San Diego students fear for campus free speech rights
San Diego students and faculty express concern over potential threats to free speech and academic freedom under the Trump administration. Federal investigations into UC San Diego and other universities, along with attempts to deport student activists, have heightened fears of a broader crackdown on civil rights. The U.S. Department of Education is investigating 60 universities for alleged antisemitism, while the Trump administration has threatened to withhold funding from Columbia University unless it complies with demands regarding its academic programs. This has raised alarms among academics about the implications for free speech. Recent arrests of student activists, such as Columbia's Mahmoud Khalil, have intensified worries. Many believe these actions could lead to a chilling effect on campus discourse, as students fear repercussions for expressing dissenting views.