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Mondoweiss -
SAIA Carleton is one step closer to becoming the first student group to successfully push for a Canadian university to divest from the Israeli occupation. Launched in early 2010, the divestment campaign focuses on four specific companies that Carleton invests in through its pension fund: BAE Systems, Tesco, Northrupp Grumman and Motorola. All of them are complicit in serious violations of international law and human rights by supporting and profiting from the illegal occupation of Palestine. The campaign's latest big step was a motion passed at the undergraduate student union (CUSA) that calls on the university to divest from companies involved in 'illegal occupation.'
In the months leading up to the event, dozens of SAIA members met with professors, classrooms, individual students, community members and student groups to garner support. Organizers asked students to send personal letters addressed to the CUSA councillors and executive. Over 2,000 were sent. This represents about one tenth of the undergradute population and is more support than the incoming CUSA president received (in votes of the last election). The campaign has also received an endorsement from the Graduate Students' Association (GSA), over two dozen student groups on campus, dozens of faculty members and the union representing contract instructors and teaching assistants.
When the day arrived, it was apparent the campaign has some of the strongest support the campus has seen in recent memory. Hundreds of supporters flooded the small corridors adjacent to the small meeting room. In order to deal with the room occupancy and fire code regulations, a Carleton official set a quota for each 'side' to be allowed into the meeting; 20 each. Although the CUSA executives knew there would likely be a significant amount of support, a curiously small room was chosen to house the council meeting.
Despite the overwhelming support on campus, some elements within CUSA were keen to refrain from an overt endorsement. A few days before the council meeting, a new motion was drafted that echoed the toothless ethical investment policy that the Carleton administration passed earlier in an attempt to marginalize SAIA's campaign. Ignoring the support for SAIA's motion and an earlier introduction, the watered-down motion was heard first by the council. An attempt to reverse the order were unsuccessful. In a bid to compromise during an elaborate and passionate discussion, an amendment was proposed to include companies involved in 'illegal occupation' as one of the criterion for Carleton's divestiture. This motion with the amendment passed. Consequently, the original motion drafted by SAIA was discarded due to redundancy because its content was too similar to the first. Attempts to have the motion discussed were ultimately unsuccessful.
The decision was met with chants of protest from the massive crowd outside. Councillors and executives leaving the meeting had to navigate a sea of people whose reaction depended upon their support for the motion or lack thereof. It was truly one of the most inspiring outpourings of democracy and solidarity the supporters had experienced on campus. While the campaign did not receive an explicit endorsement from CUSA, it has succeeded in rallying a critical mass of supporters and gaining the tacit support of the undergraduate student union.
Moving forward, SAIA is planning for another successful Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) from March 7 - 11, this year including a keynote from Ali Abunimah of Electronic Intifada. We plan to further increase our support and finally present our campaign to the Board of Governors in the coming weeks.
River to SeaSAIA Carleton is one step closer to becoming the first student group to successfully push for a Canadian university to divest from the Israeli occupation. Launched in early 2010, the divestment campaign focuses on four specific companies that Carleton invests in through its pension fund: BAE Systems, Tesco, Northrupp Grumman and Motorola. All of them are complicit in serious violations of international law and human rights by supporting and profiting from the illegal occupation of Palestine. The campaign's latest big step was a motion passed at the undergraduate student union (CUSA) that calls on the university to divest from companies involved in 'illegal occupation.'
In the months leading up to the event, dozens of SAIA members met with professors, classrooms, individual students, community members and student groups to garner support. Organizers asked students to send personal letters addressed to the CUSA councillors and executive. Over 2,000 were sent. This represents about one tenth of the undergradute population and is more support than the incoming CUSA president received (in votes of the last election). The campaign has also received an endorsement from the Graduate Students' Association (GSA), over two dozen student groups on campus, dozens of faculty members and the union representing contract instructors and teaching assistants.
When the day arrived, it was apparent the campaign has some of the strongest support the campus has seen in recent memory. Hundreds of supporters flooded the small corridors adjacent to the small meeting room. In order to deal with the room occupancy and fire code regulations, a Carleton official set a quota for each 'side' to be allowed into the meeting; 20 each. Although the CUSA executives knew there would likely be a significant amount of support, a curiously small room was chosen to house the council meeting.
Despite the overwhelming support on campus, some elements within CUSA were keen to refrain from an overt endorsement. A few days before the council meeting, a new motion was drafted that echoed the toothless ethical investment policy that the Carleton administration passed earlier in an attempt to marginalize SAIA's campaign. Ignoring the support for SAIA's motion and an earlier introduction, the watered-down motion was heard first by the council. An attempt to reverse the order were unsuccessful. In a bid to compromise during an elaborate and passionate discussion, an amendment was proposed to include companies involved in 'illegal occupation' as one of the criterion for Carleton's divestiture. This motion with the amendment passed. Consequently, the original motion drafted by SAIA was discarded due to redundancy because its content was too similar to the first. Attempts to have the motion discussed were ultimately unsuccessful.
The decision was met with chants of protest from the massive crowd outside. Councillors and executives leaving the meeting had to navigate a sea of people whose reaction depended upon their support for the motion or lack thereof. It was truly one of the most inspiring outpourings of democracy and solidarity the supporters had experienced on campus. While the campaign did not receive an explicit endorsement from CUSA, it has succeeded in rallying a critical mass of supporters and gaining the tacit support of the undergraduate student union.
Moving forward, SAIA is planning for another successful Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) from March 7 - 11, this year including a keynote from Ali Abunimah of Electronic Intifada. We plan to further increase our support and finally present our campaign to the Board of Governors in the coming weeks.
Uprooted Palestinian
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