(JTA) — A student group at the City University of New York is set to discuss and vote on a proposed resolution calling for a boycott of Israel.
The university’s Doctoral Students’ Council advertised the proposed resolution earlier this month ahead of a meeting scheduled for the evening of Sept. 12.
“The DSC hereby endorses the boycott of Israeli academic institutions and the divestment from Israeli companies, and calls for the end to the partnership between Baruch College and the College of Management Academic Studies,” reads the text of the proposed resolution, titled “Resolution for the Endorsement of Boycott of Israeli Academic Institutions.”
It cites, among other points raised, Israel’s alleged violations of international law and restrictions on Palestinian academics; universities’ shows of support for Israeli troops fighting Hamas in Gaza this summer and a claim that “Israeli professors and students at Israeli universities who speak out against discriminatory or criminal policies against Palestinians are ostracized and ridiculed if not publicly shamed, or worse.”
The council voted on a similar resolution at the end of the spring term. It had a strong majority in favor, but did not have the requisite support of a majority of the full DSC membership.
Some students who oppose the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel accused the council of deliberately scheduling the vote on Shabbat, when observant Jews who are likely to oppose the isolation of the Jewish state cannot attend the vote, the Washington Free Beacon reported.
Dominique Nisperos, the council’s co-chair for communications, informed members that no materials about the resolution would be handed out, a decision she connected to an environmentally friendly policy but that has raised concerns among critics, who said the council may have been trying to keep the vote under wraps until it has already passed.
Asked to address the timing of the vote, CUNY director of media relations, Tanya Domi, told the Free Beacon, “the Doctoral Student Council routinely meets and votes on Friday afternoons commencing at 6 p.m.”
