UCLA cancels in-person classes, alleging threats from ex-lecturer

The University of California, Los Angeles canceled in-person classes on Tuesday after a former lecturer posted a video and manifesto that referenced a mass shooting at the school. 

Matthew Christopher Harris, a former postdoctoral fellow and lecturer at UCLA, sent an 800-page manifesto to staff and posted a video on YouTube titled “UCLA Philosophy (Mass Shooting)." The video included clips from the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas. 

UCLA said it was “aware of a concerning email and posting sent to some members of the UCLA community today and actively engaging with out-of-state law enforcement and federal agencies."

UCPD is actively working with out-of-state & federal agencies on threats sent to some members of our community. We do not have specific information that this individual is in CA. Out of an abundance of caution, all classes will be held remotely Feb 1. We will keep you updated.

— UCLA (@UCLA) February 1, 2022

The university announced that classes would be held remotely for the day as authorities dealt with the threat. Tuesday was the first day of in-person classes after the surge in omicron cases moved classes online. 

"Like many UCLA students, faculty, and staff, this was set to be my first week back on campus after the omicron wave had us remote, so it's frustrating. But I understand the extreme caution exercised by the university on this,” said Nolan Gray, a Ph.D. student in urban planning at UCLA and a board member of the North Westwood Neighborhood Council.

Trouble began when Harris started working at UCLA as a postdoctoral fellow in 2019. He was placed on leave while the university investigated a video he sent to a student with pornographic content, reported by the school’s newspaper, The Daily Bruin.  

"I've been scared about this professor, this guy, for about a year since my girlfriend told me about the stories - how he treated their class, but also the threats he made after he got put on leave," student Nathan Robbins said.

Harris was detained on Tuesday afternoon in Colorado and taken into custody after a standoff with police. A crisis intervention team had to assist with his surrender. 

"I am greatly relieved to share that law enforcement officers in Colorado have taken into custody the individual who made threats against some members of our UCLA community yesterday,” said UCLA’s administrative vice-chancellor Michael Beck. “While we will continue with our plans to keep instruction remote today, with this development, we will return to in-person instruction tomorrow."