UCLA student Alexandra Wallace has issued an apology for her anti-Asian rant which, after going viral, elicited strong reactions from members of the UCLA community.
University of California Police Department spokeswoman Nancy Greenstein told the Daily Bruin that Wallace contacted UCPD after receiving death threats via e-mail and phone on Sunday evening. Wallace later told professor Phil Gussin that she had been advised by police officials to reschedule her finals after her exam schedule was made public.
The video was originally uploaded by Wallace on Friday, but was soon taken down. It was reposted Sunday and has since gone viral, garnering over one million YouTube views and prompting countless spoofs, remixes and response. On Monday, Wallace issued a statement of apology to the Bruin.
She said:
Clearly the original video posted by me was inappropriate. I cannot explain what possessed me to approach the subject as I did, and if I could undo it, I would. I'd like to offer my apology to the entire UCLA campus. For those who cannot find it within them to accept my apology, I understand.
Later that day, University Chancellor Gene Block denounced Wallace's rant. "I am appalled by the thoughtless and hurtful comments of a UCLA student posted on YouTube, he said, adding, "Like many of you, I recoil when someone invokes the right of free expression to demean other individuals or groups."
He continued to say that Wallace's video does not represent the strength of the diverse community at UCLA.
But the many violent and sexist reactions to Wallace's video have made some students question whether the incident has brought to light latent tensions at UCLA.
In an editorial in the Bruin, two students suggested that the university require freshmen to undergo sensitivity workshops in order to promote a more integrated campus.
And in a response to the incident, the Asian Pacific Coalition at UCLA wrote that although they are offended by Wallace's comments, they hope to use the opportunity to prompt changes on campus. They released these demands in the Bruin:
1)We call for a public apology from Alexandra Wallace. Her words and actions are not in line with the UCLA Student Code of Conduct.
2)We call for UCLA to take the appropriate disciplinary measures befitting of Wallace's violation against the UCLA Student Code of Conduct and UCLA's Principle of Community
3)We call for UCLA to issue a statement addressing this incident. UCLA must demonstrate its commitment to a culture of diversity, respect, tolerance, and acceptance for all communities by standing against such acts.
4)We call for the UCLA Academic Senate to pass a requirement in the general education curriculum grounded in the UCLA Principles of Community.
Below, watch Chancellor Block's statement response to Wallace's video, and share your reaction in the comments section.