Arab American News
March 15, 2013
At: http://www.arabamericannews.com/news/index.php?mod=article&cat=USA&article=6535
San Diego — After a four year campaign, the University of California, San Diego's undergraduate student government has passed a resolution urging the university to cease its investments in companies that profit from the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories.
The bill was cosponsored by multiple student government members and was similar to previous bills that have been discussed since April 2010. The bill had previously failed to get approval last year, but that same version received a vote of 20 in favor, 12 against, and 1 person who abstained.
The issue of divestment has gained major momentum in Student Governments across the country in recent years. Similar bills passed by student governments at UC Irvine, UC Berkeley and UC Riverside are raising pressure on the University of California (UC) administration to divest from companies profiting from war crimes and human rights violations in the region.
Student activists say that the UC has a long history of using divestment as a tool for positive social change — starting with cigarette companies to companies profiting from apartheid in South Africa in the 1980s.
But UC President Mark Yudof dismissed these allegations, stating that he sees no reason for the university to divest from Israel when the U.S. has not taken a stance on the issue either.
“The U.S. has not made any declaration regarding the State of Israel and, therefore, we will not bring a recommendation before the Board to divest from companies doing business with the State of Israel,” Yudof told the press.
Yudof is expected to resign this upcoming August, and students are hoping that will position the university to look into a more ethical investment scheme for funding.
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