University of California President Michael V. Drake directed chancellors of all 10 campuses to strictly enforce rules prohibiting encampments, unauthorized structures, restrictions on free movement and masking to conceal identity in a letter on Monday following controversy over the handling of demonstrations last spring regarding the Israel-Hamas war.
In the letter, Drake reaffirmed to the UC community that the right to protest, exercise free speech, and express diverse viewpoints are fundamental to the mission of the university—the birthplace of the Free Speech Movement, he noted.
“We make every effort to nurture free expression and provide countless opportunities and venues for our students, faculty, other academic appointees, and staff to safely and lawfully share their diverse viewpoints and beliefs. While the vast majority of protests held on our campuses are peaceful and nonviolent, some of the activities we saw this past year were not,” Drake wrote.
“Clear communication and consistent application of policies and laws are key to achieving the delicate but essential balance between free speech rights and the need to protect the safety of our community and maintain critical university operations.”
Drake’s letter to the UC community comes as some continue criticizing how the university handled the protests. During the height of the protests, state and city officials, including Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, issued statements deploring the violence that unfolded at campuses, specifically at UCLA.
Drake even opened an investigation into how UCLA handled the violence that unfolded at a pro-Palestinian encampment in May.
Nationwide, controversy over how college leaders handled the protests also led to a congressional hearing and the resignations of the presidents of Harvard, Columbia and the University of Pennsylvania.
Since the Israel-Hamas war broke out on Oct. 7, college campuses nationwide have been the site for student-led demonstrations. Supporters of Israel have condemned Hamas militants for their bloody attacks that killed 1,200 in southern Israel and took about 250 Israelis and foreign nationals hostage.
Supporters of Palestinians have voiced their outrage over Israel’s continued military assault on Gaza, which has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. They have also called for UC to divest from companies that do business with Israel.
As for the UC system, Drake expressed that the goal is to ensure community members feel supported.
“Our ultimate goal is for all of our community members to feel supported in their ability to express themselves and to pursue their studies, research, patient care, and other work on our campuses. We also want our community members to understand what’s expected of them, including a clear understanding of the principles, policies, and laws that govern our behavior on campus,” Drake wrote.
