October 16, 2025

California Faculty Association Files Lawsuit Against CSU

News Summary

The California Faculty Association has filed a Petition for Writ of Mandate against the California State University Board of Trustees in response to compliance with a federal EEOC subpoena. The CFA claims the request for private information of faculty and staff, including personal contact details, violates privacy laws. The lawsuit seeks to prevent the CSU from disclosing such information without proper notification and objections from affected individuals, raising concerns about privacy rights amid ongoing investigations into faculty experiences of discrimination.

Los Angeles, California – The California Faculty Association (CFA) has filed a Petition for Writ of Mandate and Complaint for Injunctive and Declaratory Relief against the California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. This legal action comes in response to the CSU’s compliance with a federal subpoena issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which requested private information about faculty and staff at Cal State LA.

The EEOC subpoena, which has raised significant privacy concerns, sought sensitive data including personal phone numbers and email addresses. The CFA, which represents over 25,000 members across 22 CSU campuses, including tenure-track faculty, lecturers, coaches, counselors, and librarians, alleges that the CSU’s actions violate privacy laws established by both the U.S. Constitution and California State Constitution.

According to the CFA, public sector employees maintain certain constitutional rights to privacy, despite their employment status. They cite the Information Practices Act of 1977, which sets privacy standards for individuals working at state agencies, and claim that compliance with the EEOC subpoena infringes upon these rights.

The lawsuit seeks a court order that would prevent the CSU from disclosing any personal information about faculty and staff without prior notification and an opportunity for those affected to object. While the current subpoena compliance only applies to Cal State LA, there are growing concerns that it could soon extend to all other CSU campuses.

In addition to the court order, the CFA is requesting a temporary injunction to halt any future disclosures of personal information related to federal subpoenas. The CFA’s president has condemned the CSU for acquiescing to what they describe as a “witch hunt” against faculty, particularly in light of the federal investigation into allegations of antisemitism linked to protests at Cal State LA regarding Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Since October 7, 2023, it is reported that Cal State LA has released personal details, which included information on race, gender, reasons for employment separation, and contact details. Notably, home addresses were omitted from the subpoena after the CSU requested non-disclosure.

The EEOC investigation was prompted by complaints from three Cal State LA employees, which the CFA suggests quickly expanded to cover the entire CSU system. Earlier, Cal State LA had supplied publicly available information to the EEOC before the formal subpoena was issued.

The CFA highlighted its commitment to understanding and addressing the potential threats to member privacy, emphasizing the need for protective measures in light of the current situation. At this time, the Superior Court has yet to schedule a preliminary hearing concerning the case.

In a separate communication, Chancellor Mildred Garcia informed the Cal State community about the EEOC investigation, which is concentrated on faculty experiences of discrimination. The CFA has urged faculty members to consult legal counsel prior to replying to any inquiries from federal authorities as the situation evolves.

This ongoing dispute is set against the backdrop of larger initiatives aimed at reevaluating investigations concerning antisemitism across various public universities within California. These developments have triggered robust discussions regarding free speech and privacy rights on college campuses, with the CFA leading efforts to protect member information while seeking transparency in such investigations.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

CFA Sues CSU Over Privacy Rights Amid Subpoena Conflict
CSU Faces Federal Investigation Over Antisemitism Allegations

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