That Was Then And This Is Now (Or Soon To Be Now)

Chancellor Frenk was interviewed yesterday by Larry Mantle, the radio host from KPCC/LAist, ostensibly on the subject of the crisis facing higher education, as part of a weekly webinar series titled "America at a Crossroads." Although Chancellor Frenk may have been expecting questions regarding all of higher ed to be the main focus, in fact, 99% of the questioning dealt with UCLA and UC. There is a link to the audio below. (I have edited out about 5+ minutes of introduction and a short preview at the end of forthcoming webinars.) The entire program will eventually be placed on YouTube by the program's sponsoring organization.

Some highlights based on notes from yours truly follow - again you can listen to the entire interview at the link below.

A general theme was that-was-then-and-this-now (or about to be now when a task force on antisemitism headed by Prof. Stuart Gabriel issues its report). The name Gene Block was never mentioned. But Frenk indicated that, going forward, rules about time-place-manner would be strictly enforced and there would be no more encampments. He referenced the ban he imposed on Students for Justice in Palestine after its actions at the home of a local Regent (Sures). 

Academic freedom and free speech is only possible absent intimidation and violence was another theme of Frenk's. The campus is or will be stressing dialogue among difference. (As blog readers will know, however, we have not seen much of that kind of dialogue programming so far.) Frenk referred to his personal background and that of his wife, escaping from Nazi Germany to Mexico and losing family members in the Holocaust.

Another theme was that antisemitism eventually spreads into other hateful activity and corrupts universities. Frenk referenced German universities that were heavily represented among the top institutions in the 1920s, but - after the Nazi period - have never recovered that ranking. In response to a question about Muslim students on campus, he returned to the theme that antisemitism unchecked spreads into other forms of bigotry. The issue of defining antisemitism with regard to protests against Israel (anti-Zionism) came up as well as the so-called IHRA definition (that was part of the Columbia settlement with the feds).* Frenk gave a definition that sounded somewhat like IHRA without that label.

Mantle referred to the 28-page letter from the feds that was leaked to the LA Times. He didn't directly ask if Frenk would release it. But it was noted that the letter dealt with a variety of issues beyond antisemitism. Frenk said UCLA hospitals were no longer providing trans surgery or other treatments for minors although he seemed to say that those minors already receiving treatment would continue to receive it. With regard to trans athletes in women's sports, he said that UCLA was bound by NCAA rules which banned it so it wasn't an issue. (The article in the LA Times seemed to indicate that the letter included a demand that UCLA itself have such a ban.) 

With regard to admissions and hiring, Frenk noted that UCLA already was subject to the state ban on affirmative action under Proposition 209 but had examined its practices to ensure compliance with federal law and the more recent US Supreme Court decision. Generally, Frenk said, UCLA had to comply with state and federal law. Those opposed to particular laws could work to change them by voting, etc. Faculty had academic freedom but were not free in the class to impose personal political agendas.

The interview confirmed that Chancellor Frenk is not directly involved in whatever negotiations - he referred to them as "discussions" - are going on with the feds at the UC and Regents levels.

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Link to audio of the interview:

https://ia601406.us.archive.org/35/items/a-laugh-a-tear-a-mitzvah/Julio%20Frenk-Larry%20Mantle%209-25-2025.mp4

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*IHRA = International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance: https://holocaustremembrance.com/resources/working-definition-antisemitism.