Sat Sep 13 06:00:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article based on the provided text:
**UC Berkeley Under Fire for Sharing Names of 160 Faculty and Students with Trump Administration in ‘Antisemitism’ Probe**
**Berkeley, CA** – The University of California, Berkeley is facing criticism after disclosing the names of 160 faculty members and students to the Trump administration’s Department of Education as part of an investigation into alleged antisemitic incidents. The move, which has been likened to McCarthy-era tactics, has sparked concerns about academic freedom, due process, and the potential for politically motivated targeting.
UC Berkeley sent letters to those affected, informing them their names had been included in reports submitted to the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR), which has been actively scrutinizing colleges nationwide for perceived anti-Israel bias.
Among those named is prominent feminist philosopher and queer theorist Judith Butler, a Jewish scholar critical of Israeli policies. Butler expressed outrage, stating that she and others have been denied information about the specific allegations against them and the opportunity to defend themselves.
“We have a right to know the charges against us, to know who has made the charges and to review them and defend ourselves,” Butler said. “But none of that has happened.”
Butler fears serious consequences, especially for international students, lecturers, and part-time faculty, including deportation, expulsion, job loss, harassment, and surveillance.
University officials confirmed the disclosures, stating the decision was made by the University of California systemwide general counsel, pointing to legal obligations to comply with federal oversight. However, critics argue that UC Berkeley should have resisted the government’s demands, as other institutions have done, in order to protect academic freedom.
“Like all public universities, the University of California is subject to oversight by state and federal agencies,” said UC spokesperson Rachel Zaentz. “Our campuses routinely receive document requests in connection with government audits, compliance reviews, or investigations. UC is committed to protecting the privacy of our students, faculty, and staff to the greatest extent possible, while fulfilling its legal obligations.”
The investigation comes in the wake of increased scrutiny of pro-Palestinian activism on college campuses, including UC Berkeley, which recently dismantled a pro-Palestinian encampment after administrators agreed to consider the university’s investments in weapons companies. The Trump administration has also been aggressively targeting institutions like Harvard and Columbia with funding cuts and demands for settlements.
Faculty and students are organizing to protest the disclosures, citing concerns about violations of employment law, academic freedom, and the suppression of political debate. They are questioning why the university didn’t consider not complying with the request.
Janet Gilmore, a UC Berkeley spokesperson, said in an email that “numerous documents” were provided to the federal government “over recent months”, including individuals’ names, and it was following guidance from the academic senate to inform people when their information is given to the federal government.
“We are committed to transparency and supporting our campus community while complying with federal investigations,” she said.
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