Statement on the Resolution of Non-cooperation with NYU-Tel Aviv

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 28, 2021

Contact: Avi D. Gordon, Executive Director Alums for Campus Fairness

917-512-4585, [email protected]

 

We, members of Alums for Campus Fairness (ACF), as strong supporters of academic freedom and open discourse on college campuses, are appalled that the Department of Social and Cultural Analysis at New York University (NYU) has passed a Resolution of Non-cooperation with NYU-Tel Aviv.

On Thursday, May 2nd, the Department of Social and Cultural Analysis (SCA) unfairly voted to limit academic freedom by ending its relationship with NYU-Tel Aviv. In passing this divisive resolution, SCA is sending a clear message that bias against Israel supersedes educational opportunity and academic success of students. In contrast, the NYU administration, through your leadership, has “publicly repudiated calls for boycotts of Israel, dismissed calls to close our Israel site, criticized and rejected efforts to ostracize pro-Israel groups and stood with other universities and elected officials to denounce anti-Semitism”, as stated in a recent op-ed. The Administration must reject SCA’s resolution to avert discrimination against students and faculty who support Israel.

SCA’s vote gives voice to a growing and dangerous trend of anti-Israel bias. Promoting a double standard, demonizing and delegitimizing Israel, hurts the pro-Israel community on campus and falls within the working definition of antisemitism, as adopted by the US Department of State.

ACF is dedicated to combating antisemitism on college campuses. NYU and its community must work together to ensure fair and open dialogue, which should not be compromised for any group, including Jewish students and their allies.

We call on NYU to:

  1. Reaffirm its commitment to fighting bigotry and making NYU safer for the pro-Israel community.

  2. Repudiate SCA’s Resolution of Non-cooperation with NYU-Tel Aviv.

We, the members of ACF, thank you for your leadership in rejecting bigotry and supporting pro-Israel students. It is our hope, as a united alumni voice, that you will act expeditiously to ensure that our campus community remains open for all students.

 

About ACF: Alums for Campus Fairness (ACF) is America’s unified alumni voice on issues of antisemitism, demonization of Israel, and bigotry. With over thirty-five chapters, ACF positions thousands of alumni on the front lines of key issues at their alma maters and works to ensure that universities remain pillars of open dialogue and equal opportunity for all students. For more information, please visit www.campusfairness.org.