日本語
한국어
Tiếng Việt
简体中文
UC Berkeley has released the personal information of approximately 160 students, staff, and faculty to the federal government, a move initiated under the directive of the UC Office of the President (UCOP). This disclosure comes as the university seeks to comply with an ongoing investigation into alleged campus antisemitism by the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
According to campus spokesperson Janet Gilmore, UC Berkeley provided the OCR with names and information regarding individuals’ “potential connection” to reports of alleged antisemitism. Affected individuals received notification emails on September 4 from the campus Office of Legal Affairs, informing them that their data had been shared over two weeks prior, specifically on August 18, 2025.
“As part of its investigation, OCR required production of comprehensive documents, including files and reports related to alleged antisemitic incidents,” the Office of Legal Affairs email stated. “This notice is to inform you that, as required by law and as per directions provided by the UC systemwide Office of General Counsel (OGC), your name was included in reports as part of the documents provided by OGC to OCR for its investigation on August 18, 2025.”
One graduate student, who wished to remain anonymous due to fears of reprisal, expressed concern that the release specifically targeted Muslim and Arab individuals who had previously voiced support for Palestine. “I think they flagged and sent all of that information to the federal government,” the student commented, noting that teaching about Palestine frequently leads to investigations.
This student also revealed they had been the subject of an unsubstantiated antisemitism report to the campus Title IX and XI Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination (OPHD). Other students who received similar notifications reportedly had OPHD cases that were either found to be baseless or remain open. While OPHD is the primary office for harassment reports, Gilmore indicated that documents were sourced from “multiple campus offices” to address OCR’s inquiries into how antisemitism is handled on campus. Officials, however, did not specify which offices contributed information or the criteria used to link individuals to “antisemitism.”
The Department of Education’s investigation into UC Berkeley’s approach to campus antisemitism began in February, forming part of a wider federal crackdown on universities. This scrutiny follows the 2024 pro-Palestine encampments and includes a Department of Justice investigation and Chancellor Rich Lyons’s testimony to Congress. Other UC campuses, including UCSF, UCLA, UC Davis, and UC San Diego, have also faced similar antisemitism inquiries from the Department of Education.
The anonymous graduate student noted that while these other UC campuses also released student information to the OCR under UCOP’s direction, they did not send notifications to affected individuals. Consequently, the student and other community members alerted pro-Palestinian groups across the UC system that their members’ personal data might have been shared with federal authorities. UCOP has not commented on the compliance of other campuses or the specific directives issued to UC Berkeley.
In a strong condemnation via an Instagram post on Sunday, UC Berkeley Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) accused the university of “betrayal,” claiming administrators had previously assured them that “identities would remain protected.” The graduate student echoed this sentiment, stating, “Chancellor Rich Lyons should not have given assurances that he wouldn’t be giving our information to the federal government… I would think that a university that prides itself on being this liberal haven would at least stand up to a fascist like Donald Trump.”
The Office of Legal Affairs’ notification email concluded by stating that the OCR investigation is ongoing and could necessitate further disclosures. Both the graduate student and other affected individuals expressed significant fear regarding how the Trump administration might utilize this information. “We’re concerned about how are they going to use that information to further repress us not only on campus, but also in our everyday lives,” the student shared, highlighting personal anxieties about their academic future. “Now I have to consult lawyers about even if it’s safe to do my research, which is what I came here to do.”