Divestment Isn’t Neutral. Chapel Hill administrators are right to ignore student demands about Israel.

James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal ^ | February 8, 2024 | Jenna A. Robinson

[karpov]

The UNC chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) doesn’t have a great track record on free speech and civil discourse. Its members have occupied university administrative buildings, attempted to shout down speakers, and used intimidation tactics on Jewish students.

So it’s unsurprising that SJP shows equal disdain for the university’s commitment to institutional neutrality.

The Chapel Hill student organization has shared a list of “demands” for university action in an online petition and in a letter to UNC administration. The list of demands, if met, would be the equivalent of UNC taking sides in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

[moovova]

Did the students sign the petition? If so, cancel their scholarships and terminate their enrollment. Show’em who makes the rules.

[bk1000]

“ Its members have occupied university administrative buildings, attempted to shout down speakers, and used intimidation tactics on Jewish students”

Yet somehow they are not expelled from the university and their organization denied permission to be on campus. I’m not buying it. The admin allows this behavior and pretends there is nothing they can do against emotional children acting up. The answer seems to be that the administration is just fine with the student’s behavior. If anything, they guide, or “nudge” students in the direction they want. It’s all a show.

[cymbeline]

If I were a parent paying for my child’s college education, I’d want him going to a place that focused on coursework. The political sideshows can do nothing but detract from that.