UC National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement
@ucfreespeech.bsky.social
The Center explores the intersection of expression, engagement & democratic learning and considers what can be done to restore trust in the value of free speech
https://freespeechcenter.universityofcalifornia.edu/
https://freespeechcenter.universityofcalifornia.edu/
Pinned
🚨New #SpeechMatters podcast episode out now!
Tune into “Building Campus Cultures for Constructive Dialogue” with guest host and former fellow Alex Kappus and guest speaker Caroline Mehl from the Constructive Dialogue Institute.
🎧 buff.ly/N051reN
Tune into “Building Campus Cultures for Constructive Dialogue” with guest host and former fellow Alex Kappus and guest speaker Caroline Mehl from the Constructive Dialogue Institute.
🎧 buff.ly/N051reN
FIRE is preparing a federal civil-rights lawsuit following the arrest of a retired police officer for posting a meme. Read more in this op-ed:
Opinion | A Retired Police Officer Posted a Meme. It Earned Him 37 Days in Jail.
The best way to honor Charlie Kirk is not to criminalize speech.
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December 8, 2025 at 4:02 PM
FIRE is preparing a federal civil-rights lawsuit following the arrest of a retired police officer for posting a meme. Read more in this op-ed:
Public universities have been slow to respond to records requests related to the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.”
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Public Universities Don’t Want to Discuss the Compact
Institutions have been slow to respond to records requests related to the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education,” and UT Austin is fighting to withhold records.
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December 4, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Public universities have been slow to respond to records requests related to the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.”
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“But intellectual pluralism is a goal worth clinging to, for intrinsic as well as civic reasons. It makes minds more interesting, not just more democratic.”
Read more about the current push for viewpoint diversity in academia in this op-ed. ⤵️
Read more about the current push for viewpoint diversity in academia in this op-ed. ⤵️
Opinion | Viewpoint Diversity Misses the Point
The academy’s latest obsession mistakes political representation for intellectual agility.
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December 3, 2025 at 4:03 PM
“But intellectual pluralism is a goal worth clinging to, for intrinsic as well as civic reasons. It makes minds more interesting, not just more democratic.”
Read more about the current push for viewpoint diversity in academia in this op-ed. ⤵️
Read more about the current push for viewpoint diversity in academia in this op-ed. ⤵️
Three university leaders discuss the future of higher education. Read more in The New York Times. 🔗
Opinion | ‘We Lost Our Mission’: Three University Leaders on the Future of Higher Ed
The view from Dartmouth, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Wesleyan.
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December 2, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Three university leaders discuss the future of higher education. Read more in The New York Times. 🔗
A federal judge ruled that Trump cannot withhold funds or demand a 1.2 billion settlement from UCLA. 👇
‘Unlawful coercion’: Trump can’t withhold funds or demand payment from UC, federal judge rules
A federal judge ruled Donald Trump cannot demand that UCLA pay a $1.2 billion settlement that would have restricted academic freedoms.
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December 1, 2025 at 4:03 PM
A federal judge ruled that Trump cannot withhold funds or demand a 1.2 billion settlement from UCLA. 👇
New policy at Texas A&M University system restricts how faculty can teach about race and gender. Learn more in The Chronicle of Higher Education. ⬇️
Texas A&M System Sharply Restricts How Faculty Can Teach About Race and Gender
A new policy approved Thursday — following a viral video that led to a professor’s firing — prohibits courses from advocating for “race or gender ideology” without prior approval.
t.co
November 26, 2025 at 4:02 PM
New policy at Texas A&M University system restricts how faculty can teach about race and gender. Learn more in The Chronicle of Higher Education. ⬇️
National Advisory Board Co-Chair Dean Erwin Chemerinsky urges the courts and the Supreme Court to be the guardrail of our democracy. 🔗
Berkeley Law Dean Urges SCOTUS to Be “Guardrail” for Democracy
Erwin Chemerinsky capped this week’s APLU conference by explaining higher ed’s financial vulnerabilities that the Trump administration is exploiting and arguing that the high court needs to “check”…
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November 25, 2025 at 4:04 PM
National Advisory Board Co-Chair Dean Erwin Chemerinsky urges the courts and the Supreme Court to be the guardrail of our democracy. 🔗
The Department of Justice said it will investigate the University of California, Berkeley following a campus event hosted by Turning Point USA. Read more:
Justice Department to Investigate Protests at Turning Point Event at Berkeley
The announcement came a day after protesters confronted attendees of a campus event hosted by Turning Point USA, the conservative group founded by Charlie Kirk.
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November 24, 2025 at 4:01 PM
The Department of Justice said it will investigate the University of California, Berkeley following a campus event hosted by Turning Point USA. Read more:
In Florida, faculty at all public universities must now post syllabi and reading lists online, with some saying the move is designed to chill academic freedom. 🔗
Fla. Board Says Syllabi, Reading Lists Must Be Posted Publicly
Faculty at some Florida public universities argue the new policy is less about transparency for students and more about chilling academic freedom.
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November 20, 2025 at 4:04 PM
In Florida, faculty at all public universities must now post syllabi and reading lists online, with some saying the move is designed to chill academic freedom. 🔗
A Federal judge has ruled that the Department of Education violated the First Amendment in partisan out-of-office messages. 👇
Judge Orders ED Remove Partisan Out-of-Office Messages
A federal judge sided with the American Federation of Government Employees in its challenge to the Trump administration sending partisan, automated out-of-office messages from Department of Education…
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November 19, 2025 at 4:02 PM
A Federal judge has ruled that the Department of Education violated the First Amendment in partisan out-of-office messages. 👇
Former fellow John Wilson writes about a partial victory for freedom of the press at Indiana University. ⬇️
Partial Victory for Freedom of the Press at Indiana U
While we need to celebrate the win, we also need to recognize how incomplete and temporary it was.
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November 18, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Former fellow John Wilson writes about a partial victory for freedom of the press at Indiana University. ⬇️
The push and pull over free speech across higher education continues to evolve with enforcement actions drawing accusations of political selectivity. 🔗
Free Speech for Me, Not for Thee: The Campus Double Standard | Insight Into Academia
Universities confront conflicting pressures over open dialogue, free speech on campus.
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November 17, 2025 at 4:02 PM
The push and pull over free speech across higher education continues to evolve with enforcement actions drawing accusations of political selectivity. 🔗
🚨New #SpeechMatters podcast episode out now!
Tune into “Building Campus Cultures for Constructive Dialogue” with guest host and former fellow Alex Kappus and guest speaker Caroline Mehl from the Constructive Dialogue Institute.
🎧 buff.ly/N051reN
Tune into “Building Campus Cultures for Constructive Dialogue” with guest host and former fellow Alex Kappus and guest speaker Caroline Mehl from the Constructive Dialogue Institute.
🎧 buff.ly/N051reN
November 13, 2025 at 7:01 PM
🚨New #SpeechMatters podcast episode out now!
Tune into “Building Campus Cultures for Constructive Dialogue” with guest host and former fellow Alex Kappus and guest speaker Caroline Mehl from the Constructive Dialogue Institute.
🎧 buff.ly/N051reN
Tune into “Building Campus Cultures for Constructive Dialogue” with guest host and former fellow Alex Kappus and guest speaker Caroline Mehl from the Constructive Dialogue Institute.
🎧 buff.ly/N051reN
A federal judge warned that the Trump administration’s pressure campaign is undermining academic freedom at the University of California. 👇
Trump Pressure Risking Free Speech at University of California, Judge Warns
A federal judge said that faculty members were being affected in their teaching and research by the Trump administration’s pressure campaign.
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November 13, 2025 at 4:05 PM
A federal judge warned that the Trump administration’s pressure campaign is undermining academic freedom at the University of California. 👇
“The truth-seeking function of universities does not work properly without the presence of diverse viewpoints.”
Read why viewpoint diversity is essential to the mission of a university: 🔗
Read why viewpoint diversity is essential to the mission of a university: 🔗
You Can’t Pursue Truth Without Viewpoint Diversity (opinion)
This is what we wish critics of the concept on both the left and right would understand.
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November 12, 2025 at 4:07 PM
“The truth-seeking function of universities does not work properly without the presence of diverse viewpoints.”
Read why viewpoint diversity is essential to the mission of a university: 🔗
Read why viewpoint diversity is essential to the mission of a university: 🔗
University of California President James B. Milliken writes about how science funding and immigration fuel America’s innovation - and how they’re now at risk. Read the op-ed. ⤵️
Contributor: Science funding and immigration fuel America's innovation. They're at risk
The symbiotic relationship between the federal government and our universities — one that has delivered so much for America, its people and its economy — is now at risk.
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November 10, 2025 at 4:02 PM
University of California President James B. Milliken writes about how science funding and immigration fuel America’s innovation - and how they’re now at risk. Read the op-ed. ⤵️
Are current interpretations of the First Amendment sufficient to safeguard free expression in the digital age? Watch two prominent scholars debate the issue in this Cato Free Speech Debate:
Cato Free Speech Debate
Are current interpretations of the First Amendment sufficient to safeguard free expression in the digital age? To mark Free Speech Week, we are hosting two prominent scholars to debate this issue on October...
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November 7, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Are current interpretations of the First Amendment sufficient to safeguard free expression in the digital age? Watch two prominent scholars debate the issue in this Cato Free Speech Debate:
🚨1 week away!
📢 Register for “The Erosion of Academic Freedom in the US - And What To Do About It?” on November 13 at 12:30 pm PST with Steve Brint and Tom Ginsburg:
📢 Register for “The Erosion of Academic Freedom in the US - And What To Do About It?” on November 13 at 12:30 pm PST with Steve Brint and Tom Ginsburg:
The Erosion of Academic Freedom in the US
Join HxA at UC Riverside for a discussion between Steve Brint and Tom Ginsburg on the erosion of academic freedom in the United States and what to do about it.
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November 6, 2025 at 8:02 PM
🚨1 week away!
📢 Register for “The Erosion of Academic Freedom in the US - And What To Do About It?” on November 13 at 12:30 pm PST with Steve Brint and Tom Ginsburg:
📢 Register for “The Erosion of Academic Freedom in the US - And What To Do About It?” on November 13 at 12:30 pm PST with Steve Brint and Tom Ginsburg:
The University of Virginia has reached a federal deal with the Trump administration. 🔗
U. of Virginia Will Adopt Trump’s Interpretation of DEI in Federal Deal
The university has pledged to follow government guidance arguing that a wide range of diversity-related efforts and programs are illegal discrimination.
buff.ly
November 6, 2025 at 4:05 PM
The University of Virginia has reached a federal deal with the Trump administration. 🔗
Three nonprofit legal organizations stay busy amid the Trump administration’s assault on higher ed and DEI.
Amid Trump’s Assault on Free Speech, Advocates Stay Busy
Three nonprofit legal organizations say their caseload has ramped up significantly since Trump took office. But so has public support for their work.
buff.ly
November 5, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Three nonprofit legal organizations stay busy amid the Trump administration’s assault on higher ed and DEI.
📣Tune in today at 10am PT/ 1pm ET for “(No) Shame in Speaking: Creating Space for Courageous Conversation.” Register now! buff.ly/1s7LXla
November 4, 2025 at 4:31 PM
📣Tune in today at 10am PT/ 1pm ET for “(No) Shame in Speaking: Creating Space for Courageous Conversation.” Register now! buff.ly/1s7LXla
Read how the Trump administration’s compact would violate academic freedom and freedom of expression in this op-ed: 👇
How the Compact Curtails Academic Freedom (opinion)
The Trump administration’s proposed compact with colleges would violate academic freedom and freedom of expression in three broad areas.
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November 4, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Read how the Trump administration’s compact would violate academic freedom and freedom of expression in this op-ed: 👇
International students are drawn to American values of academic freedom and open discourse but campus censorship puts this at risk. 🔗
Campus Censorship Puts American Soft Power at Risk
International students are drawn to America’s academic freedom and open discourse. But faculty firings and topic restrictions on campus are undermining the very freedoms that attract them—putting…
buff.ly
November 3, 2025 at 4:03 PM
International students are drawn to American values of academic freedom and open discourse but campus censorship puts this at risk. 🔗
Responses from colleges in regards to Trump’s compact suggest a desire among higher ed leaders to enter into dialogue with the White House. ⬇️
Many Colleges Have Turned Down Trump’s Compact. Now Some Are Willing to Talk.
The openness to talking to the White House points to the continued division in the sector about how best to interact with the Trump administration.
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October 30, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Responses from colleges in regards to Trump’s compact suggest a desire among higher ed leaders to enter into dialogue with the White House. ⬇️
Texas governor has appointed a regent from Texas Southern University to serve as the state’s first higher ed ombudsman. 🔗
Texas Governor Appoints Ombudsman Who Will Oversee Higher Ed
Texas governor Greg Abbott picked a regent from Texas Southern University to serve as the state’s first higher ed ombudsman, who will ensure state universities adhere to recent laws that restricted…
buff.ly
October 30, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Texas governor has appointed a regent from Texas Southern University to serve as the state’s first higher ed ombudsman. 🔗