University of California, Santa Barbara: Fraternities and Sororities Banned from Associating with Unrecognized Organizations

The University of California, Santa Barbara maintains a Fraternity and Sorority Life policy that bans Greek groups from “engaging in organizational events (formal or informal, regardless of location)” with organizations unrecognized by the university. On March 21, 2023, FIRE wrote the university explaining that the First Amendment’s freedom of association prohibits public universities from banning students from associating with disfavored groups. The university responded on May 4, promising to take our concerns into account as it revises the policy. FIRE followed up with UCSB’s general counsel on May 29, 2023, and again in February and March of 2024.

On May 20, 2024, the university narrowed its ban to Greek groups hosting “organizational events” with only those groups “closed/unrecognized due to misconduct.” This revision restores students’ right to associate with unaffiliated groups in good standing.