Pitzer College faculty vote against Israel abroad programs draws criticism
The faculty of Pitzer College, which is part of the Claremont Colleges consortium in California, on November 8 passed a motion to suspend the school’s study abroad exchange with the University of Haifa “until (a) the Israeli state ends its restrictions on entry to Israel based on ancestry and/or political speech and (b) the Israeli state adopts policies granting visas for exchanges to Palestinian universities on a fully equal basis as it does to Israeli universities.” Pitzer’s Semester at the University of Haifa program had offered students the opportunity to take various courses taught in English at the University of Haifa International School, while offering ulpan (intensive Hebrew) and intensive Arabic language classes before the study abroad experience as well as an internship program during the semester itself.
Prof. Ron Robin, President of the University of Haifa, offered the following statement on Pitzer’s decision to suspend its study abroad exchange with the University:
“The University of Haifa is highly disappointed that Pitzer College’s faculty has voted to suspend the school’s study abroad relationship with the University of Haifa. While we support the values of freedom of speech and academic freedom, we oppose the BDS movement against Israel as well as boycotts targeting any individual or institution on the basis of nationality, ethnicity, religion, race, gender, or other discriminatory factor.
“As Pitzer’s Student Senate articulated in a powerful resolution, the faculty’s decision is ‘a flagrant advancement of a political agenda at the expense of students who seek opportunities in Middle East/North African Studies, Arabic, Hebrew, Christianity, Judaism, Islam and the intercultural relations of Israeli and Palestinian ethnicities.’ Indeed, Israel’s commitment to an open and inclusive society in which multiculturalism and interfaith tolerance thrive is no more evident than on the University of Haifa campus, where an approximately 25-percent-Arab student body exceeds the 20-percent-Arab population of the country as a whole.
“Importantly, the Student Senate also noted that Pitzer College subjected its relationship with University of Haifa to a double standard vis-à-vis its review process for other study abroad programs. We invite all who have any questions about University of Haifa to come visit the University themselves and draw their own conclusions about our academic community.”
In another reaction, AMCHA Initiative Director, Tammi Rossman-Benjamin, made the following statement:
“The Pitzer faculty’s attempt to implement academic BDS on campus and subvert the educational opportunities and academic freedom of their own U.S. colleagues and students is absolutely reprehensible. These Pitzer faculty members have abrogated their most basic professional responsibility – to promote the academic welfare of their students. President Oliver must immediately condemn this action and publicly commit to ensuring that no Pitzer student will be impeded from studying about or in Israel and that faculty will not be permitted to implement an academic boycott of Israel at Pitzer.
“For years the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel — which coordinates the academic boycott of Israel as part of the larger BDS movement — has implied its target is only Israeli universities and scholars. However, as we saw at Michigan and we’re seeing today at Pitzer, faculty who implement PACBI’s boycott are directly harming and curtailing the rights of the students and faculty on their own campuses.
“PACBI’s guidelines clearly calls on faculty to ‘boycott and/or work towards the cancellation or annulment’ of any school activity that involves Israeli academic institutions or their representatives. Faculty boycotters are encouraged and expected to refuse to write letters of recommendation for students wishing to go on a study abroad trip to Israel as we recently witnessed at the University of Michigan; scuttle American colleagues’ research projects with Israeli universities and scholars; cancel events with Israeli leaders or scholars organized by U.S. students or faculty; and shut down study abroad programs in Israel as we see here at Pitzer College.
“President Oliver must act immediately to address this egregious faculty behavior that subverts the educational opportunities and violates the academic freedom of his students.” — From Haifa University and the AMCHA Initiative.
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Hadassah CEO Weinman to receive award from Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project
Janice Weinman will receive the 2018 Pamela Claman Award from the Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project (JWRP) on Dec. 12 at its North American Momentum Conference in College Park, Maryland announced JWRP President Andrea Shlipak Mail.
Shlipak Mail states, “The Pamela Claman Award is presented to an international role model who has significantly impacted the Jewish world with inspired leadership. For over 100 years, Hadassah has empowered women to make a difference for Israel and the global Jewish community. Last year, Dr. Weinman showed tremendous vision by launching a partnership between Hadassah and JWRP which has expanded both organization’s reach and impact.”
Weinman states, “Both Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc., (HWZOA) and JWRP share a common goal of ensuring that Jewish women carry on the traditions of our people and our homeland. When we learned JWRP’s Momentum trip exposes Jewish women to spirituality, Jewish life and Israel, we thought the partnership was a perfect match. We’ve seen an amazing impact, with women returning from their Momentum trip feeling enlightened, energized and committed to maintaining a Jewish home and fulfilling the goals of Jewish continuity.”
Janice Weinman was appointed Executive Director / CEO of Hadassah in 2012. She came directly from her post as President of K.I.D.S., an organization supporting millions of children in need in communities across the United States and overseas. Prior to her position at K.I.D.S., she served as Vice President for External Affairs of The Mount Sinai Hospital / NYU Medical Center and Health System in New York. Weinman also previously served as Executive Director and of the American Association of University Women (AAUW). She served in both the Carter and Clinton administrations. — From Hadassah
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Preceding items culled from news releases. Please send yours to editor@sdjewishworld.com