UC Davis issued the following statement today (Sept. 17):

The Chronicle of Higher Education published an article today that highlighted a recent decision made by the Office of the Chancellor to forward a communication that was received by UC leaders from the Anti-Defamation League. The office sent the letter to the Council of Deans and Vice Chancellors and others who are engaged in working with students, with the intention of informing them of one perspective on a sensitive issue. Prior to this communication, campus leaders received a forwarded letter from the California Scholars for Academic Freedom to Chancellor Dirks at UC Berkeley. It has been, and will remain to be, the UC Davis leadership perspective that we must always be informed of different perspectives on key issues. For this reason, communications related to different points of view on significant issues are often forwarded so that the administration is balanced in understanding how to make informed decisions, prepares for difficult conversations, and generally knows what concerns our community so we have the requisite background for open discussions.

It is most unfortunate that the media chose not to share the balanced perspective we have in this situation. We assure our community that UC Davis leadership remains strong advocates of free speech and debate, and we will do the best we can to create the conditions on our campus for this to take place.