Free speech must apply to everyone at UC —not just the radical left

NY Post ^ | 2 May, 2026 | By CA Post Editorial Board

[MtnClimber]

University of California Regent Jay Sures asked the right question this week about free speech on campus: Does it apply to everyone equally? Or just the far left?

Specifically: If a Palestinian terrorist has free speech at UC Berkeley, why can’t a former Israeli hostage have free speech at UCLA?

Sures was reacting to the shocking appearance — via remote link — of would-be Palestinian terrorist Israa Jaabis, who tried to ignite a gas tank to kill Israelis. She ended up burning herself and a police officer.

For some reason, students at UC Berkeley thought it was important to hear her perspective.

However twisted that may be, Sures acknowledged that students and faculty have the right to hear Jaabis.

But equally, students and faculty have the right to hear freed Israeli hostage Omer Shem Tov, who endured over 500 days in captivity at the hands of Palestinian terrorists who starved and tortured him.

It remains stunning that UCLA’s student government would protest Shem Tov’s address to a group of Jewish students on campus.

It’s a sign of what’s wrong in higher education — especially in California’s public university system, which is struggling to defend its once-liberal values after being captured by “woke” ideologues.

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TOPICS: Education; Society
KEYWORDS: california; leftism

[MtnClimber]

Just try to bring a conservative speaker to Berkley.

[bert]

Only a foolish conservative speaker would try to speak on the Berkley campus.

[ComputerGuy]

People who participate in student governments are political agents first and foremost.
They may be phonies and they may be lying, but politics is their game. Without exception.

[Leaning Right]

> Just try to bring a conservative speaker to Berkley. <

Here’s the way it works at most of these universities:

University official: We absolutely believe in free speech. Oh, yes. But we cannot guarantee the safety of the conservative speaker. Therefore, we have cancelled his appearance.

Are they taking the coward’s way out?
Or is it just a clever way to censor?

[17th Miss Regt]

Are they taking the coward’s way out?
Or is it just a clever way to censor?

Both.

[FreedomPoster]

That has been an issue for 20 years or more. Ann Coulter or others back in the day, IIRC.

[Leaning Right]

> People who participate in student governments are political agents first and foremost. <

Student governments also tend to attract the liberal arts types. STEM students are way too busy.

Attend a student government meeting or study for tomorrow’s physics exam? Better pick the latter, STEM student.

[TBP]

The left doesn’t accept that, and they proved in Utah that they’re willing to kill to stop it.

[ComputerGuy]

You’re right. I was a Chemistry major. Never had any spare time, what with labs and all that techie stuff.

[sauropod]

Bkmk

[sima_yi]

My college roommate, many long years ago, had it figured out. He said student government exists to take money from the student body at large (via fees) and give that money to special interest groups.