A lawsuit has been filed by the Goldwater Institute against the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) seeking to end what they describe as “stonewalling” regarding public records requests.

Public Funds, Public Access

State universities, built and funded by taxpayer dollars, are accountable to the public and their elected representatives. The lawsuit centers on the university’s refusal to provide public access to the teaching materials and salary information of Lisa “Tiny” Gray-Garcia, a lecturer at UCLA.

Who is Lisa Gray-Garcia?

Gray-Garcia, also known as ‘PovertySkola,’ is described as a formerly unhoused, incarcerated journalist, lecturer, poet, and activist. She is an “activist in residence” at the UCLA Luskin Institute on Inequality and Democracy, founded in 2016. The institute focuses on research related to inequality and displacement.

Controversial Lectures and Complaints

Concerns arose after a lecture delivered to first-year UCLA medical students on April 4, 2024. According to reports in the New York Post, Gray-Garcia’s presentation, titled “Housing justice in LA: Addressing Unhousing and Practicing Solidarity,” included support for Hamas, chants of “Free, free Palestine,” and criticism of “white science.”

The lecture also reportedly involved a request for students to pray to “mama Earth,” prompting a complaint from the university’s Jewish Faculty Resilience Group. The complaint highlighted concerns about potential repercussions for a student who did not participate in the prayer.

Legal Basis for the Lawsuit

The Goldwater lawsuit cites Article I of the California Constitution, guaranteeing the public’s right to access information regarding government conduct. It also references the California Public Records Act, which establishes access to public information as a fundamental right.

Delays and Lack of Response

According to John Seiler, who is leading the lawsuit from Sacramento, UCLA has not denied the requested materials are public records, nor asserted a legal right to withhold them. Instead, the university has repeatedly delayed their release, citing ongoing review processes. “They tell us they will produce in 30 days. Then another 30 days comes, and they say, ‘Oh, we need another 30 days.’” Seiler stated.

Funding Implications

The lawsuit emphasizes that UCLA’s lack of transparency should be considered when the University of California Regents seek additional funding. The argument is that the entire UC system should not receive further funding until UCLA complies with public records laws and demonstrates greater transparency.