Who would possibly object to a School Senate bill in support of the Free Flow of Ideas?
If you guessed UC Berkeley Students for Just us in Palestine, you'd be correct.
SJP's impressively Orwellian spin:
This is what they are objecting to:
If you guessed UC Berkeley Students for Just us in Palestine, you'd be correct.
SJP's impressively Orwellian spin:
Tomorrow: Stand Against Senate Anti-BDS Bill Suppressing Pro-Palestine Speech at UC Berkeley
Monday 9/15, 8 PM
Anna Head Alumnae Hall, 2537 Haste St
Tomorrow the senate will vote on a bill calling for UCB administrators to condemn the campus day of action for Palestine and the boycott of racist Israeli universities. Come stand in solidarity and tell the senate it can't condemn students' free speech and peaceful protest for Palestine on campuses. Support Cal Professors Hatem Bazian and Ramon Grosfoguel who are singled out in this bill for supporting Palestine. Tell your senators they can't support a bill that encourages our university to keep collaborating with the Israeli government censor student voices on campus.
Anna Head Alumnae Hall is a brown wooden building between the Channing and Telegraph on Haste. If it passes on Monday, the full senate will vote 7:20 PM in the same location on Wednesday.
This is what they are objecting to:
Senate Bill No. 2014/2015-011
A Bill in Support of the Free Flow of Ideas and International Academic Collaboration
Primary Sponsor
Ori Herschmann (Senator, ASUC)
Cosponsors
Hannah Frankl, (Senator, ASUC), Michaela Fried (President, Tikvah), Adam Shapiro (President, JSU)
WHEREAS, Along with other academics, UC Berkeley professors Hatem Bazian and Ramon Grosfogul are sponsoring an “International Day of Action on College Campuses for Palestine” September 23, 2014, and;
WHEREAS, the “International Day of Action on College Campuses for Palestine” calls for the following.
- No to Academic Complicity with Israeli Occupation
- No to Study Abroad Programs in Israel
- No Investments in Apartheid and Occupation Supporting Companies
- No to University Presidents' Visits to Israel
- No Campus Police Training or Cooperation with Israeli Security
- No Joint Research or Conferences with Israeli Institutions
- No Cooperation with Hasbara Networks on College Campuses
- No to Targeting Faculty for Speaking Against Israeli Crimes
- No to Administrative Limits on Free Speech Rights of Palestine Activists
- No to University Coordination and Strategizing with the ADL, JCRC, AJC, Stand With US, ZOA, Israeli Consulate to Limit Students Pro-Palestine Constitutionally Protected Activities, and;
WHEREAS, limiting research or other academic activities with Israeli institutions constitutes an academic boycott, which the Association of American Universities calls a violation “of academic freedom, which is a fundamental principle of AAU universities and of American higher education in general”, and;
WHEREAS, UC Berkeley Chancellor Nicholas Dirks said, “to impose an academic boycott on Israel is a regrettable step that subverts academic freedom. Any limit on the open exchange of knowledge and ideas stands in direct opposition to the scholarly values and goals we uphold as an institution. UC Berkeley fully supports the position taken by the Association of American Universities, AAU, against this academic boycott”, and;
WHEREAS, stifling partnerships and research with Israeli academics for the sole reason of their national origin is a form of discrimination based on nationality which is disallowed within UC Berkeley under University Nondiscrimination policies, and;
WHEREAS, in the Fall 2005 senate session, the ASUC Senate demonstrated its support for all education abroad programs by passing SB 29, “A Bill in Support of Academic Freedom”, and;
WHEREAS, in the Fall 2007 senate session, the ASUC Senate reiterated its support for education abroad programs in Israel by passing SB 125a, “A Resolution in Support of UC Education Abroad Programs (UC EAP) to Philippines and Israel”, and;
WHEREAS, in the Spring 2013 senate session, the ASUC Senate passed SB 160, “Resolution in Support of Human Rights in the Gaza Strip and West Bank” which stated “that the ASUC should not be construed to support a significant portion of the BDS movement including but not limited to their call for an academic and cultural boycott of Israel.”
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the ASUC voices its support for the “Campaign for Academic Freedom” which calls for:
- Free academic exchange between UC Berkeley, Israeli institutions, and similar institutions of higher learning around the world
- Continuation and encouragement of cross-institutional student collaboration, including, but not limited to education abroad opportunities
- An end to discrimination of scholars or students based on nationality or nation of origin
- Rejection of academic boycotts by the American Studies Association and the Association for Asian American Studies among others, and;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the ASUC President Upadhyayula publicly denounces the event titled “International Day of Action on College Campuses for Palestine” as a loss to Academic Freedom, alienating students and faculty of Israeli national identity as well as students and faculty that are interested in studying abroad in Israel or collaborating on academic scholarship with their Israeli counterparts, and;
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the ASUC Academic Affairs Vice President writes a letter to Chancellor Dirks asking the Chancellor to take a public stance on this event and reiterate his support for academic freedom.
Appendix List
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