UC National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement

Why Aren’t Professors Braver? Fear and self-censorship in academe.

The pressure not to be disliked as a professor often leads to self-censorship.

Explore fear and self-censorship in academe in this The Chronicle of Higher Education essay. 🔗

A Public University in Texas Bans Discussion of Transgender Topics in Class In a directive similar to President Trump’s executive order, Angelo State U. told instructors they can no longer suggest that there are identities beyond male and female assigned at birth.

“This is something we’re seeing play out at multiple Texas institutions, where it really is a demolition of principles of academic freedom and free speech.”

Former fellow Neal Hutchens comments on banning classroom discussions about transgender issues 🔗

Discretion Is Not the Better Part of Academic Freedom In a free society, we strive to eliminate the punishments that make discretion a rational choice—and not glorify discretion as a virtue when it is actually a vice.

“What justifies academic freedom is not the brilliance and inoffensiveness of all professors, but the importance of free expression to academic work and a free society.”

Read this op-ed on how demanding discretion destroys academic freedom.

Where America Stands The results are in: Here’s “Where America Stands” on the First Amendment in 2025.

New survey finds that while admiration for the First Amendment is widespread, understanding of its five freedoms is uneven. 👇

What Republicans Can Do If They Really Want to Protect Free Speech The best way to defend Americans’ expressive rights is to pass laws.

What can be done if you really want to protect free speech? Consider pressuring allied lawmakers to better protect speech going forward.👇

Promotional graphic for “Beyond Red and Blue: Fostering Friendships in a Polarized Campus Climate,” featuring speakers Tara Hudson and Alyssa Rockenbach. Photos of the two speakers appear on the right side of the graphic against a blue background.

📢 Register for our upcoming Fellows in the Field workshop with Drs. Tara Hudson and Alyssa Rockenbach on Wednesday, October 22 at 10am PT!

See you there: buff.ly/BrGmw6O

Opinion | Everyone’s a Free-Speech Hypocrite Tit for tat, forever and ever.

“But the point of the principle of free speech is that how we respond to ideas we don’t like is ultimately not about our opponents’ rights — it’s about ours.”

Read more in this op-ed from The New York Times:

Kirk: A Hero of “Civil Discourse,” or a Fount of Division? Pointing to the slain activist’s inflammatory statements about minority groups, some are pushing back—at their own peril—against the right’s framing of him as an emblem of quality discourse.

Former fellow Lara Schwartz discusses civil discourse and protected expression in higher education.

Read more in this Inside Higher Ed article. 🔗

How does censorship affect our brain? Read more about the importance of free speech to individual citizens in this op-ed. 🔗

Trump Offered Universities an Invitation for a Deal. Some See a Trap. Trump officials want universities to sign on to conservative priorities to get special treatment. Some in higher education say agreeing would end academic freedom.

Higher education leaders weigh in on the Trump administration’s set of terms given to nine universities. Some say agreeing would end academic freedom. ⬇️
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What We Mean When We Say “Shared Governance” (opinion) Faculty and administrators often have very different ideas of the rights and responsibilities involved, Lee Bebout and Jeff Crane write.

What is shared governance? Read more about the term and how faculty and administrators often have different ideas of the rights and responsibilities in this op-ed. ⬇️

Resource Materials: Voter Engagement Resource Materials: Voter Engagement

Happy National Voter Education Week! 🇺🇲🗳️

National Voter Education Week provides voters with the tools, info & confidence they need to cast their ballots. Learn more: buff.ly/nGEKSRG

& Explore the Center’s resource materials on voter engagement:
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What’s So Conservative About Civics, Anyway? (opinion) Eric Hartman asks how colleges can move civics education beyond this hyperpartisan moment.

The need for nonpartisan civic education is even more critical amid rising political violence.

Read more in this op-ed. 👇

AAUP Accuses Trump of Weaponizing Civil Rights Law A new report released Monday by the American Association of University Professors and its Committee A on Academic Freedom and Tenure argues that the Trump administration has weaponized federal civil…

A new AAUP report argues that the Trump administration has weaponized federal civil rights laws with a goal of discrediting colleges and compromising their academic freedom.

ED Wants Grants to Advance “Patriotic Education” Professional historians say the department’s plan is part of the Trump administration’s broader attempt to create an Orwellian “truth ministry” and omit the more troubling aspects of the nation’s…

The Education Department wants to focus grant funds on programs that promote a patriotic education.

Professional historians say the push is a politically motivated power grab.

Opinion | Speech for Me but Not for Thee Where are the true believers in free speech untainted by the stain of politics?

“Consequences of free speech need to be proportionate, lest they eviscerate the freedom itself.” Read more about the current state of free speech in this op-ed. 👇

In Assault on Free Speech, Trump Targets Speech He Hates The president’s complaints about negative coverage undermine the rationales offered by his own officials.

Trump’s allies say the administration’s recent moves — targeting mainstream media and political opponents — are necessary to stop the spread of misinformation and hate speech that could lead to political violence.

Head of University of California Warns of Risk From Trump Threats After the Trump administration ratcheted up its demands of the university system over the summer, its Board of Regents met on Wednesday to consider how to respond.

University of California leaders discuss potential repercussions of deeper cuts from Trump administration threats.

🎉 Congratulations to our 2026 class of VOICE recipients!

Take a look at this year’s class, who showcase the UC system’s wide range of perspectives, innovative programming and impactful research:
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UC Berkeley professor warns of 'unprecedented crackdown' on academic freedom UC Berkeley told 160 faculty, staff and students that their names were included in files shared with the federal government related to "alleged antisemitic incidents." We hear from one of them.

UC Berkeley professor discusses academic freedom, censorship and campus climate. 👇

California Unions Sue Trump Admin Over Threats to UC System A coalition of California education unions and faculty associations is suing the Trump administration to challenge what they say is “the illegal and coercive use of civil rights laws to attack the…

A coalition of California education unions and faculty associations is suing the Trump administration in support of the UC system. ⬇️

Sworn to Obey: The California Loyalty Oath Crisis and Academic Freedom Dean of UCI School of Humanities on the 75-year history of the California Loyalty Oath within the University of California

Dean Tyrus Miller, UC Irvine School of Humanities, writes about academic freedom and the 75-year history of the California Loyalty Oath within the University of California. Learn more: 🔗 buff.ly/ddCbG8f

Charlie Kirk’s Killing Threatens Colleges’ Ability to Fulfill an Age-Old Responsibility: Hosting Political Events The conservative activist’s slaying raises questions about higher ed’s ability — and willingness — to allow divisive figures on their campuses.

Colleges are entrusted with fostering the free exchange of ideas. Experts weigh in on what Charlie Kirk’s killing means for campus safety.
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Charlie Kirk’s Watchlist Made Some Professors’ Lives a ‘Living Hell’ His murder conjured up for targeted faculty mixed emotions ranging from empathy to contempt.

More than a dozen professors discussed their lives after being placed on a professor watchlist.

Opinion | The Assassination That Broke Campus Free Speech Professors are allowed to say hateful things. That doesn’t mean they should.

The pressure to patrol speech on college campuses has reached new intensity.

Read more in this op-ed in the Chronicle:

Jimmy Kimmel returns to the air and talks about all of the people who have reached out over the last six days including fellow late night talk show hosts, fans of the show, and those who don’t… Jimmy Kimmel is Back!

Jimmy Kimmel’s return monologue featured a passionate call for free speech 🔗
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Report: MSU students becoming more accepting of violence to suppress campus speech - The State News The share of MSU students who say that violence is an acceptable tool to stop a campus speech has doubled since 2022, a new report from a campus free speech watchdog says.

“However one feels about his activism, this is not how we should comport ourselves in the United States.” Center Executive Director Michelle Deutchman comments on violence to suppress campus speech.

Was an Instructor’s Firing a Violation of Academic Freedom? Or an Example of ‘Academic Responsibility’? Texas A&M’s president said he dismissed a senior lecturer because the content of a course didn’t match its summary. Some are skeptical.

The firing of a Texas A&M University scholar set off alarms to organizations and scholars concerned with academic freedom. 🔗

Stopping Political Violence With Free Speech Because censorship is the foundation of political violence, we cannot cure it with more censorship.

Former fellow John Wilson writes about how censorship is the foundation of political violence and how we must not seek to silence free speech in response.👇

Thoughts on Education and Freedom as Fall Begins (opinion) As a new academic year begins, Michael S. Roth writes that colleges must redouble their commitment to educating for freedom—including freedom from governmental intrusion.

As the new academic year begins, those in higher education must redouble their efforts to educating for freedom 🔗