the bill didnt pass and our campus is staying focused on open dialogue instead. i really appreciate everyone who stepped up to speak out against this because it honestly wouldnt have happened without you. lets keep watching to make sure the environment here stays open for everyone.
December 5, 2017
Final supporters
We, the undersigned members of the faculty of the University of Maryland, stand against the upcoming Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) related bill being voted on by the UMD Student Government Association on Wednesday, November 15th, 2017. This resolution would stifle academic freedom and free exchange of ideas on our campus. It would create a campus climate that would divide the student body, impede productive campus discourse, and potentially isolate the Jewish community.
We recognize the value of a vigorous debate about social issues; however we cannot ignore the broad implications of this petition for University policy that calls on the Board of Regents to divest portions of its portfolio. The resolution cannot be separated from a prejudiced condemnation of Israel. While we recognize that achievement of peace has been achingly slow, if peace is to have a chance to succeed with the emergence of a workable democracy for Palestinians as well as Israelis, one-sided attacks directed at Israel are certain to be useless.
This deceptively straightforward resolution is sponsored by a BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement that supports the de-legitimization of the State of Israel. BDS rejects any legitimate national aspiration for the Jewish people. The BDS movement repeatedly attacks Zionism and has never condemned attacks on Jewish Israeli civilians. This bill de-legitimizes and promotes misinformation about Israel. This is in line with the broader BDS movement, which singles out the Jewish state - the only liberal democracy in a region beset by some of the world's worst human rights abusers. The BDS movement is hateful, divisive, and ultimately diminishes the chance of peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
This bill comes at a time when we see an escalation in hate bias incidents on our campus. BDS campaigns create a hostile campus atmosphere that singles out Jewish and pro-Israel students and subjects them to intimidation, bullying, and abuse. We know that BDS fosters an environment on campus that can lead to anti-Semitism.
We encourage Legislators of the Student Government Association to oppose this resolution, which punishes both Israelis and Palestinians, reinforces dangerous stereotypes that limit understanding and cooperation, and divides the broader UMD community.
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
November 13, 2017
6 Comments
Ridiculous to think this will solve anything. It just makes campus life harder for Jewish students. Glad to see some sanity here.
It is so important to keep UMD inclusive for all students. This bill is just wrong.
Finally some pushback against this garbage. Stop trying to turn the university into a political battleground.
Academic freedom is meant to encourage open discussion not limit choices based on one-sided political agendas. Glad the faculty is taking a stand.
BDS is just hate disguised as policy. Good on the faculty for calling it out for what it is.
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the bill didnt pass and our campus is staying focused on open dialogue instead. i really appreciate everyone who stepped up to speak out against this because it honestly wouldnt have happened without you. lets keep watching to make sure the environment here stays open for everyone.
December 5, 2017
Final supporters
We, the undersigned members of the faculty of the University of Maryland, stand against the upcoming Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) related bill being voted on by the UMD Student Government Association on Wednesday, November 15th, 2017. This resolution would stifle academic freedom and free exchange of ideas on our campus. It would create a campus climate that would divide the student body, impede productive campus discourse, and potentially isolate the Jewish community.
We recognize the value of a vigorous debate about social issues; however we cannot ignore the broad implications of this petition for University policy that calls on the Board of Regents to divest portions of its portfolio. The resolution cannot be separated from a prejudiced condemnation of Israel. While we recognize that achievement of peace has been achingly slow, if peace is to have a chance to succeed with the emergence of a workable democracy for Palestinians as well as Israelis, one-sided attacks directed at Israel are certain to be useless.
This deceptively straightforward resolution is sponsored by a BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement that supports the de-legitimization of the State of Israel. BDS rejects any legitimate national aspiration for the Jewish people. The BDS movement repeatedly attacks Zionism and has never condemned attacks on Jewish Israeli civilians. This bill de-legitimizes and promotes misinformation about Israel. This is in line with the broader BDS movement, which singles out the Jewish state - the only liberal democracy in a region beset by some of the world's worst human rights abusers. The BDS movement is hateful, divisive, and ultimately diminishes the chance of peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
This bill comes at a time when we see an escalation in hate bias incidents on our campus. BDS campaigns create a hostile campus atmosphere that singles out Jewish and pro-Israel students and subjects them to intimidation, bullying, and abuse. We know that BDS fosters an environment on campus that can lead to anti-Semitism.
We encourage Legislators of the Student Government Association to oppose this resolution, which punishes both Israelis and Palestinians, reinforces dangerous stereotypes that limit understanding and cooperation, and divides the broader UMD community.
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
November 13, 2017
6 Comments
Thank you for defending real discourse. We need to keep schools focused on education not exclusionary politics.
Ridiculous to think this will solve anything. It just makes campus life harder for Jewish students. Glad to see some sanity here.
It is so important to keep UMD inclusive for all students. This bill is just wrong.
Finally some pushback against this garbage. Stop trying to turn the university into a political battleground.
Academic freedom is meant to encourage open discussion not limit choices based on one-sided political agendas. Glad the faculty is taking a stand.
BDS is just hate disguised as policy. Good on the faculty for calling it out for what it is.
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Thank you for defending real discourse. We need to keep schools focused on education not exclusionary politics.