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VOTER PAMPHLET
Associated Students, San Diego State University
STUDENT INITIATIVE REFERENDUM
APRIL 6-9, 2015
Voting begins Monday, April 6 at 8 am and concludes Thursday, April 9 at 7 pm. Log into SDSU WebPortal to vote.
BALLOT FOR THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS STUDENT INITIATIVE REFERENDUM
An Initiative Referendum proposed by a petition signed by at least five percent of the total regular membership of the Associated Students:
In furtherance of the University's stated commitment "to prepare all members of its community to promote social responsibility, equity, freedom, and productive
citizenship in a global society," should the Associated Students of San Diego State University encourage The Campanile Foundation, a philanthropic,
tax-exempt foundation and an auxiliary of the University, to cease investing in and to divest itself of investments in companies, many, if not most, of which are
major American companies, which aid and abet Israel's control over or occupation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem (the
"Territories")?
Yes_______ A "Yes" vote indicates that the Associated Students will encourage The Campanile Foundation to divest itself of investments in companies which
aid and abet Israel's control over or occupation of the Territories.
No_______ A "No" vote indicates that the Associated Students will not encourage The Campanile Foundation to divest itself of investments in companies
which aid and abet Israel's control over or occupation of the Territories.
The following Statements and Rebuttals have been submitted by the
members of the Associated Students whose names appear beneath them.
Their content is strictly the opinions of their authors, and not those of the
Associated Students. The Associated Students has not taken any position
in favor of or in opposition to the Initiative Referendum and does not
endorse or agree or disagree with the opinions contained in the
Statements or Rebuttals. Other than limiting the statements to 750 words
and the Rebuttals to 250 words, the Associated Students has not edited
or otherwise changed the Statements and Rebuttals that were submitted
and appear below.
In Coalition With:
Young Americans for Liberty
Jewish Student Union
Students Supporting Israel
Alpha Epsilon Pi
i http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/david-s-harp/.premium-1.62476
ii http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/south-africa-abbas- opposes-
boycott-israel
iii http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2015/01/31/support-of-israel-reason-house
-was-tagged-with- swastikas-frat-says/
STATEMENT IN OPPOSITION
iv http://www.truthrevolt.org/news/temple-univ-jewish-student-punched-face
The undersigned coalition of concerned SDSU students, representing a
broad cross-section of the diversity this campus has to offer, urge you to vote
‘No’ on the referendum on the grounds that it violates the academic integrity
of this academic institution and more so, is not an answer to the human
rights violations aforementioned. Divestment is one-sided and contributes to
a larger hate movement, which calls for the destruction of the only
democracy in the Middle East.
Divesting from such companies is far from pro-Palestinian; such boycotts
have been proven to harm the Palestinian livelihood as seen in previous
boycotts, stripping hundreds of Palestinians from their jobsi. Notable figures
such as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have openly opposed
boycotts of Israel, stating that this distances the region from peace and
cooperationii. Therefore, we urge both parties to come to a peaceful
resolution through strictly diplomatic means with the purpose of building
bridges and investing in Palestine.
The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement hides behind the
façade of being a movement that seeks peace and freedom for the
Palestinian people. Instead, it promotes an anti-Zionist and anti-Semitic
platform that is far from progressive. Divestment resolutions on college
campuses have also lead to outright expressions of anti-Semitism and hate,
as exemplified with anti-Semitic graffiti at UC Davisiii, and violence against
students at Temple Universityiv, and almost denying students the right to
serve on a student government board at UCLAv.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is mutually destructive, and negatively
affects both Israelis and Palestinians. Those directly affected by this
longstanding, complex and tragic conflict should be the ones to resolve it.
The best way to promote peace is to invest in dialogue, cooperation, and
bridge-building. Vote for the academically honest, socially responsible choice
and vote NO on the referendum.
v http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/10/opinions/kosmin-anti-semitism-campus/
-and-called-kike-anti- semitic-attack
REBUTTAL TO THE STATEMENT IN OPPOSITION
We first call into question this “diversity” Students Supporting Israel and
their supporters lay claim to, as the coalition does not seem representative.
We also question exactly how a student-initiated referendum violates
academic integrity. An integral part of university education is opening
discourse on such matters.
Divestment is not one-sided because we are calling for liberty and
equality for all people in the area. Israel cannot claim to be a democracy
while it continues to deny rights including the right to vote for one third of its
people.
Our Divestment Coalition condemns all anti-Semitic actions that have
occurred, on and off campus. This is not about Israel as a Jewish state, this
is about their apartheid system of government that denies rights, destroys
homes and lives of Palestinians.
Divestment is not the ultimate end to the conflict, but it will make sure our
university does not profit off these human rights violations and war crimes.
The claim that divestment harms Palestinian livelihood ignores the fact
that the call to divest came from Palestinian civil society. For us to tell
Palestinians the best way to help themselves is not merely reminiscent of
colonial imperialism it is pure, modern-day paternalistic racism. The
Palestinian people have collectively decided that divesting from companies
that are used to further their oppression will help them in their struggle for
freedom and justice. The only question remaining is whether we are willing
to answer this call.
Stand for Justice.
Vote YES to Divest.
Drafted by: Nassim Moallem, Osama Alkhawaja, Chloe Sension, Rachel Beck,
Drafted By: Sarah Katularu, Anthony Berteaux, Tyler Gording, Sheli Grumet,
Elias Purmul and Wesley Beights
Victoria Zakinova, Eric Palonsky, Chantal Eidelstein, Daniel Sirkin, and Michael
Kagan.
_______________________________________________________
For more information, go to as.sdsu.edu/elections
Please email [email protected], or call 619-594-6555, or visit the Associated Students Office,
located on the third floor of the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union, with any questions or for further information.