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UCLA Attempts to Silence Criticism of Radical Professors

Los Angeles, CA—The University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) has threatened legal action against a concerned alumnus who has begun airing complaints about radical professors. The alumnus, Andrew Jones, founder of the Bruin Alumni Association (BAA), is represented by Pacific Justice Institute.

Mr. Jones recently launched www.UCLAProfs.com, a website which documents radical positions taken by UCLA professors, including advocacy of Marxism and anti-Americanism. The website also encourages students to submit evidence of professors’ misuse of class time and research activities to pursue political agendas.

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The website has sparked a national debate which UCLA apparently wishes to avoid. Late last week, a lawyer for UCLA wrote to Mr. Jones, alleging that his actions violate copyright laws and UCLA’s Student Code of Conduct. At Mr. Jones’ request, Pacific Justice Institute reviewed UCLA’s letter and found it to be a baseless effort to stifle criticism. PJI Chief Counsel Kevin Snider immediately responded to the university, citing the Freedom of the Press Clause of the United States Constitution, as well as U..S. copyright laws which specifically exempt gathering of raw material “for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting… [and/or] research.”


Mr. Jones commented, “Small organizations like the Bruin Alumni Association are most vulnerable to legal intimidation by gigantic institutions like UCLA. Thanks to the timely intervention of Kevin Snider and the Pacific Justice Institute, we were able to make a clear stand in defense of our constitutional rights.”

Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute, added, “It is ironic that an institution which trumpets ‘academic freedom’ is trying to stifle criticism of itself. We cannot and will not let UCLA’s hypocrisy deprive students and alumni of their First Amendment rights.” Visit our website, www.pacificjustice.org, to respond to our poll question: Do you feel that many university professors are advancing a political agenda?
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The Pacific Justice Institute is a non-profit 501(c)(3) legal defense organization specializing in
the defense of religious freedom, parental rights, and other civil liberties.

P.O. Box 276600
Sacramento, CA 95827-6600
Phone: (916) 857-6900 Fax (916) 857-6902
Internet: www.pacificjustice.org
www.pacificjustice.org