Bari Weiss Cancels UCLA Lecture Due to Safety Concerns

Bari Weiss, the Editor-in-Chief at CBS News, has decided to pull out of her planned lecture at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), amid anticipated student protests and objections from some university staff members.

Weiss was set to discuss “The Future of Journalism” at the annual Daniel Pearl Memorial Lecture on February 27. However, she withdrew from the event earlier this week, citing concerns for her safety, particularly following the violent events in Gaza and Israel that began on October 7, 2023. This situation has led to significant national attention on campus protests, along with a federal inquiry regarding allegations of systemic anti-Semitism at the university.

According to UCLA Vice President Steve Lurie, the university had prepared to implement a “comprehensive security plan” for the event, developed in cooperation with both campus safety officials and external law enforcement agencies.

Nonetheless, reports indicate that numerous staff at UCLA’s Burkle Center and the Institute for International Studies opposed her involvement. Additionally, the university anticipated a large turnout of student demonstrators.

A CBS News representative stated, “We are always following the guidance of our security team. This situation remains unchanged. We are working with the university to reschedule.”

It’s not unusual for journalists to take precautions during public appearances; many are often accompanied by security professionals, even in non-controversial environments like CBS’s New York office.

Super agent Jay Schurs, who represents various prominent CBS News figures and is on the University of California Board of Trustees, voiced support for Weiss’s choice to cancel her lecture given the university’s recent climate. He remarked, “As someone who has faced threats for speaking about anti-Israel and anti-Semitic attitudes on campuses, I completely understand Bari’s decision.” He added, “Why would she put herself and her family at risk in today’s environment?”

Schurs himself, who identifies as Jewish and supports Israel, has faced aggression from anti-Zionist groups on campus. In February of last year, over 50 individuals targeted his home, issuing threats as a form of protest.

In the past, UCLA settled a federal lawsuit for $6.13 million, which claimed the university had allowed anti-Semitism to flourish, particularly after Jewish students were excluded from a pro-Palestinian camp in 2024. The agreement included a permanent court order to prevent further exclusion of Jewish students from campus activities.

Recently, in August, the Trump administration also announced it would withhold $339 million in research grants to UCLA, citing various civil rights violations related to anti-Semitism among other issues.