I wasn't aware of another petition for the same purpose, but that one has more momentum with 40K+ signatures as of 6/11. Please go to that petition (link below) and support. Thanks!

https://www.change.org/p/ucla-justice-for-ucla-professor-gordon-klein-titlevi?from=groupmessage&isappinstalled=0

Context: Prof. Gordon Klein is a long-time accounting/law professor at UCLA and is recently suspended by UCLA because his email reply to a student requesting the final exam to be "shortened/cancelled" is deemed as "insensitive".

*Source to the news report and Prof. Klein's original email: https://dailybruin.com/2020/06/04/students-sign-petition-to-fire-ucla-lecturer-after-many-find-his-email-insensitive

This petition demands UCLA to end Prof. Klein's suspension and apologize to him immediately for 2 reasons, this suspension is unjust, and he is a huge asset to UCLA students. We all demand justice for George Floyd and other victims. And this should encourage, rather than scaring us and the school from doing the right thing.

Action needed from you (Do the right thing!):

- Put your hand over your heart and ask yourself if a professor deserves to be fired for writing an email referring Dr. King's vision for equality and upholding integrity for education

- Sign this petition

- Spread the word

Details below:

1. The suspension is unjust for the following reasons:
- Not canceling/shortening a final does not necessarily hurt the student, quite the contrary, it actually gives the student an opportunity to showcase that student's knowledge. Also, Prof. Klein did mention that he "would consider their situations when grading and urged them to adequately prepare". Testing is the commonly-agreed mechanism to ensure learning. (Has the school consulted the student's parents about canceling/shortening the finals? Do that student's parent want a watered-down education after they put their hard-earned money in that student's education?)
- Why would people assume the student wouldn't crush the final and get an A+? Just because that person is a minority? Being a minority myself. This is quite offensive. African-Americans have had a long history of overcoming challenges without asking for a simplification/deadline extension. Examples below (my expertise lies in basketball only, but tons of more examples outside if you research slightly):
* Isaiah Thomas' 2017 NBA playoff game: After losing his sister to a car accident and a front tooth, he scored 53 points and achieved victory despite the grievance and injury
* Alyssa Thomas' 2019 WNBA playoff run: Played with labral tears in both of her shoulders but still took her team to the finals
* Michael Jordan's flu game in 1997 NBA finals: He battled a severe flu and led his team to a 2-point victory, key to his last championship
- Prof. Klein's email is within reason and in line with Dr. Martin Luther King's belief in equality. In case the school isn't familiar with Dr. King's "I have a dream" speech mentioned in Prof. Klein's email, the full quote is "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." If UCLA has a problem with Dr. King's dream about his children getting equal treatment, please keep Prof. Klein who shares Dr. King's dream suspended

2. Prof. Klein is a huge asset to UCLA students for the following reasons:
- He has provided knowledge to UCLA students for 30+ years, benefited thousands of students' career and development, myself included
- He is the expert in his field (tax, accounting, law). If the school suspends him, please find a person with similar credentials below (source is on the Anderson website). If they can't, please issue a refund to his current and future students
* "Served as the sole accounting expert for the General Motors’ bankruptcy trustee"
* "Played an important role in reforming our mortgage lending system by testifying for the Department of Justice, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac against lenders and securities issuers that engaged in fraudulent practices" - If UCLA is on the side of greedy lenders responsible for millions of jobs lost in the 2008 recession, please keep him suspended

The last piece is my personal experience with Prof. Klein. I took accounting 120/127 with him, and both were one of the most difficult courses in the department. I was a clueless student but was able to pass the class because he had a unique, effective way to teach. He is the most dedicated professor I had who demands nothing less than his students' and his own best (runs 7AM office hours while having an active practice outside teaching), an effective educator that explains complex tax handling with Jack's magic beans analogy, and just a genuine person (passion for music).

Disclaimer: I don't have any relationship with Prof. Klein other than having taken 2 classes with him. No contacts ever since my graduation. Writing this piece is simply to do the right thing for UCLA students.

I'd like to leave 2 quotes from Coach John Wooden and Malcolm X with you.
- “If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?” - John Wooden
- “Without education, you’re not going anywhere in this world.” - Malcolm X

Also please email these people with your request to have UCLA end Prof. Klein's suspension and apologize to him immediately:

antonio.bernardo@anderson.ucla.edu, dpo@equity.ucla.edu, cbhatnagar@chr.ucla.edu, heather.caruso@anderson.ucla.edu, mblandizzi@saonet.ucla.edu, mgorden@saonet.ucla.edu, jkang@equity.ucla.edu, chancellor@ucla.edu, rtorres@conet.ucla.edu, evc@conet.ucla.edu, michaelbeck@ucla.edu jperkins@equity.ucla.edu, rkusumi@equity.ucla.edu, rklibaner@equity.ucla.edu, mventura@saonet.ucla.edu, zchhabra@saonet.ucla.edu, bforray@conet.ucla.edu, dhumber@ucla.edu

IF YOU HAVE MONEY TO DONATE, PLEASE DON'T DONATE IT TO THIS CAUSE. FIND OTHER PLACES THAT DESERVE IT MORE.

Thank you.