Judge orders UF law student reinstated temporarily
U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor granted a preliminary injunction ordering the University of Florida to reinstate law student Preston Damsky by December 1 after UF expelled him over online statements and seminar papers, including a post calling for Jews to “be abolished.” The judge found UF had not shown the speech was a true threat or otherwise unprotected and cited the Supreme Court’s Virginia v. Black decision, while noting UF’s prior security measures and campus ban after safety complaints.
📌 Key Facts
- Judge Allen Winsor issued a preliminary injunction requiring UF to return Damsky to normal standing and readmit him by Dec. 1.
- UF expelled Damsky after April–May investigations into posts and seminar papers; he sued Sept. 14 alleging First Amendment violations.
- The order says UF did not show Damsky’s speech constituted a true threat; the court cited Virginia v. Black (2003).
📊 Relevant Data
Jewish students on U.S. college campuses are experiencing a dramatic increase in feeling unsafe on campus and report increasing numbers of antisemitic incidents.
The Crisis of Antisemitism on College Campuses — Brandeis University
Approximately 6,500 Jewish students attend the University of Florida, comprising about 19.1% of the total student population.
University of Florida — Hillel International
The enrolled student population at University of Florida is 48.4% White, 20.8% Hispanic or Latino, 9.82% Asian, 5.39% Black or African American.
University of Florida | Data USA — Data USA
The White alone non-Hispanic population in the United States decreased from 63.7% in 2010 to 57.8% in 2020.
2020 U.S. Population More Racially, Ethnically Diverse Than in 2010 — U.S. Census Bureau
The decline in the U.S. White population percentage is attributed to an aging population, fewer children and young people, and demographic shifts.
Census Data Shows Where US White Population Is in Decline — Newsweek