Guest Column
Voting Down BDS At U-M
A
s a representative
Ann Arbor is one of my favorite
of the University of
things about going to Michigan. But
Michigan Central Student
because of the scrutiny of anything
Government (CSG), I go to public
that goes on at the university, we
assembly meetings every Tuesday
must be especially cognizant of how
night; yet nearly every week, only a
our actions and decisions will be per-
few people show up to listen to the
ceived outside of the confines of our
matters we discuss that have an
campus. No matter what the resolu-
impact on all students at the
tion actually said, if it
university.
had passed, the head-
For the past two weeks,
lines around the nation
however, we held our meet-
would have read how
ings in the Rogel Ballroom
the student govern-
of the Michigan Union, a
ment at the University
room that can seat upwards
of Michigan had voted
of 500 people. This was the
to "divest from Israel"
case because we were dis-
and that this campus
cussing a resolution titled
was not a safe place for
"AR 4-042: A Resolution
Jewish students.
to Call Upon the University
The authors of the
h Betman
of Michigan to Appoint a
resolution insisted
Committee to Investigate
that the representa-
Investments in Socially
tives not try and place
Irresponsible Companies That Violate the resolution in the context of the
Palestinian Human Rights."
larger and incredibly complex Arab-
This resolution was a follow-up to
Israeli conflict. That is not what I am
a similar BDS (Boycott, Divestment,
arguing. I was merely placing the
Sanctions) resolution that came
resolution in the context of similar
before CSG last year, when I was also
resolutions at universities around
a representative. That vote ultimate-
the country, universities where the
ly failed with 25 votes against, 9 in
tumultuous situation in the Middle
favor, with 5 abstentions.
East is a frequent topic of discussion,
Last year's resolution explicitly
as it is at the University of Michigan.
called for divestment from particu-
Our peers around the country
lar companies, whereas this year's
would believe that we had chosen a
resolution called for a committee to
side, that we had taken a stand on
be appointed. This was done because
the debate. There is no doubt in my
at U-M, it has been established that
mind that this is exactly what would
for any divestment to occur or even
have happened, and that is why it
be discussed, a committee has to be
was important that this resolution
formed to investigate the university's
did not pass. I do not debate the
investments once three "prongs"
merits of much, though not all, of the
have been met. Much of the debate
content in the resolution; however,
around AR-4-042 revolved around
the implications of it passing were
whether these three prongs had
far too high for me to be able to sup-
been met, especially the "consen-
port it.
sus" prong.
One of the main points of the
However, that is not what I want
resolution was that human rights
to discuss. The authors vigorously
are universal, and I wholeheartedly
argued, and rightfully so, that the
agree with that statement. But I do
assembly was not voting on whether
not agree that the only thing that
we wanted to divest or not, but only
mattered on Tuesday, March 31, was
that we should recommend the for-
the words on the paper. I voted no
mation of a committee that would
because I do not believe that the
look into the university's investment
three prongs needed for divestment
portfolio. We were instructed to
to be discussed were met; but even
focus only on the words in the reso-
more importantly, I voted no because
lution, the words of the roughly 100
this would not be seen and adver-
lines printed in our agenda packet.
tised in the newspapers and on the
However, to do that would have been
Internet as a vote for human rights,
both irresponsible and shortsighted.
but as a vote against Israel.
The University of Michigan is a
world-renowned institution, and
Noah Betman of West Bloomfield is a
stories of running across fellow
sophomore at the University of Michigan in
Wolverines thousands of miles from
Ann Arbor.
r
FRE L Eu K n o c s h he
RUN FOR
ISRAEL
SONE
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Sunday, May 17, 2015
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April 9 • 2015
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