Former UCLA lecturer accused of making violent threats ruled mentally unfit to stand trial

Terry Castleman Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES — A former postdoctoral fellow at UCLA who was arrested nearly a year ago after allegedly threatening students and staff was found mentally unfit to stand trial last week by a judge in the U.S. District Court in Denver.

In a Jan. 27 court filing, Judge Raymond P. Moore wrote that counsel for defendant Matthew Harris filed a motion on Oct. 4 “for determination of Defendant’s competency to stand trial.”

An exam by a forensic psychiatrist found Harris

“presently suffering from a mental disease or defect rendering him incompetent to proceed,” the judge wrote. The filing states that mental incompetence left the defendant “unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against him or to assist properly in his defense.”

Harris, then 31, was arrested Feb. 1, 2022, and charged by federal prosecutors with making criminal threats across state lines after he sent an 803-page manifesto and a video referencing a mass shooting to students and faculty.

He threatened to kill a female professor, according to a court filing from May. His students had also noticed warning signs in the classroom and on the former lecturer’s YouTube channel.

Neighbors in Boulder, Colorado, where Harris moved after being dismissed from UCLA and was ultimately arrested, and UCLA students have voiced frustrations about lack of warnings from law enforcement officials about Harris’ violent threats.

The document stipulates that Harris will be hospitalized and treated for mental illness to allow experts to determine whether his mental condition might improve enough for him to stand trial in the future.

The judge ordered a written report on Harris’ mental condition by May 27, or four months after the filing. news.ed@ocolly.com

OSU students chosen as finalists in national graphic design competition

Luisa Clausen News & Lifestyle Editor

The annual American Institute of Graphic Arts Baltimore Flux Student Design Competition selected the work of two graduate and Four undergraduate students from Oklahoma State University’s graphic design program.

Nick Mendoza, assistant professor of graphic design, said AIGA Flux is a nationwide design competition that gives students a gauge of how their work stacks up against other schools.

“Having the student’s work recognized by design professionals makes the long hours and multiple iterations to their projects all worth it,” Mendoza said.

Students from around the nation submit their work for consideration.

The AIGA Baltimore chapter has hosted the Flux Student Design Competition annually since 2007.The event this year was the largest and most competitive event to date with 631 pieces submitted. Of the total submissions, only 205 were chosen as finalists.

Jamie Kimball, a graphic design junior and AIGA Flux finalist, entered the competition for the first time and said design professors encourage and support students to enter design competitions.

It made me realize how fun it is to share your work and to also see what other students are designing,” Kimball said. “There is something freeing and exciting about being in the learning stage of your passion.”

Finalists will find out Friday if they’re among the AIGA Flux 2023 winners.

Chris Whittey, head of the Department of Art, Graphic Design and Art History, shared what he believes to be the two equally important elements to his department’s success.

“First, the work must be produced at an incredibly high level. That is a given but it’s far rarer than one might suppose,” Whittey said. “Secondly, it takes guts, real and true fearlessness — and nothing less — to put one’s work out there in the world, to be analyzed and judged.”

Whittey said the accomplishments of students in the program reflect the dedication to growth within the field and he is proud to be part of a department that nurtures students whose work gets attention in such prestigious venues.

“It is so deeply fulfilling to see them being this creative and getting noticed and respected in the world. Their careers are really off to a glowing start.” Whittey said.

AIGA Baltimore Flux Student Design Competition - OSU Finalists

Aly Zetah, IN-N-OUT IDENTITY SYSTEM REBRAND

Madissen Brannon, TULSA ZOO REBRAND

Jamie Kimball, TypoRoma TYPOGRAPHIC CONFERENCE IDENTITY

Gerardo Rodriguez-Sariñana, ITALIAN NEOREALISM

Mahshad Faridfar, POETIC REALISM

Carley Vassh, DOUBLE DUTCH SUMMER CLASSIC PROMO VIDEO news.ed@ocolly.com