ACF Remains Committed to Anti-BDS Advocacy Following Smith College Divestment Proposal Rejection

Alums for Campus Fairness (ACF) commends Smith College’s Advisory Committee on Investor Responsibility (ACIR) for rejecting a divestment proposal advanced by the college’s Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Smith Alums for Justice in Palestine. This decision follows ACF’s letter-writing campaign to ACIR, which highlighted the alumni community’s collective voice and commitment in opposing the proposal.

After declining to vote on the proposal in April, ACIR concluded that it did not meet the criteria required for further consideration. The committee cited concerns regarding mission alignment, lack of community consensus, implementation challenges, potential financial impacts on the college’s endowment, and the Board of Trustees’ fiduciary responsibility to support Smith’s educational mission.

The decision reaffirms that endowment management should not be driven by divisive political campaigns. ACIR also recognized the practical and financial concerns associated with implementing the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) proposal, underscoring the importance of maintaining consistent investment standards that serve the long-term interests of Smith.

While this outcome is an important step, ACF recognizes that efforts to advance BDS initiatives will not disappear. We will continue to engage with Smith’s Board of Trustees and campus leadership to emphasize that these campaigns are harmful, divisive, and inconsistent with the college’s mission to foster an inclusive academic community.

About ACF: Alums for Campus Fairness (ACF) leverages the unique power of alumni to combat antisemitism on college campuses. ACF helps organize and cultivate alumni chapters for colleges and universities across the country, equipping members with tools, tactics, and training to proactively engage with administrators. Learn more at www.campusfairness.org.