US Colleges Reject Divestment Proposals Targeting …

US Colleges Reject Divestment Proposals Targeting Israel

American universities are largely rejecting demands to divest from Israel and entities associated with the Jewish state, despite pressure from the pro-Hamas protest movement. Chapman University trustee Jim Burra emphasized the fiduciary responsibility to preserve and grow the endowment, which supports the university s mission. The University of Minnesota also cited fiduciary duty and the polarizing nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on campus as reasons for not divesting. Oberlin College s Board of Trustees voted against divestment after reviewing a proposal from Students for a Free Palestine, a group linked to Islamist terrorist organizations. The college argued that divestment would limit its ability to deliver on its mission and restrict critical discourse. Williams College s Advisory Committee on Shareholder Responsibility (ACSR) rejected a proposal to divest from weapons manufacturers that sell products to Israel. The committee cited potential negative impacts on investment performance and a lack of consensus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Some colleges have embraced divestment or similar policies, such as California State University-Sacramento s commitment to not invest in companies that violate human rights, and Union Theological Seminary s implementation of socially responsible investment screens. Brown University s Corporation of trustees is set to vote on a divestment proposal based on the demands of the Brown Divest Coalition (BDC). However, adopting such a policy could lead to legal consequences, as warned by US attorneys general. Thirty-five US states have anti-BDS laws, and several have banned agencies from awarding contracts to companies participating in the BDS movement. The justice system has upheld the legality of these measures. In summary, American universities are largely resisting demands to divest from Israel and entities associated with the Jewish state, citing fiduciary responsibilities, potential negative impacts on investment performance, and a lack of consensus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Some colleges have adopted divestment or similar policies, but legal consequences may arise if universities choose to implement such measures.

Source: algemeiner.com
Published on 2024-09-13

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