stand against acts of incivility and hate." U-M is
thoroughly investigating the matter, she noted.
"We commend President Coleman for explicitly
opposing divestment," said Gad-Harf of the JCCouncil.
We hope that the university will uphold its standards
regarding hate speech and other forms of intimidation."
U-M Regents Larry Deitch of Bingham Farms and
Andrea Fischer Newman of Ann Arbor, who both have
been working to ensure the university understands the
nature of the conference and takes appropriate action,
also applauded the statement issued by Coleman.
"The president's statement hits it on the head: 'I
do not support divestment,"' said Fischer Newman,
but the regent remains concerned that the universi-
ty's openness has been exploited, and urges the com-
munity to continue to speak out.
"We pride ourselves on free speech and academic
freedom. But, as Harvard President Summers said
[when he spoke against divestment and expressed
concern about anti-Semitism], 'academic freedom
does not include freedom from criticism.' We need
to vigorously advocate our position, and reach out
to others of goodwill and create a coalition of decen-
cy. We make a mistake if we keep this to ourselves."
Deitch concurred.
"As I told the Detroit News, if the destruction of
Israel as a Jewish homeland isn't anti-Semitic, what
is?" Deitch said, noting the conference also "singles
out Israel among all the nations of the world to
compare it to apartheid South Africa."
But, Deitch added, "from the standpoint of the
university, it is difficult to say a student group can't
speak on campus, even if they find the comments
odious. But we must denounce the truly hateful
ideas being expressed."
Despite Coleman's official response for the univer-
sity, MSZ's Rick Dorfman sees the original anti-
Israel e-mail as a success.
"Whoever sent it — mission accomplished in adver-
tising the conference," observed Dorfman. "President
Coleman issued a very politically correct statement.
While stating that she does not wish for the university
to divest, she does not sufficiently describe why.
Unfortunately, she gave tremendous publicity to the
divestment conference without informing students of
the moral downfalls of the event."
The Community Responds
Representatives from the Jewish Community
Council, the Jewish federations in Detroit and Ann
Arbor, and the U-M Hillel Foundation are sched-
uled to meet with Coleman, Deitch and Fischer
Newman on Friday, Oct. 4. Reportedly, representa-
tives of the Muslim and Arab communities also have
scheduled a meeting with the U-M president.
Meanwhile, students have Scheduled an "Invest in
Democracy, Invest in Peace, Invest in Israel" rally
from noon-1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, in front of East
Hall at U-M. Dr. Raymond Tanter will address the
issues of human rights and civil liberties in the
Middle East, and several students also will speak.
Another event is being planned for the same evening.
Students at U-M are organizing an online invest-
ment petition, raising funds to help rebuild the
bombed Frank Sinatra Cafeteria at Jerusalem's Hebrew
University, the site of a terrorist attack that killed six,
including two Americans, and wounded dozens more.
Letter From II51 President
September 26, 2002
The President's Office has received many messages about a student conference on
Palestinian solidarity, scheduled to take place on our campus in October.
This conference is sponsored by a student organization, following established University
procedures for holding events on campus. We expect the organizers and participants to
respect all University rules concerning appropriate conduct on campus. The agenda of the
conference represents the views of the organizers and not the University of Michigan.
One of the issues that the student conference will address is the divestment of
University stock in companies doing business in Israel. I do not support this divestment.
Mary Sue
As a matter of University policy, we do not believe political interests should govern our
Coleman
investment decisions.
The University has divested stock just twice in its history. Both decisions to divest were reached only after
sustained, campus-wide support that followed extensive research by faculty-led committees, which in turn pre-
pared a compelling case that such investments were antithetical to the basic mission and values of the
University. Those conditions do not exist, and I do not plan to ask our Board of Regents to pursue divestment.
When matters of intense emotional impact are presented on campus, it is vital that we uphold two cher-
ished values upon which our academic community depends. One is the right to explore and debate the widest
possible range of ideas, even if those ideas are offensive or repugnant to some members of the community
Candid expression and open debate are intrinsic to academic freedom. We afford that freedom both to those
who organize and participate in this conference, and to those who disagree with the views thus presented.
The other cherished value is the respect that we owe to each other as human beings and as fellow members
of this academic community. We constantly strive to build a community that is welcoming to all and that
does not foster hatred and discrimination. It is especially important during difficult times and when dealing
with divisive topics that we extend to one another the highest levels of tolerance and mutual respect.
We know we are not somehow separate from the larger world, or immune from global events. We must
and we will take a strong stand against acts of incivility and hate wherever they occur; because by doing so,
we protect our right to live, study, and express our views in safety.
Just yesterday we experienced a disturbing incident when, in violation of University e-mail policy, a message
containing inflammatory language was distributed to many U-M faculty members. The message was neither
authorized nor aided by University administrators. The authorship and other related circumstances are under
investigation, and the Provost's Office will handle the matter consistent with University procedures.
Although we defend the right to freedom of expression, we also have a responsibility to vehemently dis-
pute speech that is incompatible with our principles and beliefs. The e-mail contained language that was
deeply offensive and hurtful to me and to many others in our community, and I condemn it. This country's
history teaches us that ugly.speech is best neutralized with other voices and more speech. I.ask for your col-
lective support in maintaining civil and respectful campus dialogue on important issues.
Such values of civil discourse hold a special meaning for us at the University of Michigan. Our diverse
population includes more than 4,000 international students; one of the largest Jewish student and alumni
bodies of any major university; and a significant enrollment of Arab American students on campuses situated
near one of the most sizable Arab American communities in the nation. Many students and faculty are
deeply engaged in studies on Middle Eastern topics through longstanding and internationally recognized aca-
demic programs, including the Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, the Jean and Samuel
Frankel Center for Judaic Studies, the Department of Near Eastern Studies and the Center for Arab
American Studies at U-M-Dearborn.
These rich resources also provide us with a unique opportunity and responsibility to study and debate, in
an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect, the pressing issues facing our world. I am committed to ensuring
that this University remains a place where that will always be possible.
Sincerely,
Mary Sue Coleman
President, University of Michigan
Additionally, students are publishing a series of
ads in the campus newspaper, the Michigan Daily,
and circulating flyers campus-wide that highlight
• Israeli accomplishments in the areas of human rights
and civil liberties and comparing them to violations
elsewhere in the Middle East.
"It's been an interesting ride, that's for sure," said
Eric Bukstein about the lead-up to the conference.
"Anti-Israel activists are coming from all over the
country and having a party in our own back yard.
We've had to deal with two Jews, 15 opinions, but
we will have a solid, unified response. - And while the
average Jewish student might think it is us against
the community, I know we are not alone." Cl
The three-day "Palestinian Solidarity" conference
will be in the Michigan League on the University
of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor. The first day,
Oct. 12, is labeled an "academic day"; the pro-
gram, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., is open to the general com-
munity. The following two days are "activist days"
with participants signing a pledge of support for
the aims of the conference. A schedule of speakers
is available at wwwdivestmentconference.com
For original documents, analysis, actual words of
the speakers and action items, all relating to the U-
M conference, visit the Jewish News Web site at
WWW. detroitjewishnews.corn
10/4
2002_
15