UC Davis Suspends Law Student Association Over Boycott of Israeli Businesses

DAVIS, Calif. — The University of California, Davis, has suspended its Law Student Association (LSA) and taken control of its funds following the organization’s recent vote to endorse a boycott of businesses linked to Israel.

A university spokesperson stated that such suspensions are rare. According to a university statement, the decision was prompted by the LSA’s actions that allegedly violated University of California policies prohibiting discriminatory resolutions. The statement noted, “Monday’s decision follows the vote by LSA, the law school students association, to knowingly violate University of California policy by seeking to implement a discriminatory resolution intended to boycott people or entities with ties to Israel.”

The LSA had voted to join the Palestinian-led boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement, adopting a resolution that prohibits funding requests for events featuring speakers who represent the Israeli government, regardless of their nationality, religion, or ethnic origin.

Vikram Amar, a professor of constitutional law at UC Davis, highlighted that the university’s decision aligns with U.S. law, which mandates that public university student organizations must fund activities on a “viewpoint-neutral basis.” Amar stated, “This organization has violated campus rules as well as the U.S. Constitution. It seems pretty clear to me that this is not a viewpoint-neutral policy but rather a policy that disfavors organizations associated with people who have sympathy or support for Israel.”

The suspension arrives amid heightened scrutiny of protests on UC and California State University campuses, which have tightened regulations following widespread demonstrations related to Israeli and Palestinian conflicts last year. These new rules prohibit encampments, structures, and masks during protests.

The Sacramento chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is actively monitoring the situation involving the UC Davis Law Student Association. Reshad Noorzay, CAIR Sacramento’s executive director, expressed concern, saying, “It’s a little ironic that it’s a law school, and law students at Davis. But, unfortunately, it’s been disappointing how the UC system has responded to students standing up for their First Amendment rights.”

As a result of the suspension, the funds previously managed by the LSA are now under the control of law school administrators. The association will remain suspended indefinitely.