UC Berkeley is facing backlash following confirmation that the university gave the names of 160 students, faculty and staff to the Trump administration upon request in September.
The request came as part of a joint Department of Education and Department of Justice investigation conducted over allegations that the university was permitting antisemitism on campus following protests over the Israel and Gaza conflict.
Critics say that this move fits into the Trump administration’s broader crackdown on free speech in American universities. Additionally, many believe that the administration is wrongly interpreting activism against Israel as antisemitism.
The United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 4811, a union representing over 48,000 workers at the University of California, issued a statement on Sept. 18 condemning UC Berkeley for giving up the names. In the Sept. 18 statement, it said that such compliance with the Trump administration erodes trust in the University of California as a whole and puts students and workers in danger.
Ussama Makdisi, a professor and historian at UC Berkeley, was among those whose names were given to the Trump administration. Makdisi said in an interview with NPR that he believes his name was given over because of his criticism of Israeli policies.
“I’m dismayed by what’s happening to the campus climate in terms of being able to speak out about basic issues,” Makdisi said. “We should all be able to teach our subject matters with freedom and without censorship.”