Official Support for BDS by University Departments, Organizations, or Programs
Disclaimer: The following steps are designed to help students address instances where university departments, organizations, or programs express official support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. This can take various forms including but not limited to:
Statements or endorsements posted on official department websites supporting BDS or related initiatives.
Example: Hunter College (CUNY) Arabic Program faculty statement on the CUNY Gaza Solidarity encampment at CCNY [1]
Emails sent to the campus community by departments or organizations promoting BDS activities or resolutions.
Groups such as Faculty for Justice in Palestine promoting BDS campaigns or resolutions.
Faculty Senate resolutions or departmental votes that advocate for BDS policies or actions.
Example: Rutgers Faculty Senate Vote on BDS [2]
Example: University of Michigan Faculty Senate Vote on BDS [3]
Event sponsorship of anything that advocates for BDS policies or actions.
Disclaimer: Some universities may have policies about the use of university websites and/or listservs. The following steps outline possible actions that might be taken when this happens but should not be construed as advice or instructions for any specific incident. For assistance in determining whether a policy may have been violated and in evaluating what actions to take when this occurs, you may want to reach out to an organization like StandWithUs.
Step 1 - Documentation
Begin by gathering all relevant information, including emails, event flyers, website links, public department statements, pamphlets, and other relevant information. If available, look for statements or actions from university leadership that may contradict the department’s position or indicate a violation of university policies. Gather all relevant materials regarding the department or program’s endorsement or support of BDS. Look into university policies that address proper use of school websites, list serves, emails, or other official university resources for possible violations.
Step 2 - If violations are identified, report them through your University/College bias reporting form
Step 3 - Identify Potential Faculty Allies in the Department (Optional and Context-Dependent)
If you know of faculty member(s) that you have a relationship with and feel comfortable engaging, try to meet with that person and request that they issue a retraction message or provide alternative resources and/or ways to persuade the department end its support of BDS.
Step 3.5- If there are faculty allies, meet with them!
Step 4 - Ask for a Retraction via Email
Send an email to the individual(s) responsible for the concerning statement, requesting a retraction. Be respectful but firm in outlining why the statement is problematic and how it has impacted you or others.
Important Note: Keep in mind that this step often does not result in a retraction. However, it’s still an essential action to put the request on record and show good faith in attempting to resolve the issue.
If a Retraction is Issued: If a retraction is made, ensure it is made public. Share it widely within the relevant community, department, or organization to demonstrate accountability and the progress made in addressing the issue. Make sure to thank the department for retracting its statement.
Step 5: Request a Meeting with the Dean or Department Head
Request a meeting with the department head to discuss the department/initiatives’s support of BDS initiatives. Consider bringing a second or third Jewish leader in with you who is particularly educated about why BDS should not be endorsed. The following is a simple email template that you can use to request a meeting:
Note: this approach may be less effective unless the student(s) have an established relationship with someone in the department or the department head.
After your meeting with the department head or other relevant individuals, send a follow-up email to ensure accountability and provide a summary of what was discussed. This helps document the conversation, clarifies any next steps, and demonstrates professionalism.
Step 6 - Make the Endorsement of BDS Public and Address Misinformation
To ensure transparency and combat misinformation, it’s important to publicly address the endorsement of BDS. Students should use social media platforms like Instagram and X for broad outreach and issue a press release for formal communication when appropriate.
Note: Some schools have specific rules governing what departments or faculty members can use their official websites or resources for. If a faculty member publishes material endorsing BDS or related initiatives on a university-affiliated platform in violation of these policies, it may open the door to potential legal action.