A coalition of over 100,000 UC employees and faculty sued President Trump, accusing him of illegal coercion and threatening the university's funding and academic freedom through federal actions targeting UCLA and other campuses, amid ongoing disputes over campus policies and federal grant cuts.
The U.S. Department of Justice plans to sue the University of California system over alleged antisemitism, targeting campuses like UCLA, USC, and Berkeley, amid investigations and resistance from these institutions. This follows broader efforts by federal agencies to address antisemitism in higher education, including actions against Harvard and other universities. The universities deny systemic issues and emphasize their commitment to combating discrimination.
Academic workers at UCLA and UC Davis are set to join an ongoing strike initiated by the United Auto Workers Local 4811, protesting the UC system's handling of pro-Palestinian encampments related to the Israel-Hamas war. The UC system's attempt to end the strike through an injunction was unsuccessful, and the California Public Employment Relations Board has filed a complaint against the strike for violating no-strike clauses in the collective bargaining agreements. An informal meeting between the involved parties is scheduled, with a formal hearing possible if no settlement is reached.
The experiences of states like California and Michigan, which banned affirmative action in their public university systems, provide a cautionary tale for the rest of the country. After the removal of affirmative action, these states saw a significant decline in diversity among incoming freshman classes, particularly at elite institutions. Efforts to mitigate the loss of diversity, such as comprehensive reviews of applicants and expanded eligibility programs, were not enough to make up for the absence of affirmative action. Research shows that affirmative action plays a crucial role in providing opportunities for underrepresented minorities and promoting social mobility. Without it, students of color may be discouraged from applying to selective schools, leading to a vicious cycle of declining diversity. The recent Supreme Court decision on affirmative action further underscores the need for race-based admissions policies to ensure equal opportunity in higher education.