The University of California system has clarified that student governments are prohibited from enacting financial boycotts targeting any specific country—including Israel—even as individuals retain the right to speak freely.
In a system-wide letter dated July 2, President Michael Drake emphasized that while free expression is respected, institutional financial decisions must align with university policies requiring “sound business practices including competitive bidding”. He reaffirmed that student governments are subject to these financial rules, and boycotting companies based on country affiliation violates university policy.
This directive follows past actions by UC student governments—such as UCLA and UC Davis—that supported BDS resolutions. The message makes a clear distinction between personal or group expression and official university-backed financial decisions.
National politics and federal funding pressures are influencing this stance. The Trump administration has initiated antisemitism probes across universities and federal agencies now require grantees to avoid Israel boycotts to maintain funding.
Critics argue this amounts to censorship of student activism. California’s CAIR called it “a chilling message” prioritizing “financial interests and political pressure” over moral responsibility. Meanwhile, UC Student Association President Aditi Hariharan warned that student governments are among the few venues where students can meaningfully affect university policy.
