Identity of Speakers
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Michael Drake
Faculty/Staff
OtherPresident of the University of California
Resources
Additional Information
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Incident Nature:
Other
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Incident Political Orientation:
Not Clear -
Incident Responses:
Other
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Incident Status:
No litigation
- Did not involve Speech Codes
Summary
In April 2025, the Trump administration began interviewing University of California faculty as part of a federal probe into alleged antisemitism on UC campuses. The Justice Department’s civil rights division was investigating claims that certain university programs and faculty activities may have violated federal anti-discrimination laws by promoting anti-Israel bias or hostility toward Jewish students. This was part of a broader crackdown by the administration on colleges that it believed were tolerating antisemitism, especially in relation to the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. The interviews aimed to gather evidence regarding whether the university engaged in discriminatory practices that could affect federal funding.
By June and July 2025, the University of California system had reiterated its ban on student governments engaging in financial boycotts of companies associated with Israel. UC President Michael Drake emphasized that such boycotts “do not align with university policy,” which requires financial decisions to be made “in accordance with sound business practices” and not based on political considerations. The administration clarified that while free speech was protected, student governments—being official university entities—were prohibited from pursuing politically motivated boycotts that could jeopardize federal research grants. The move followed warnings from federal agencies that institutions engaging in or supporting such boycotts risked losing federal funding. UC’s policy applied specifically to recognized student governments but did not extend to independent student clubs or organizations.
The policy sparked opposition from student leaders and advocacy groups. The UC Student Association criticized the ban, arguing that student governments serve as vital platforms for political expression and activism. The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned the policy as a suppression of free expression and support for Palestinian human rights.
