UVA Students Vote to Divest from Israel, Condemn Hamas War
University of Virginia Students Overwhelmingly Vote in Favor of Divesting from Israel
Students at the University of Virginia made a powerful statement on Wednesday by voting in favor of their university divesting from the state of Israel. The campus-wide referendum, sponsored by seven student groups, passed with an impressive margin of 67 percent to 32 percent, with a significant 30 percent of the student body participating.
The referendum calls for the university’s administration to undergo an audit to determine if endowment funds are used to invest in companies “engaging in or profiting from the State of Israel’s apartheid regime.” It demands the school divest any funds identified.
In addition to the divestment demand, the referendum also condemns the UVA administration for its failure to address the Israeli government’s actions in its statement that condemned Hamas. The referendum argues that the statement failed to acknowledge the ongoing ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people and neglected to use the words “Palestine” or “Gaza,” leaving entire student populations feeling “unseen and otherized.”
Support for Divestment
One of the groups behind the referendum, UVA’s Students for Justice in Palestine, posted a powerful photo on Instagram depicting a bulldozer destroying the fence between Gaza and Israel during Hamas’ attack. The caption encouraged peers to attend a demonstration and learn how to “be in solidarity with Palestinians resisting occupation.”
UVA’s SJP group posted a photo from Hamas’s October 7 attack encouraging peers to learn how to be “in solidarity with Palestinians resisting occupation.”
The referendum was also supported by other student groups, including the Asian Students Union, Dissenters at UVA, DivestUVA, Minority Rights Coalition, Muslim Students Association, and Muslims United.
Concerns and Accusations
However, the referendum’s passage has sparked concerns and accusations from UVA’s Hillel, a Jewish student organization. They expressed deep sadness over the referendum, stating that it levels inaccurate and delegitimizing accusations about Israel, such as “apartheid” and “settler colonialism.” The Hillel board emphasized that these accusations harm Jewish students, making them feel unwelcome and ostracized on campus.
Jewish students have also reported multiple anti-Semitic incidents, including physical assault and verbal slurs. The school administration has been criticized for not taking meaningful actions to address these incidents.
Response and Task Force
In response to the concerns raised, the school has created a religious diversity task force. However, some members of this task force have also signed an open faculty letter expressing alarm over the lack of context in the school’s statement regarding the October 7 attack.
UVA is currently under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education for national origin discrimination involving religion. The school clarified that it does not take positions on student referenda, as it upholds a tradition of student self-governance.
Continuing the Conversation
The referendum also calls for the school to act on its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion by acknowledging the pain and existence of Palestinian students and community members. However, concerns have been raised about the referendum’s violation of election rules and the alleged pushing of the campaign in classrooms and through university channels.
Despite the controversy, the student organizations supporting the referendum are proud of their passionate and principled campaign, encouraging their peers to vote against what they see as a flawed and biased referendum.
How do supporters argue that divestment can push for change and why is it considered a powerful nonviolent tool?
On, and the Black Student Alliance. These groups all believe that divestment is a necessary step in holding Israel accountable for its actions against the Palestinian people.
Supporters argue that divestment is a powerful nonviolent tool that can push for change. By withdrawing the university’s financial support from companies that are involved in the Israeli occupation and apartheid regime, the hope is that these companies will be pressured to change their actions and practices.
Moreover, supporters also highlight the importance of aligning the university’s values with its investments. They argue that investing in companies that profit from human rights violations goes against the moral compass of the university and undermines its commitment to justice and equality.
Critics of the referendum argue that divestment from Israel is unfairly singling out one country and failing to consider the complex dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They believe that divestment will only further polarize the issue and hinder any prospects for peace.
Opponents also argue that divestment may have negative consequences for the university and its students. They claim that divestment may result in a loss of funding for important programs and initiatives, as well as damage the university’s reputation and relationships with potential donors.
The university administration has yet to respond to the referendum’s results. It remains to be seen whether they will comply with the students’ demands and undergo an audit to assess the investments in question.
Overall, the passing of the referendum reflects the growing awareness and concern among University of Virginia students regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It highlights the students’ desire to take action and hold their university accountable for its investments. While the outcome of the referendum may be controversial, it serves as an important reminder of the power of student activism and the need for dialogue and engagement on this complex issue.
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