UCLA chancellor ready to stand firm against Trump demands, unless they're 'valid'

"In a wide-ranging online appearance Thursday evening hosted by a Los Angeles-based Jewish civic group, Frenk said the University of California was still considering suing the Trump administration over its August demand that UCLA pay a $1.2-billion fine and make sweeping changes in its diversity programs, admissions practices and policies governing gender identity on campus and international students. But, for now, he said, UC officials are negotiating with the Department of Justice"

"But he said he was taking firm actions against antisemitism allegations at UCLA. "We believe in talking and trying to make our case, where we try to demonstrate that we are serious about fighting antisemitism, that suspending research is not a way to deal with that problem," Frenk said."

"Jews United for Democracy and Justice hosted the event, titled, "Can America's universities survive the current assault?" The group formed during President Trump's first term in response to travel bans that initially targeted Muslim-majority nations after the president promised to ban all immigration of Muslims to the U.S."

UCLA will address valid concerns from the Trump administration and be fully compliant with the law while defending the campus against federal civil-rights investigations and potential funding suspensions. The University of California is considering litigation over an August demand for a $1.2-billion fine and sweeping changes to diversity programs, admissions practices, gender-identity policies and rules for international students. UC officials are negotiating with the Department of Justice while committing to protect academic freedom and prevent government interference in hiring, admissions, teaching and research. The chancellor lacks direct visibility into the timeline of those talks. The university will take firm actions against antisemitism and rejects suspending research as a remedy. An online event hosted by Jews United for Democracy and Justice raised these issues.

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