UC Berkeley Shares 160 Individuals’ Info with Trump Administration
The University of California, Berkeley, has provided personal information about approximately 160 students and faculty members to the Trump administration as part of a federal investigation into antisemitism on campus. This disclosure has sparked outrage among critics, who have equated it with the McCarthy-era anti-communist purges. Notably, Judith Butler, a respected Jewish feminist scholar whose family suffered during the Holocaust, had her information shared, raising significant concerns about privacy and academic freedom.
In a series of emails dated September 4, the Berkeley Office of Legal Affairs notified those affected that their information had been forwarded to the federal Department of Education in mid-August. The emails indicated that this was in response to allegations of antisemitism, effectively linking the individuals to these accusations without due process. Butler expressed her alarm, stating, “We have a right to know the charges against us… It is an enormous breach of trust.”
The response from the campus community reflected fears regarding potential targeting, particularly of Muslim and Arab individuals with pro-Palestine sentiments. One graduate student accused the university of utilizing the investigation to intimidate those advocating for Palestinian rights. The chilling effect of such compliance with federal scrutiny appears to echo a pattern of ideological witch hunts reminiscent of the Red Scare.
Berkeley’s decision to cooperate with the Trump administration has drawn significant backlash, with critics arguing that it undermines the university’s longstanding commitment to free speech and academic inquiry. Activists, including Steven Katz from the journalism school, condemned the move as “shameful,” highlighting the administration’s aggressive stance on perceived antisemitic sentiments.
This investigation occurs against the backdrop of heightened scrutiny of universities nationwide, reflecting the Trump administration’s broader agenda to control narratives surrounding pro-Palestinian protests and silence dissent. The implications of these actions extend beyond academic institutions, threatening the very tenets of free expression and open discourse essential to democratic society.