University of California System: Recommendations for "Hate Speech" Policy
Cases
University of California
Case Overview
In July 2012, the University of California鈥檚 (UC鈥檚) Advisory Council on Campus Climate, Culture and Inclusion issued formal recommendations to UC System President Mark Yudof for making UC鈥檚 10 campuses 鈥渕ore inclusive and welcoming for Jewish students as well as all community members.鈥 In pursuit of this goal, the report recommended that UC 鈥減ush its current harassment and nondiscrimination provisions further鈥 and 鈥渟eek opportunities to prohibit hate speech on campus.鈥 The report also recommended that UC 鈥渁ccept the challenge鈥 of First Amendment litigation resulting from the adoption of such policies. FIREwrote to President Yudof on August 8, 2012, warning him that any campus ban on 鈥渉ate speech鈥 would restrict a wide swath of student speech protected under the First Amendment. In response, and in the face of public pressure, Yudof wrote to FIREon August 17, stating that First Amendment principles would be fully considered in UC鈥檚 review of the report. FIREwill continue to monitor this situation at the UC System.