UC Berkeley Professor Assigns Wikipedia Edits on LGBTQ Topics Instead of Finals

Students tasked with creating and expanding Wikipedia pages about queer and trans people of color.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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A professor at the University of California, Berkeley has assigned students an alternative to traditional finals: Creating and editing Wikipedia pages about 'queer and trans people of color', according to a report. The Ethnic Studies professor, Juana Maria Rodriguez, had students defend and expand on Wikipedia articles related to LGBTQ topics instead of taking a final exam.

Why it matters

This assignment highlights the growing trend of professors incorporating activism and social justice causes into their curriculum, rather than focusing solely on traditional academic coursework. It raises questions about the appropriate role of universities in shaping student views on sensitive political and social issues.

The details

Professor Rodriguez's assignment required students to create new Wikipedia pages or expand on existing ones related to LGBTQ people of color. The goal was to increase the representation and visibility of these marginalized communities on the online encyclopedia.

  • The assignment was given to students in Professor Rodriguez's Ethnic Studies course in the Spring 2026 semester at UC Berkeley.

The players

Juana Maria Rodriguez

A professor in the Ethnic Studies department at the University of California, Berkeley who assigned students to create and edit Wikipedia pages about LGBTQ people of color instead of taking a final exam.

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What they’re saying

“This assignment is a way for students to engage in real-world activism and make a tangible impact, rather than just memorizing facts for a test.”

— Juana Maria Rodriguez, Ethnic Studies Professor (conservativeangle.com)

The takeaway

This story highlights the ongoing debate around the role of universities in promoting certain political and social causes, and whether such activism should be incorporated into academic coursework or kept separate.