- Rae Wymer & Stephanie Wang | Staff
- Jul 2, 2025 (DailyCal.org)
A University of California directive said Wednesday that boycotts by university entities, including the ASUC and Graduate Assembly, on the basis of “association with a particular country” do not align with the university’s “sound business practices.”Kyle Garcia Takata | Senior Staff
The University of California banned student governments from boycotting Israel amid pressure from the Trump administration.
UC President Michael Drake said in a Wednesday letter to campus chancellors that boycotts by university entities on the basis of “association with a particular country” do not align with the university’s “sound business practices.”
University entities include authorized student governments such as the ASUC and the Graduate Assembly, which continues to operate within the ASUC despite ongoing discussion about their separation.
The directive comes as the university navigates federal funding. Updates to grant funding guidelines made this year by the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation and Department of Health and Human Services prohibit grant recipients from boycotting “commercial relations specifically with Israeli companies or with companies doing business in or with Israel.”
According to a UCOP document on Federal Investment in UC Research, the National Institutes of Health was the largest federal source of research funding for the UC in 2024 — providing more than $2.5 billion in funding. The National Science Foundation was the second largest federal funding source for the university last year.
In May 2024, the ASUC Senate upheld its divestment from companies on the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, or BDS, list, which includes companies with ties to Israel. However, the official bylaws have not been modified as demanded in their resolution. Last fall, the Senate also voted to join the campus BDS coalition.
According to its website, the ASUC is a nonprofit organization “separate from University governance.”
“We take seriously our responsibility to reflect student voices, especially when they concern matters of conscience and global justice,” ASUC President Abigail Verino said in a statement. “The ASUC is committed to upholding the democratic decisions made by our student body while also ensuring the long-term strength and resilience of the association. We’re navigating this moment thoughtfully and deliberately.”
Drake’s letter comes as UC Berkeley and the university face federal scrutiny over antisemitism allegations. The Department of Education opened an investigation into UC Berkeley in February, while the Department of Justice launched an investigation into the UC system in March.
In May, Leo Terrell, the head of the Department of Justice’s antisemitism task force, claimed in a Fox News segment that the UC system should “expect massive lawsuits” from the federal government.
A March 10 press release from the Department of Education included notice of letters to UC Berkeley and three other UC campuses warning of “potential enforcement actions” if they failed to adhere to antidiscrimination policies.
On July 9, campus Chancellor Rich Lyons will testify before the U.S. House Committee on Education and Workforce in a hearing titled “Antisemitism in Higher Education: Examining the Role of Faculty, Funding, and Ideology.”
Rae Wymer is the Executive News Editor. Contact them at rwymer@dailycal.org or on X @rae_wymer
