UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk is facing significant criticism from law professors and academic groups following his response to a recent law school symposium marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Critics argue that his remarks have undermined academic freedom and lent credence to unfounded claims that the event promoted terrorism or antisemitism.
The symposium, titled “25 Years After 9/11,” was held on September 10-11 and examined the legal consequences of the U.S. response to the attacks, including issues such as torture, detention, and government surveillance. The event featured a panel that included Melanie Partow, a Defense Department lawyer who has represented Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks. Additionally, Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), participated in the symposium. ([latimes.com](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-09-18/ucla-chancellor-frenk-911-law-symposium-backlash?utm_source=openai))
In his statement issued on September 11, Chancellor Frenk emphasized that UCLA did not endorse the event, stating, “We reject antisemitism and terrorism in all their forms, and we believe our campus must be a place where the dignity of every member of our community is respected. Nothing about this event at the UCLA School of Law, which we do not endorse, changes or qualifies those commitments.” ([latimes.com](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-09-12/ucla-chancellor-law-school-9-11-event?utm_source=openai))
This statement has been met with backlash from faculty members who argue that it unfairly suggests the symposium endorsed terrorism or antisemitism. More than 60 UCLA law professors, along with nearly 300 law school professors nationwide, have signed open letters calling for Chancellor Frenk to retract his remarks. They contend that his statement mischaracterized the event and undermined the principles of academic freedom. ([dailybruin.com](https://dailybruin.com/2026/09/19/law-professors-nationwide-demand-chancellor-frenk-retract-9-11-symposium-condemnation?utm_source=openai))
Faculty organizers of the symposium, including law professors Ahilan Arulanantham and LaToya Baldwin Clark, expressed pride in the event, stating, “We showcased a nuanced and sophisticated set of conversations among more than twenty leading experts who discussed both the successes and the failures of our government and our nation in the years since 9/11.” ([latimes.com](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-09-12/ucla-chancellor-law-school-9-11-event?utm_source=openai))
In response to the faculty’s concerns, Chancellor Frenk reiterated his support for academic freedom while also expressing solidarity with members of the community who were affected by the attacks. He emphasized that the event proceeded as planned and that his statement was intended to express the university’s values and support for those who were hurting. ([latimes.com](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-09-18/ucla-chancellor-frenk-911-law-symposium-backlash?utm_source=openai))
The controversy has sparked a broader discussion about the balance between academic freedom and the university’s responsibility to uphold its values. It also highlights the challenges institutions face when addressing sensitive topics and the potential impact of administrative statements on academic discourse.