With the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Trump administration demands Crack down demonstrators, but others expand free speech zones and allow activities the White House wants to ban.
The guide is formalized Temporary policy Last September, UC Los Angeles and UC implemented strict mandates ban Unauthorized overnight camps and mask use while breaking campus policies. Most of the outdoor spaces at UCLA are restricted areas for any unauthorized protests, but still.
The policy was announced ahead of Monday’s kickoff in the fall semester and was in a high-pressure moment when U.S. universities reassess safety and under pressure from the Conservatives to target comments who believe are insensitive to the deadly shots of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk on his Utah campus. At UCLA, diversity, equity and inclusion officers have always been Please leave for comment On social media, express satisfaction and indifference to Kirk’s death.
UCLA Vice President of Campus and Community Safety Steve Lurie says The norm is not a response to President Trump, “representing the status quo of best practices in freedom of speech, and we will continue to move forward until we give other directions.”
Lurie said UCLA strives to enforce the rules in a “content-neutral” way.
Lurie said: “We are not doing anything here to try and react.
These policies include prohibiting the Royce Quad $584 million in research funding at UCLA.
The government said the camp was anti-Semitic and UCLA did not respond adequately to complaints about anti-Semitic incidents. Trump asked the university to pay a $1.2 billion fine and made extensive campus changes, including foreigners who refuse to accept uncertain “anti-Western” views. The government also seeks to revise admissions, recruitment, revisions to gender identity, diversity programs and data disclosure to restore funding.
Friday’s guide was initially scheduled for spring release, but was delayed as UCLA solicited more campus feedback.
How is the policy different from Trump’s requirements
There are key differences between what the government wants and UCLA’s approval.
The Trump administration demanded that overnight demonstrations be prohibited at any university location.
As mentioned earlier, UCLA will allow pre-approved overnight events – e.g. Read all night Last October, the memoir of the famous Palestinian American writer Edward Said. The rules say that if “a part of the official university function” people can camp overnight.
The government hopes that the UCLA screens foreign student applicants to ensure those “possibly engaged in anti-Western, anti-American or anti-Semitism underminement or harassment.” The government has not defined what constitutes such speech. Trump administration Officials say the pro-Palestinian protests are anti-U.S. and oppose U.S. foreign interests.
The new rules of freedom of speech do not include international students or the idea of banning “anti-Western, anti-American”.
UCLA’s new policy explicitly states that campus disruption is not allowed and defines it as “interference to any pedestrian or any form of mistransportation or excessive exit interference” and “improper interference with others in the operation or activity, facility, facility, facility or program of the campus.”
This language is often synchronized with what the government wants. Too Similar to the solution The university arrived in July with Jewish students and faculty members who sued the camp in 2024, accusing it of illegally blocking Jewish entry. The pro-Palestinian Jews is a big camp.
But the government’s proposal goes further: It hopes to “ban the need for wristbands, ideological guarantees or guarantees access to public campus areas”. Such restrictions are not explicitly mentioned in the new rules.
UCLA says guide to keep free speech
In the statement UCLA President Julio Frenk “Powering our desire to be a model university to show how institutions protect and cultivate freedom of expression, thought and expression with respect, security and compliance with the law,” the policies said.
“Universities should not only tolerate diverse ideas – they should cultivate it. At the same time, we must create a safe and enthusiastic environment for all members of our community,” he said.
The rules “focus on balancing the collective interests of the entire campus community,” administrators said in a campus letter.
Violations “can have serious consequences: legal penalties, college discipline for students and employees, and the application of related collective bargaining agreements. Some of these policies overlap with local and state laws, so some violations can lead to detention or arrest.
Some people say the rules are too clear
Diego Bollo, the UCLA undergraduate dean, said the university is sending a message to its campus community and also to the public for serious expression. However, this comes at the expense of a university at the expense of freedom of speech. ”
Bollo said the rules were “too broad” and expressed concerns that law enforcement would be “discretionary of university officials.”
“They are under pressure from external factors, including the federal government,” Bollo said. “Look, there is more to do with respect to expressive activities on our campus besides Palestine and Israel. There are protests on federal funding. There are labor unions on strike. … There are people calling for opposition to Trump. There are a lot of political comments.” But, “this policy opens up different possibilities for law enforcement.”
The UCLA faced criticism during last year’s demonstrations, which the groups said it did not comply with its policies. Pro-Palestine students held several rallies and events (including a film screening in April in Reus quarter), complaining unjustly about the police and actively shutting down their operations.
Campus groups, including pro-Israeli faculty, have also accused police of leniency to cover up policies.
Law enforcement will be based on all rules without considering political views, Lurie said.
Outdoor area The UCLA campus is free and open to speech and is primarily in line with pedestrian and green spaces, including Meyerhof Park and the southeast corner of the southeast of Dixon Court. However, there are fewer long campus sidewalks (Bruin Plaza) that can be spontaneously active. The Grass Corners of Westwood Village are now also on the open space list.
New restrictions: At the northern end of Gateway Square outside the Luskin Convention Center, usually attracting protests at UC board meetings.
Another new rule: During the parade, the sound must be 85 decibels or less, and no interference with courses and procedures or blocking sidewalks are allowed. The measure roughly corresponds to the sound of urban traffic or noisy restaurants. Voices were not considered in such parades before.
Lury said the square foot protests were “slightly reduced” and there were no permits because UCLA had unspecified “difficult interactions” with large crowds in limited demonstration areas of construction areas, stadiums and demonstration areas near local areas.
These policies include a new definition of a disruptive method, including “verbal or act that may immediately violate peace.”
Violence, threats of violence or property damage are also considered destructive. People who encounter interference in public protest areas will be asked to move to other locations. If not, the consequences could include arrest and campus disciplinary procedures.
Last year, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) faced a lot of police criticism. Safe existence On campus. Lurie said this year will be “like last fall.”
That will include Los Angeles Police Department officials and the unarmed bicycle patrol, a non-police program, Lurie said he is “working to expand.”
After Kirk was killed on his Utah campus, Lurie said the UCLA is “evaluating” its safety, but has not initiated new measures.
“We have been doing safety assessments and evaluating when there will be spokespersons, especially high-profile speakers, to campus. However, based on the Utah tragedy, there are no specific changes to the day-to-day operations,” he said.
As the federal government stepped up immigration enforcement, Lurie reiterated the UCLA police’s position on federal cooperation.
“We are not cooperative and are not involved in immigration enforcement,” he said. “We don’t ask, we are not interested in the immigration status of community members and we have not taken any action.”
