UC Board Bans Political Statements on University Website Homepages

The University of California Board of Regents has banned political statements on the homepages of university websites, allowing them only on secondary pages with a disclaimer. This policy, criticized as restricting free speech, comes after pro-Palestinian messages appeared on various departmental homepages.

The University of California Board of Regents voted Thursday to ban employees from posting political statements on the homepages of university websites, asserting that such comments could be mistaken for official university views.

While political statements and personal opinions will still be allowed on secondary pages, they must include a disclaimer stating they do not represent the University's official standpoint. Employees can also share their political views on personal university webpages or social media accounts.

The policy has faced criticism from faculty, students, and community members, who argue it restricts free speech. The move is particularly controversial given the University's historical significance in the free speech movement, which originated in the 1960s at UC Berkeley.

Recent political posts, primarily on the homepages of ethnic studies departments, have carried pro-Palestinian messages. For instance, a message on UC Santa Barbara's Department of Feminist Studies homepage expressed support for Palestinians and criticized the University for allegedly attacking free speech.

Under the new guidelines, department and academic unit homepages should only feature information about events, courses, and faculty research. "The University affirms the right of academic freedom while fostering an inclusive environment," the policy states.

During public comment, Ronald Cruz from BAMN called the policy an "attack on freedom of speech," while UC Regent Richard Leib defended it as "content-neutral," noting that it applies to all political content, irrespective of viewpoint.

(With inputs from agencies.)