Historic Bruin win
When UCLA crushed the University of South Carolina in the NCAA women’s basketball championship game 79–51 on Sunday, the Bruins made history. Their victory capped a powerful season including the Big Ten conference title and a decisive showing in the NCAA tournament. The Bruins finished with a 37–1 record and avenged their only loss when they beat Texas in the Final Four. Led by standout players including Lauren Betts, named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, and motivated by a strong team spirit, they celebrated a long-awaited breakthrough for their program with the Bruins’ first NCAA championship in women’s basketball.

UCLA poll finds 40% of voters undecided on next L.A. mayor
As Los Angeles approaches its mayoral election in two months, a recent poll by the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs reveals that 40% of voters have not yet decided on their candidate. In the survey, Mayor Karen Bass leads with 25% support, followed by conservative media figure Spencer Pratt at 11% and City Councilmember Nithya Raman at 9%. Tech entrepreneur Adam Miller and housing activist Rae Huang each received 3%. The June contest is an election, not a primary, but if no candidate secures a majority, the top two will compete in a runoff in November. The survey highlights a significant number of undecided voters, indicating a dynamic race ahead as candidates present their visions for the city.

LINK students meet civic leaders
On March 23 and 24, twenty-four UCLA undergraduate students in the Chancellor's Leadership, Innovation, Networking and Knowledge (LINK) program met with local government and community leaders in downtown Los Angeles, including a visit to a LA Housing Authority site and to City Hall. The students and the leaders they met discussed housing, transportation, and the history of Los Angeles. Speakers included City of Los Angeles Councilmembers Katy Yaroslavsky, Ysabel Jurado and Tim McOsker, and former Councilmembers Mike Bonin, Joe Buscaino and Zev Yaroslavsky.

► VIDEO:  Highlights from the trip to City Hall and downtown L.A.

Social Media Spotlight

UCLA spring quarter updates
Chancellor Julio Frenk recently shared updates with the Bruin community regarding the university's initiatives and progress. He highlighted the importance of collaboration as UCLA prepares for commencement. Key updates include the launch of the refreshed One UCLA website, as well as an upcoming report on efforts to combat antisemitism. Additionally, the Chancellor noted significant advancements in research and a landmark $100 million gift dedicated to enhancing mental health services on campus.

Artemis II launches: the Bruin side of the moon
In celebration of NASA's Artemis II rocket liftoff on April 1, three UCLA College professors shared their thoughts on the moon's enduring significance and its ability to unite us. The mission marks the first crewed lunar flight in more than 50 years, and the insights offered by these professors shed light on humanity’s fascination with our celestial neighbor.

► Related: UCLA researchers uncover buried ancient delta on Mars

Who leaves California? And why?
A recent report from the nonpartisan California Policy Lab (CPL) finds that Californians who leave the state tend to relocate to substantially more affordable communities and are more likely to become homeowners in the years that follow. CPL researchers used anonymized credit bureau data from 2016 to 2025 to follow individuals before and after moving, and then compared the financial picture of movers with similar Californians who remained in place. The report also suggested a connection to COVID, with migrants from other states relocating to California at slower rates since the pandemic struck in 2020.

► EVENT: The California Policy Lab is holding an event on Thursday, April 9th, from 12 to 1 p.m. at the UC Student and Policy Center in Sacramento, where they will present the new research along with a moderated discussion about the implications for California policy.

UCLA State of the Commute
UCLA has released its annual report chronicling the commuting behavior of the tens of thousands of Bruins who regularly come to campus. Published as an interactive website, State of the Commute highlights UCLA's evolution from having only a few mobility options—mainly driving alone or joining a vanpool—to today’s integrated network of transit services, micro‑mobility options, electric vehicle infrastructure and telecommuting programs that reduce the need to travel altogether.

UCLA to address L.A.’s youth mental health crisis
Starting this fall, UCLA is launching three initiatives to improve youth mental health in Los Angeles, supported by a $33 million grant from Ballmer Group. The programs will increase access to training, academic resources and early-career opportunities, ultimately strengthening and enlarging the pipeline of current and future professionals who are able to prevent and respond to youth mental health issues. 

After the fires: UCLA experts brief state legislative staff on rebuilding
Fifteen months after the Palisades and Eaton fires, many Southern Californians still face uncertainty about returning home, while policymakers continue to seek effective solutions for rebuilding. On March 5, UCLA’s Luskin Center for Innovation, Emmett Institute on Climate Change, and Sustainable LA Grand Challenge organized a discussion at the UC Student and Policy Center in Sacramento titled “Rebuilding Better: Lessons in Planning for California’s Next Disaster.” The event brought together state legislative staff and experts who shared insights on two recovery efforts, the 2023 Merced County floods and the 2025 LA County fires. Julia Stein, deputy director of the UCLA Emmett Institute, highlighted the work of the  Blue Ribbon Commission on Climate Action and Fire-Safe Recovery, and said the Commission’s report has informed strategies for recovery. She also discussed AB 2385, a state bill which aims to help communities establish strong governance structures for post-disaster recovery. The event highlighted the important role universities can play in providing policymakers with action-oriented and community-informed research.

“Smog and Sunshine:” Clean air in California
Los Angeles is famous for both sunshine and smog. Turns out the two are related. Ozone pollution is caused by the interaction of sunlight and the chemicals that come out of vehicle tailpipes and factory smokestacks. Ann Carlson, professor and faculty director of the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at UCLA School of Law, discusses her new book and offers thoughts on ways the state can address federal efforts to undo California’s emissions standards. Recent federal moves to roll back emissions regulations don’t “leave California without any authority to do anything,” Ann Carlson says. “In fact, the state can regulate all sorts of other pollution sources.”

► RSVP: Book talk with Ann Carlson: April 10, 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

ICE deaths in custody
The Behind Bars Data Project at UCLA School of Law has published the first comprehensive dataset  of deaths in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. The project compiled data on nearly 300 deaths since ICE's creation in 2003 and lands amid a national controversy over ICE and the tactics its agents are employing across America. The project is the first to aggregate the data, spanning more than two decades, into a single searchable system. Immigration detention numbers now exceed 68,000 people, and Sharon Dolovich, UCLA Law professor and director of the Behind Bars Data Project, said the data can help improve conditions for those in custody.

Watch: A behind-the-scenes tour of UCLA’s sustainable campus
UCLA’s least recognized sustainable jewel might also be its most visible, something Bruins encounter every day — the campus itself. Take a video tour of UCLA to learn about the sustainability initiatives that power, drive and shape the campus.

► How UCLA is leading the way toward a healthier, more sustainable future