LOS ANGELES (CNS) – Amid heightened security prompted by recent campus protests that have led to dozens of arrests, UCLA will hold its main commencement ceremonies Friday at Pauley Pavilion, with individual school events planned throughout the weekend.
The main ceremony was split into three events this year. College Commencement Ceremonies will be held at Pauley Pavilion at 11 a.m. and 3 and 7 p.m.
The venue will enforce a clear bag policy for attendees. Graduates will not be allowed to bring any large bags into the event, but will be restricted to clear bags smaller than 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches.
All attendees will have to pass through metal detectors to enter the arena.
Actor Sean Astin will deliver the keynote address at all three of the main ceremonies. An estimated 15,000 Bruins are expected to receive their diplomas between Friday and Sunday.
Dozens of individual college ceremonies are scheduled Saturday and Sunday at various venues across the campus. Most will also have the same heightened restrictions and clear bag requirements for attendees.
The security follows weeks of concerns sparked by pro-Palestinian protests. Activists have been pushing for the university to divest from all businesses tied to Israel amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. UCLA and University of California officials have resisted such calls.
The most recent action occurred Monday and ended with more than two dozen arrests. In May, more than 200 people were arrested when police dismantled a large pro-Palestine encampment that had been established in front of Royce Hall, which will host some of the this weekend’s graduation events.
On Wednesday, the UC Board of Regents announced that Dr. Julio Frenk, a global health expert and current president of the University of Miami, will take over as UCLA chancellor in January, replacing Gene Block. Block will step down from the post at the end of July and return to teaching.
UCLA Provost Darnell Hunt will serve as interim chancellor when Block steps down.
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