UCLA has canceled in-person classes following a video sent by a former postdoctoral fellow and lecturer referencing a mass shooting and an 800-page manifesto containing ‘Specific threats’ to some department members on Monday.
An email was sent to students stating that Matthew Harris threatened the philosophy department and people in the department.
According to the email, the material includes a video entitled ‘UCLA Philosophy Mass Shooting’ and an 800-page manifesto with specific threats towards some department members.
We will continue our discussion through Zoom. I’ll keep you updated on the situation. But please avoid Dodd Hall and the philosophy department until further notice.
UCLA’s Steve Ritea said that the university is working with out-of-state law enforcement and federal agencies in response to a concerning email and posting sent to some members of the UCLA community today.
Harris has uploaded more than 300 videos to his YouTube channel in the past week.
On Sunday, a video was uploaded to YouTube titled “UCLA PHILOSOPHY.” The disturbing seven-minute clip contains footage of the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas and clips from the 2003 movie “Zero Day,” loosely based on the Columbine High School massacre.
The Times obtained a copy of Harris’ email to the UCLA philosophy department.
Harris included links to his manifesto and videos, including the video of him threatening a mass shooting.
On bruinwalk.com, a site where students leave anonymous reviews of professors and other staff, Harris was described by two students as having disturbing and erratic behavior as a lecturer.
One review claims that Harris is “extremely unprofessional” and has sent his p*rnographic content to a student.