University of California System Implements Ban on Encampments and Face Masks

The University of California (UC) system has introduced a sweeping ban on encampments across its campuses, a significant policy shift designed to prevent illegal occupations by student protesters. This decision follows a turbulent spring semester marked by anti-Israel demonstrations that transformed some UC campuses into hotbeds of antisemitic activity.

UC President Michael Drake announced the new policy in a mass email, emphasizing the university’s commitment to upholding free expression while enforcing critical rules. “We will continue to protect the freedom to express diverse viewpoints,” Drake wrote, “but we are equally committed to enforcing policies that prohibit camping or encampments, unauthorized structures, masking to conceal identity, and disobeying lawful orders.”

Drake’s message comes as students prepare to return for a new academic year, with heightened awareness following last year’s protests. Pro-Hamas demonstrations, some even involving faculty members, disrupted campus life, particularly when “Gaza Solidarity” encampments were erected on school grounds. These encampments not only interfered with daily activities but also became epicenters of tension, with Jewish students often facing exclusion and harassment.

One of the most controversial incidents occurred at UC Los Angeles (UCLA), where Chancellor Gene Block authorized the protection of a “Gaza Solidarity” encampment with physical barriers and campus police. This area soon became a flashpoint, where pro-Hamas and pro-Israel protesters clashed violently. Jewish students reported being barred from the area unless they denounced their Zionist identity, a policy enforced by UCLA police. A federal judge recently ruled that UCLA’s actions in this case violated civil rights laws.

President Drake’s email acknowledged the need to address such issues, particularly the restriction of movement on UC campuses. He assured the UC community that further guidance would be provided by campus leadership in the coming weeks.

The UC system is not alone in taking steps to curb disruptive protests. In recent weeks, other universities have also acted decisively. George Washington University suspended its Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter for the fall term, Barnard College arrested a pro-Hamas protester during student move-in, and Harvard University has posted warnings across its campus against erecting unauthorized structures.

Despite these new policies, some critics question their effectiveness. Over the summer, numerous disciplinary charges against pro-Hamas protesters were dropped at several universities, including Columbia and Northwestern. Many of these protesters avoided significant consequences, leading some to argue that universities are not fully committed to enforcing their own rules.

In a statement on Monday, U.S. Representative Virginia Foxx (R-NC) condemned Columbia University for what she described as a failure to hold protesters accountable. “Allowing the majority of student perpetrators to remain in good standing after such egregious actions sends the wrong message,” she said. “Universities must not tolerate the creation of antisemitic hostile environments or the violation of campus rules.”

As the new academic year begins, the UC system’s ban on encampments and other restrictive measures will be closely watched. Whether these policies will effectively prevent the kind of disruptions seen last year remains to be seen, but the message is clear: universities are no longer willing to tolerate illegal protests that threaten the safety and rights of their communities.

Share this important update with others or subscribe to our newsletter for more stories like this.