University of Florida Law Student's White Supremacist Paper Sparks Campus Outcry

GAINSVILLE, FL — June 27, 2025 A University of Florida law student, Preston Damsky, ignited controversy after receiving a top academic honor for a paper advocating white supremacist views. In his essay, Damsky argued that the U.S. Constitution applies solely to white individuals, called for the revocation of voting rights for non-white citizens, and endorsed shoot-to-kill orders against immigrants at the border. The paper was awarded the "book award" by Federal Judge John L. Badalamenti, a Trump appointee teaching the seminar, as it received the highest grade in the class.

Following the award, Damsky posted a series of antisemitic and white supremacist messages on social media, including a statement that Jews should be "abolished by any means necessary." These posts led the university to suspend him and issue a three-year trespass order barring him from campus . The university, which hosts the largest Jewish undergraduate population among U.S. public universities, faced backlash for its initial defense of the award under the principle of "institutional neutrality."

Interim Dean Merritt McAlister stated that while the student's views were "revolting," the award was granted based on academic performance, not ideology. She emphasized the importance of upholding academic freedom and First Amendment rights, even when the content is offensive.

The incident has sparked broader debates about the limits of free speech in academia, the responsibilities of educational institutions in addressing hate speech, and the impact of such events on campus communities. Calls for policy reviews and clearer guidelines on academic honors have emerged in response to the controversy.

*Sources: *https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/21/us/white-supremacist-university-of-florida-paper.html