chair with impartiality, but it is my
duty to defend my people."
Divestment Resolution
R
esolution to Urge the Formation of an Advisory
Committee to Review University Investments in
Companies Supporting the Israeli Occupation:
The full resolution contains 15 clauses and 19 footnotes.
Excerpts follow:
Clause 1: Whereas, Israel has been occupying the West
Bank and Gaza Strip since 1967 — hereon referred to as
the Occupation.
Clause 2: Whereas, the degrading, humiliating, and inhu-
mane living conditions imposed upon the Palestinians in
the West Bank and Gaza Strip for the past 37 years are
inexcusable.
Clause 4: Whereas, the complete and conscious disregard
for Palestinians living in the Occupation such as excessive
use of force leading to tremendous civilian casualties and
mortalities.
Clause 8: Whereas, the aforementioned practices of the
Israeli Army and conditions imposed on Palestinians since
1967 cannot be justified, no matter what view one takes
on the politics or history of the region.
Clause 10: Whereas, the Occupation is recognized as ille-
Focused Response
gal among the international community and the living
conditions it creates and its resulting human rights viola-
tions, such as excessive and indiscriminate fire towards
Palestinian civilian areas, are noted in the U.S.
Department of State's annual "Country Reports on
Human Rights Practices."
Clause 11: Whereas, both within the international com-
munity as well as within the U.S. there has been a notice-
able lack of pressure to hold Israel accountable for.its
actions during the long-standing Occupation.
Clause 12: Whereas, it is cited in the most recent
University investment portfolio that the University has
over $11,000,000 invested in military companies that
directly aid the ongoing Occupation.
Clause 15: Therefore be it resolved, the Michigan
Student Assembly's External Relations Committee will
send a letter urging the University of Michigan Board of
Regents to create an advisory committee to investigate the
moral and ethical implications of the University's invest-
ments in companies which directly support the
Occupation.
them to come out and support
the 14 clauses in the resolu-
the State of Israel and the
tion that condemned Israeli
Jewish people,"
actions without providing con-
The Annual Israel Academic
text or referring to Palestinian
Conference,
held just two days
terrorism or suicide bombings
before the vote, provided an
even once.
Perry
opportunity for more strategiz-
"We asked pro-Israel stu-
Teicher
ing and persuasion. AMI co-
dents to send e-mails to get
chair Alana Kuhn, a sopho-
people there," added Gonik.
more from West Bloomfield,
"We know the e-mails, along
arranged for 15 students to
with the Daily's prediction that
spend an hour with one of the
the resolution would pass, gal-
speakers, former Mideast peace
vanized the decision of many
negotiator Ambassador Dennis
to attend."
Ross, to discuss how to best
"We made T-shirts that said,
Alana
counter the divestment effort.
`It's not JUST a committee,'
Kuhn
When the MSA meeting
and wrapped ourselves in blue
began, more than six pages
tape and streamers," said
were filled with the names of
Gonik, who described the
those requesting to speak.
evening as "so many people, so
Twelve speakers, six on each
much passion, and kind of
side, were chosen and given
nerve-wracking and over-
five minutes each to make
whelming."
their case. A short extension
Electronic mail sent by
was allowed to hear a few more
Monica Woll to the leadership
Jennifer
speakers.
of each Jewish fraternity and
Gonik
sorority stated: "If there was
Strong Leadership
ever time the pro-Israel com-
Many students credited MSA
munity needed to unite and
President Jason Mironov for running
make a statement, the time is now.
an excellent meeting while being a
Make your mothers proud."
strong, articulate and respected voice
Matthew Orley, a freshman from
aaainst the resolution.
Franklin, sent electronic mail to
Mironov, who said he is "21, a sen-
every Jewish member of the Greek
ior and a proud member of New
system. Said Rabbi Jason Miller,
Jersey's Jewish community," came out
assistant director of U-M Hillel, "It
against the resolution before the
was very meaningful for me to read
meeting and handed over the gavel to
the plea sent out by [the late Jewish
another officer so he could oppose it,
leader] David Hermelin's eldest
even using a PowerPoint presentation
grandson, Matthew Orley, urging
to illustrate his arguments. He used
his entire "executive report time" to
speak against the resolution.
"The need for a Jewish state has
been clear for thousands of years, but
I do believe that in order for there to
be peace in the Middle East that
there needs to be concessions on
both sides," says Mironov explaining
why he took the stand he did. "I'm
pro-peace, and pro-justice, which
characterizes me as pro-Israel."
Mironov, who has visited Israel
with Birthright Israel, a New York-
based group that organizes free trips
to Israel for college-age students,
gave credit for the defeat of the reso-
lution to the pro-Israel students.
"As result of the articulate, well-
practiced and compassionate presen-
tations, the thinly veiled attempt at
vilifying the State of Israel was
exposed, and the resolution failed,"
said Mironov. "The advancement of
the peace process, the divisiveness of
the issue and the polarizing of the
Michigan campus also acted as a
deterrent."
Mironov felt comfortable in the dual
role of MSA president and opponent
of the resolution, though he agreed it
was unusual for a chair to come out so
strongly against a resolution.
"This resolution called into ques-
tion the legitimacy of a homeland for
my people, condemned the State of
Israel and did so without regard for
current political policy," observed
Mironov. "It is my responsibility to
serve as the president of MSA and
"Our Jewish students are amazing,"
said U-M Hillel's Rabbi Miller. "Our
entire staff is extremely proud of our
students. Rallying around their love
of the Jewish homeland, the entire
pro-Israel community truly came
together to defeat this vote.
"It was impressive to watch the
students mobilize. We should rest
assured that Zionism and pro-Israel
activism are still very much alive
with this young generation. God
willing, this dynamic activism will
spread to other campuses."
Samantha Woll, a U-M senior who
has served on the MSA and is an
outspoken Israel activist, agreed that
the arguments made against the reso-
lution were compelling, but the peo-
ple who made the arguments were
also important.
"It was conveyed that the issue is
much more complicated than the res-
olution made it appear. A lot of peo-
ple who spoke didn't just represent
ideas. People knew who they were
and respected their judgment. It's
nice to know there are a lot of strong
up-and-coming leaders. I can feel
very comfortable leaving campus."
"People showed a lot of strength of
character," said Woll, whose younger
sister is Monica. "People really
understood that it wasn't just a com-
mittee and that the resolution had .
already endorsed a guilty verdict
before a trial even took place."
When it was clear that the resolu-
tion was facing serious opposition, its
supporters offered to remove 12 of
the clauses critical of Israel and sim-
ply ask for a committee to look into
companies doing business with Israel.
"I think it was a very sincere ges-
ture," said Woll, "but its rejection
showed that people understood the
nuances and complexity of the issue."
Though harsh statements were
made, and a verbal confrontation led
to one person being escorted from the
room, the passionate debate was held
in a tightly run and generally respect-
ful and civil environment. When the
outcome of the vote was known, par-
tisans of both sides hugged their corn-
patriots while acknowledging those
who they had opposed.
Looking Back
Or Shotan, 23, a freshman who came
to U-M after his Israeli army service,
heads the Israeli Students
STUDENT POWER on page 18
3/24
2005
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