jewish students mounted, UCLA declared the encampment “unlawful.” In an April 30 statement, Chancellor Gene Block said most activists had been peaceful, but the tactics of some were “shocking and shameful.”

“Students on their way to class,” he said, “have been physically blocked from accessing parts of the campus.”

The campus was dark and hushed when Sabrina Ellis joined dozens of activists at 4 a.m. to set up the encampment on the lawn of Dickson Court.

After pitching tents and erecting barricades of wooden pallets and sheets of plywood, Ellis, a 21-year-old international student from Brazil, took shifts guarding the entrance.

Ellis didn’t call it a checkpoint. The goal was to exclude and physically block “agitators” — anyone who might be violent, record students or disagree with the cause.

“Our top priority isn’t people’s freedom of movement,” Ellis said. “It is keeping people in our encampments physically and emotionally safe.”

The longtime member of Jewish Voice for Peace — who wore a large Star of David over her T-shirt and a kaffiyeh wrapped around her shoulders — said the camp “was not profiling based on religion.”

But as activists blocked Zionist students from public campus space, they faced charges that they engaged in viewpoint discrimination.

Before allowing anyone in, Ellis said, a protester read the demands of the encampment, which included calling for the University of California and UCLA to divest all funds from companies “complicit in the Israeli occupation,” boycott all connections with Israeli universities, sever ties with the Los Angeles Police Department and demand a permanent cease-fire.

Then, activists ran through their safety guidelines : Ask before taking a photo or video; wear a mask to limit the spread of COVID; do not post identifying information or photos; and no engagement with counterprotesters.

If students didn’t agree, “we would just kindly tell them that they’re not allowed to come in,” Ellis said.

Some Jewish students were shaken by the experience, arriving at Hillel upset and even crying.

“They were genuinely going about their day and couldn’t get access as protesters asked them, ‘Are you a Zionist?’ or looked at their necklace,” said Daniel Gold, executive director of Hillel at UCLA.

For pro-Palestinian activists who are Jewish, the camp was a peaceful space to promote justice, a welcoming interfaith community with therapist-led processing circles and candlelit prayer services.

Blue tarps and blankets were put down in the middle of the lawn for Islamic prayers and a Passover Seder and a Shabbat service.

On the first evening, about 100 activists, many Jewish, sat in a circle to pray, sing, drink grape juice and eat matzo ball soup, matzo crackers and watermelon.

“It was really beautiful,” said Lin, the art student. “We were trying to hold these spaces to show that Judaism goes beyond Zionism.”

Other Jewish students were more wary as they navigated the camp.

Presman, who moved to the U.S. when he was 12 and identifies as a Zionist, was alarmed when he scanned the quad on the first day. He saw signs saying “Israelis are native 2 HELL,” he said, and banners and graffiti showing inverted red triangles, a symbol used in Hamas propaganda videos to indicate a military target.

“Do people know what that means?” he wondered.

Tucking his Star of David under his T-shirt, Presman said, he entered and approached activists, introducing himself as an Israeli citizen.

“Maybe we can find common ground,” he said, “one human being to the other?”

Some students put their hands up, he said, blocking him as they walked away. Others treated the conversation as a joke. One protester, he said, told him that everything Hamas did was justified.

Presman said he had one good conversation: An activist who identified as anti-Zionist admitted not being 100% educated on what Zionism was, but agreed that Israel should exist. They came to the conclusion the activist was a Zionist.

But most of Presman’s exchanges, he said, ended negatively when activists realized he was defending Zionism. He said he was called a “dirty Jew” and “white colonizer.”

Other students — even those who did not fully support the encampment — said they did not experience such slurs.

Rachel Burnett, a senior who described herself as a non-Zionist Jew, disagreed with the call for divestment and academic boycotts, especially of UCLA’s Nazarian Center, an educational center for the study of Israeli history, politics and culture.

Entering the camp after a classmate vouched for her, Burnett was disturbed by anti-Israeli signs and graffiti that named Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for the military wing of Hamas. But she also bonded with protesters, including a woman in a hijab.

“Of course, some protesters deny Oct. 7 or condone violence as long as it can be put under the guise of decolonial resistance, which is obviously horrific,” Burnett said. “But that’s not the case of many students inside the encampment.”

Burnett contrasted what she saw as a peaceful, friendly mood inside the camp with the pro-Israel counterprotests where people held up benign slogans, such as “Bring the Hostages Home,” but engaged in hostile behavior.

As counterprotesters converged for a Sunday rally, she said, a pro-Israel activist spat on her and told her she should have been slaughtered in the kibbutzim on Oct. 7.

Just as some pro-Palestinian activists demonized all Zionists as evil and pro-genocide — ignoring the wide range of viewpoints within the Zionist community — Burnett thought some pro-Israel counterprotesters were dehumanizing student activists in the encampment and spreading a “mass hysteria narrative.”

As the encampment expanded — and organizers set up entrance points near Royce Hall and Powell Library — some Jewish students took videos that swiftly went viral.

“It’s time to go,” a protester wearing a yellow safety vest and kaffiyeh told a student in one video as he guarded an entrance near Powell Library. “You don’t have a wristband.”

A standoff ensued.

“Are you a Zionist?” the protester asked.

“Of course I’m Zionist,” the student replied.

“Yeah, we don’t let Zionists inside.”

More to Read

Jewish voices struggle to find words of reconciliation in face of campus violence

May 11, 2024

Encampments spread across California universities. Are they living on borrowed time?

May 6, 2024

Ali: Mocking Gaza protesters as ‘gluten-free warriors’ was fun — until a mob at UCLA attacked them

May 3, 2024

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May 10, 2024

News | Wish granted: An aircraft carrier is returning…

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News | Wish granted: An aircraft carrier is returning to headline LA Fleet Week in San Pedro

It’s the first time an aircraft carrier has visited the port of los angeles and san pedro in 13 years. i.

An E-2C Hawkeye early warning plane on the flightdesk of the USS Abraham Lincoln in port in San Pedro for Navy Week. Photo by Brad Graverson 7-25-11

Seamen line the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln as it docks in San Pedro for Navy Week. Photo by Brad Graverson 7-25-11

The public was offered a chance to tour the U.S. Navy’s aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and a mine countermeasure ship the USS Champion as they are docked in the Port of Los Angeles Wednesday for Navy Week. Large crowds turned-out for the tours and the wait was over three hours. Bea Bochman, from the San Gabriel Valley, takes in a clear vew of the aircraft carrier from Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro. Bochman had tried to get on the tours, but was turned away as the crowds were too large to accomodate..July 27, 2011..Photo by Steve McCrank / Daily Breeze

The Navy Band Southwest plays ragtime tunes as the USS Abraham Lincoln docks in San Pedro for Navy Week. Photo by Brad Graverson 7-25-11

The Colors are presented at a Memorial Day service at LA Fleet Week on Monday, May 29, 2023, in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

Visitors attend a Memorial Day service at LA Fleet Week on Monday, May 29, 2023, in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

Six active members of the military and a veteran participated in the Military Has Talent competition at LA Fleet Week on Monday, May 29, 2023, in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

Big crowds turn out for the final day of LA Fleet Week on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, 2023, in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

Spectators cheer during the Military Has Talent competition at LA Fleet Week on Monday, May 29, 2023, in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

Attendees flash their Stars and Stripes at LA Fleet Week on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, 2023, in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

Big crowds turn out on day three of LA Fleet Week on Sunday, May 28, 2023, in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

Thousands of people turn out for LA Fleet Week, which gives attendees chances to interact with members of the military and see vehicle and weapons demonstrations, on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at the waterfront in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

Newlyweds Kirk Hodgman and Stephanie Morrow of Santa Monica look on as PFC Peyton Dehoog demonstrates a Stinger, a low altitude air defense missile used by the Marines, on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

Cousins from Rancho Palos Verdes check out the inside of an Army light tactical vehicle on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

Musician 3rd Class Taylor Johns fronts the U.S. Navy’s rock band, The Destroyers, on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

A trio of Chinook enter the channel of Cabrillo Beach during LA Fleet Week in San Pedro on Friday, May 26, 2023. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

The USS PRINCETON (CG-59) one of three active U.S. Navy ships available to tour at LA Fleet Week in San Pedro on Friday, May 26, 2023. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

The S.S. Lane Victory as seen from inside the USS CINCINNATI (LCS-20) one of three active U.S. Navy ships available to tour at LA Fleet Week in San Pedro on Friday, May 26, 2023. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

A sailor stands aboard the USS PRINCETON (CG-59) one of three active U.S. Navy ships available to tour at LA Fleet Week in San Pedro on Friday, May 26, 2023. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

Marines from Camp Pendleton get to know Roscoe, an English Bulldog, at the LA Fleet Week kickoff event on Thursday, May 25, 2023, in downtown San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

LA Fleet Week kicks off with a welcome party kickoff featuring music, dancing and and a chance to meet members of the military on Thursday, May 25, 2023, in downtown San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

Rear Admiral Robert Chadwick, Commander of Carrier Strike Group NINE, speaks aboard the USS Iowa to celebrate the start of LA Fleet Week 2023 with a press conference welcoming visiting Sailors, Marines, Coast Guard members and Soldiers who are in town through Memorial Day weekend in San Pedro on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

The Mu family from Alhambra enters an Army MV-22 Osprey on Monday, May 30, 2022, the final day of this year’s LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

Meina Nagai of Torrance dons a Navy helmet on Monday, May 30, 2022, the final day of this year’s LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

Army Staff Sgt. Sebastian Freeman, left, chats with retired Marine Corporal Juan Gutierrez, a Vietnam veteran, on Monday, May 30, 2022, the final day of this year’s LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

Attention: An active-duty aircraft carrier will headline this year’s LA Fleet Week on Memorial Day weekend.

And it will be sure to steal the show.

It’s the first time an aircraft carrier has visited the Port of Los Angeles and San Pedro in 13 years. In 2011, the USS Abraham Lincoln came in for Navy Week , a forerunner event to claiming a Fleet Week designation .

Its presence sparked a surge of visitors who stood for hours in massive lines to get onboard for a tour.

And nearly every year since, folks have asked organizers when a carrier would visit again.

Well, this is your year.

They’ve been called “cities at sea” and carry crews from 3,000 to 5,000 sailors.

Measuring more than 1,000 feet long, the nation’s aircraft carriers celebrated their 100th birthday two years ago. The first one off the line was the USS Langley commissioned in 1922, a test for the role of naval aviation that was just emerging.

And it was a success. The carriers radically changed military aviation.

Warships that serve as a seagoing airbase, they are equipped with a full-length flight deck and the ability to carry, arm, deploy and recover aircraft.

The massive vessels also serve as an impressive symbol of the nation’s war power capabilities.

The news, released on Monday, May 13, is expected to fuel what could be a record attendance for this year’s LA Fleet Week, set for May 22-27 at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro.

Events will stretch throughout the long weekend event with many activities also planned for the wider Los Angeles area. LA Fleet Week will bring thousands of Navy sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and soldiers to experience Los Angeles with community events. The Navy and Marine Corps bands will provide entertainment at venues throughout the region.

The aircraft carrier, yet to be identified, will be anchored in San Pedro’s Outer Harbor where it will be open for tours.

Also arriving for berthing closer to the downtown harbor expo area — adjacent to the Los Angeles Maritime Museum — will be a Coast Guard cutter that will be open for tours.

The tours are fee and will be available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily from Friday, May 24, through Sunday, May 26; and from 9  a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, Memorial Day, May 27.

To tour the aircraft carrier, visitors will have to catch a shuttle bus from the main LA Fleet Week Expo footprint next to the USS Battleship Iowa at 250 S. Harbor Blvd., San Pedro.

Reservations for ship tours are not required and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. All adults must present a valid government-issued ID (state ID card, drivers’ license or passport) to take Navy ship tours.

Non-US citizens must show valid passports and will be subject to a brief additional screening before boarding the vessels. Photo copies of IDs will not be accepted.

Additional information can be found on the LA Fleet Week website  including a schedule of events, maps and information about parking.

The main footprint of the festival — with displays and demonstrations — will be next to the USS Battleship Iowa on Harbor Boulevard just south of the Vincent Thomas Bridge.

The expo will be open to the general public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily from May 24-27. Admission is free.

Dining options include Vicky’s Doghouse Cafe on board the Battleship Iowa and a variety of food trucks. Restaurants throughout the nearby Downtown San Pedro area also will be open.

Neighborhood “activations” throughout Los Angeles and Orange County cities are designed to introduce service members to the public by way of community projects and outreach activities. Navy and Marine Corps bands will perform at various venues including in the cities of Los Angeles, Fullerton and Venice.

Service members also will join in a Habitat for Humanity build site, a beach clean-up in Venice and a facility improvement project for the Boys and Girls Club Teen Center.

On Memorial Day, 500 sailors will gather to walk across the iconic Sixth Street Bridge in Downtown Los Angeles as a Memorial Day sale.

A solemn Memorial Day ceremony also will be held on the LA Fleet Week Expo main stage next to the Battleship Iowa honoring those who lost their lives in defense of the country.

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NCAA.com | May 5, 2024

Ucla wins 2024 nc men's volleyball championship.

(1) UCLA men's volleyball beat (2) Long Beach State 3-1 in the 2024 NC men's volleyball national championship on Saturday, May 4. The Bruins are now back-to-back champions and extend their program titles to 21, extending the all-time record for NCAA men's volleyball national titles. This was the second time in three years that Long Beach State has made it to the finals (2022, 2024).

The 2024 NC men's volleyball championship ran from April 30 to May 4 in Long Beach, California at Walter Pyramid. The NCAA Men's Volleyball Committee announced on Sunday, April 21, the eight teams competing for the 2024 national championship. 

Here's a look at the bracket, full schedule and championship history below.

2024 NCAA NC men's volleyball championship bracket

Click or tap here to see the interactive and printable bracket

2024 NCAA NC men's volleyball championship schedule

* All times are Eastern. Click or tap on each game to watch live on ncaa.com

Sunday, April 21 — Selection show

• Selections announced

Tuesday, April 30 — Quarterfinals

• No. 1 UCLA 3,  No. 8 Fort Valley State 0 (Quarterfinal 1)  | FULL REPLAY
• No. 4 UC Irvine 3,  No. 5 Penn State 0 (Quarterfinal Match 2)   | FULL REPLAY
• No. 2 Long Beach State 3,  No. 7 Belmont Abbey 0 (Quarterfinal Match 3)   | FULL REPLAY
• No. 3 Grand Canyon 3,  No. 6 Ohio State 0 (Quarterfinal Match 4)   | FULL REPLAY

Thursday, May 2 — Semifinals

• No. 1 UCLA 3,  No. 4 UC Irvine 2  | FULL REPLAY
• No. 2 Long Beach State 3, No. 3 Grand Canyon 2  | FULL REPLAY

Saturday, May 4 — National Championship

• No. 1 UCLA 3, No. 2 Long Beach State 1 

2024 NCAA NC men's volleyball championship history

The NC men's volleyball national championship dates back to 1970, skipping 2020 due to COVID-19, with the first-ever championship trophy going to UCLA. The Bruins hold 21 national titles, which makes them the winningest team in sport history. 

UCLA was crowned the 2023 national champion after taking down Hawaii in four sets.

Below you can check out a list of all NC men's volleyball champs since 1970.

Cal Lutheran wins 2024 NCAA DIII men's volleyball championship

NCAA Men's Volleyball Committee announces championship selections

NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball Committee selects 2024 championship bracket

PGA Tour rookie Jake Knapp wins Mexico Open

PGA Tour rookie Jake Knapp is now a PGA Tour winner, taking home the Mexico Open on Sunday after shooting 19-under for the week, beating fellow rookie Sami Valimaki by two strokes.

Knapp started the round with a commanding four-shot lead, but let it slip away as his driver — the foundation of his first three rounds — betrayed him. Knapp hit two fairways in 18 holes on Sunday, and is the first PGA Tour player since 1983 to hit two or fewer fairways in his final round and win. Knapp hit 33 of 39 fairways Thursday-Saturday.

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Still, he secured the win after putting his drive on 18 into a left fairway bunker. Valimaki, needing eagle to force the playoff, went for broke and missed — his monster drive hit the cart path right and settled underneath a fence. Valimaki immediately began asking how much of a cushion he had over the trio in third place. A few moments later Knapp had a tap-in par and lifted his arms in triumph.

“Just grinding it out,” Knapp told NBC of his final round.

Knapp, 29, is just that — a professional golf grinder. The skill was always there — during high school, he shot a 58 on his home course and then a 61 during U.S. Open qualifying, and eventually matriculated to UCLA — but he struggled to gain traction upon turning pro in 2016.

Three years ago he did not have status on any tour and was working as a security guard at a nightclub. But he used conditional status on the Korn Ferry Tour to finish 13th in the season-long standings in 2023, and claim his PGA Tour card for this season.

He tied for third at the Farmers Insurance Open last month, and was T28 at the WM Phoenix Open. Then he followed up his opening-round 67 at Vidanta with a 64 on Friday and a 63 on Saturday, taking a four-shot lead over Valimaki into the final round. Only three players were within seven shots of the lead.

Knapp, No. 125 in the world per DataGolf.com, stumbled out of the gate with bogeys on Nos. 1 and 3, though, and quickly found himself in a tie with Valimaki, who had a birdie and eagle on the front nine.

Knapp eventually steadied himself, gaining a stroke on his playing partner when he parred No. 13 and Valimaki bogeyed, and then giving himself another when he birdied on the Par-5 14th and Valimaki settled for par.

Knapp takes home $1.458 million for the win. He’ll be in the Masters and PGA Championship, as well as The Players Championship next month. He’s also now fully exempt through the 2026 PGA Tour season and will be in all signature events for the rest of this year.

(Photo of Jake Knapp: Hector Vivas / Getty Images)

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Hugh Kellenberger is the senior managing editor of The Athletic's golf group. A native of North Carolina, Kellenberger previously served as sports editor and columnist for the Jackson (Mississippi) Clarion Ledger. He first covered Ole Miss for the paper, and in the past has covered Indiana for the Bloomington Herald-Times and the ACC for the Rocky Mount Telegram. Follow Hugh on Twitter @ KellenbergerCBB

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Jerry Seinfeld’s Duke University Commencement Speech Spurs Walkouts as Students Chant ‘Free Palestine’

By Ellise Shafer

Ellise Shafer

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Jerry Seinfeld received an honorary degree at Duke University’s commencement on Sunday, but before he could begin his speech, the comedian was met with student walkouts.

According to the New York Times , dozens of students left the graduation ceremony and chanted “Free, free Palestine” in protest of Seinfeld, who has been vocal about his support of Israel. Others in the crowd responded to the protesters with applause and cheers of approval for Seinfeld, who began his speech with, “Thank you. Oh my God, what a beautiful day.”

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In addition to posting about his support of Israel on social media, in December Seinfeld made a trip to Tel Aviv to meet with families of the hostages taken during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. Earlier this month, his wife, Jessica Seinfeld, promoted on Instagram a UCLA counterprotest to the pro-Palestinian demonstrations that have been taking place at universities across the country.

Representatives for Seinfeld declined to comment on the matter.

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Childish Gambino announces 'The New World Tour': See full list of dates

Childish Gambino, aka Donald Glover , has announced a world tour that will cover North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

The North American leg of the tour, called "The New World Tour," will feature 33 dates and will begin in Oklahoma City on Aug. 11. The final stop on the leg will be in Chicago on Oct. 3.

The European leg of the tour kicks off Oct. 31 in Lyon, France and ends Dec. 5 in Dublin, Ireland, and will feature 18 stops across the continent. The Australia and New Zealand portion kicks off on Jan. 28, 2025 and wraps up on Feb. 11, 2025.

Alongside the world tour, Gambino also surprised fans with the release of " Atavista ," a new version of his 2020 album " 3.15.20 ," which includes two new tracks, titled "Atavista" and "Human Sacrifice."

Here's a full list of dates for Gambino's "The New World Tour ," including ticket information.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

'The New World Tour' North America 2024 dates

• Sun Aug 11 – Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center *  
• Mon Aug 12 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center *
• Wed Aug 14 – Milwaukee, WI – Fiserv Forum *
• Thu Aug 15 – Columbus, OH – Schottenstein Center *
• Sat Aug 17 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena *
• Sun Aug 18 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena *
• Tue Aug 20 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena *
• Wed Aug 21 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center *
• Fri Aug 23 – Boston, MA – TD Garden *
• Sat Aug 24 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena *
• Mon Aug 26 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center *
• Tue Aug 27 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center *   
• Thu Aug 29 – Washington, D.C. – Capital One Arena *
• Fri Aug 30 – Raleigh, NC – PNC Arena *
• Sun Sep 1 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena *
• Mon Sep 2 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena *
• Wed Sep 4 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena *
• Thu Sep 5 – Sunrise, FL – Amerant Bank Arena *
• Sat Sep 7 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center *
• Sun Sep 8 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center *
• Tue Sep 10 – Austin, TX – Moody Center *
• Wed Sep 11 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center *
• Fri Sep 13 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena *
• Sat Sep 14 – Salt Lake City, UT – Delta Center *
• Mon Sep 16 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center *
• Wed Sep 18 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena *
• Thu Sep 19 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena *                      
• Sat Sep 21 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center *
• Mon Sep 23 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena *
• Tue Sep 24 – Portland, OR – Moda Center *
• Wed Sep 25 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena *
• Fri Sep 27 – Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome *
• Sun Sep 29 – Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place *
• Wed Oct 2 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center *
• Thu Oct 3  – Chicago, IL – United Center *

'The New World Tour' Europe/UK 2024 dates

• Thu, Oct 31  –  Lyon, FR  –  LDLC Arena #
• Sat, Nov 2  –  Milan, IT  –  Unipol Forum #
• Mon, Nov 4  –  Cologne, DE  –  Lanxess Arena #
• Wed, Nov 6 – Hamburg, DE – Barclays Arena #
• Fri, Nov 8 – Oslo, NO – Oslo Spektrum #
• Sun, Nov 10 – Copenhagen, DK – Royal Arena #
• Tue, Nov 12 – Prague, CZ – O2 arena #
• Wed, Nov 13 – Berlin, DE – Uber Arena #
• Tue, Nov 19 – Paris, FR – Accor Arena #
• Thu, Nov 21 – Munich, DE – Olympiahalle #
• Sat, Nov 23 – Brussels, BE – ING Arena #
• Sun, Nov 24 – Amsterdam, NL – Ziggo Dome #
• Tue, Nov 26 – Manchester, UK – AO Arena #
• Thu, Nov 28 – Glasgow, UK  –  OVO Hydro #
• Sat, Nov 30 – London, UK – The O2 #
• Sun, Dec 1 – London, UK – The O2 #
• Tue, Dec 3 – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena #
• Thu, Dec 5 – Dublin, IE – 3Arena #

'The New World Tour' Australia 2025 dates

• Tue, Jan 28 – Auckland, NZ –Spark Arena #
• Sat, Feb 1 – Brisbane, QLD – Brisbane Entertainment Centre #
• Tue, Feb 4 – Sydney, NSW – Qudos Bank Arena #
• Wed, Feb 7 – Melbourne, VIC – Rod Laver Arena #
• Sat, Feb 11 – Perth, WA– RAC Arena #

Support key

• * with WILLOW
• # With Aamarae

Childish Gambino world tour ticket info

Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, May 17 at 10 a.m. local time at thenewworldtour.com . Fans can also sign up for early access to tickets via the artist presale for all tour dates at thenewworldtour.com.

American Express card members can purchase tickets before the general public for North American, Australian and select UK dates. Presale start and end times will vary by market.

Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X  @GabeHauari  or email him at [email protected].